'Magic' dreaming of Darwin having its own AFL team

The former player nicknamed "Magic" is this year's honouree in the Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

The former Footscray and Brisbane star's lofty standing among current Indigenous players was clear at Monday's launch of the round in Melbourne.

Whether it was veteran North Melbourne midfielder Jy Simpkin or second-year West Coast player Malakai Champion, they made a beeline to McLean for a chat. 

Ross Lyon caught up with McLean before last Saturday's game against Gold Coast in Darwin and the St Kilda coach later floated the notion of every team playing a game in Darwin each season.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon quickly shot that idea down, saying three or four games in the Top End was enough, but McLean would love to see it happen.

"I just thought it was a great thing, in terms of exposure for our kids and our people," McLean told AAP.

"It changes the whole community up there - the whole community comes alive.

"You get to see these players live and the dream becomes a bit more of a reality."

Likewise, he is a zealous advocate for the Northern Territory following Tasmania into the AFL, regardless of the obvious logistical challenges.

"You just make it work. The opportunity would be great. A 20th team - I think they need one, there's a lot of talk about it and we have a taskforce up there," he said.

"It's a little bit like 'Why not'?"

McLean is rapt to be the latest honouree in the AFL's annual Indigenous round and he is mindful of the standing he holds among current players.

"It means a lot - it feels pretty cool, pretty special, a little bit surreal," he said.

"I know there have been a lot of past players way better than me. On reflection, I could mix it with most, but I achieved a little bit along the way.

"I'm comfortable with that, along with the stuff I've given back in the community as well.

"It's nice, it's a respect thing (from current players). We understand how it works, the elders are really important and I still feel like I'm 45, not 61."

McLean has spent 30 years working with at-risk youth and no-one is more aware of the ongoing challenges surrounding Indigenous issues.

Most immediately, the number of Indigenous players has dropped in the AFL and the league is trying to address that.

"I just want to keep things moving and make a difference along the way," McLean said

"It's important that we improve in all aspects and I think we are improving - at what rate, I'm not sure.

"I'm just glad we're having the conversations. We get moving, we get on with it and we get some more Indigenous players at the highest level."

McLean was only hesitant once - when put on the spot to name his favourite current Indigenous player. Eventually, he settled on two obvious candidates, St Kilda's Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Melbourne's Kysaiah Pickett.

"You have 'Nas' and you have 'Kozi' - they're probably the two, right now. And there's no reason others can't be pushing those guys," he said.