Ahead of January 26, Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and teammate Arty Jones sat down with Club board member and Wotjobaluk and Dja Dja Wurrung woman Belinda Duarte to have a yarn about the date and what it represents.

During the course of a 30-minute conversation, which you can listen to in full below, Bontempelli reiterated his support for changing the date and offered his thoughts on what might make some people uncomfortable about having the discussion.

"The conversation around changing the date, they feel like something's going to be taken away from them or they feel like they're being blamed for something that happened in a previous lifetime, in a previous history," Bontempelli said.

"'I didn't do that', that's what I feel like you hear a lot of, or 'It wasn't me', and they … defend themselves over a conversation that might be difficult or confronting versus truly understanding the meaning of the conversation and why it's being had and why it's been so forcefully sought out by Indigenous peoples.

"I can't say that I was ever defensive about it but it probably took me to truly listen and understand as to why it's such an important conversation to have."

Proud Minang Yamatji Noongar man Arty Jones spoke about the important role the Club plays in helping to nurture conversations on the topic and to promote genuine inclusivity.

"The power that we have on our platforms, the conversations that we have … once we educate in our four walls then it empowers everyone else to try and educate and use their platforms to spark the conversations," Jones said.

"It's very important that we educate our backyard before we try to march as a whole collective group.

"The power that this club can provide for Indigenous and non-Indigenous to unify. It’s very, very important that we spark the conversations as men and women to stand together and see what the future can hold.”

You can watch or listen to the full episode below.