THAT Port Adelaide's Daniel Motlop can honestly say he has never been racially vilified on the football field is a strong indicator of how far the game has progressed for the AFL's fleet of indigenous players.

Ahead of the indigenous heritage round, Motlop spoke happily of the recognition he now rightfully received, and paid tribute to the paths first uncovered by Michael McLean, Gavin Wanganeen, Michael Long and others.

The round will be particularly significant for the Power, given that Wanganeen, the Burgoyne brothers, Che Cockatoo-Collins, Shane Bond and now Motlop have had a significant impact on the early history of the club, including the 2004 premiership.

"They've got a good background with indigenous players, served the club well, Gavin, Shane Bond, Che Cockatoo-Collins, they're just off the top of my head, so hopefully we can carry that tradition on," Motlop said.

"Michael Long and guys like Michael McLean handled that (racial) stuff pretty well and it's all been stamped out - I've never actually experienced any on the footy field so it's a credit to them, Long, McLean and Nicky Winmar, all those names."

Motlop smiled when relating how he had become an example for indigenous youth, just as he had watched Wanganeen, and switched allegiance from Essendon to Port Adelaide when his hero moved west in 1997.

"I watched Gavin at Essendon, when he went to Port I started barracking for them as well, Peter's from Darwin, mainly the Northern Territory boys, Daryl White, Michael McLean, Michael Long," he said.

"Footy does a lot for indigenous people all over the country, so everyone that plays AFL is a leader - I feel like a leader to Nathan Krakouer and other young guys."