CHANCE Bateman will create Hawthorn history on Saturday when he becomes the first indigenous player to captain Hawthorn Football Club against West Coast at Aurora Stadium.

Bateman’s appointment as acting captain is an honour to embrace this week’s AFL Indigenous Round.

Round 9 celebrates the unique contribution indigenous athletes have made to Australian football and role the game plays in their own communities.

In his eighth year at the Club, the hard running Hawk said he was honoured to be asked by Captain Richie Vandenberg to step into the top leaders position.

“It’s a honour and privilege to become the first indigenous player to captain Hawthorn,” Bateman said.

“I am really looking forward to leading my teammates onto the ground on Saturday.”

It is not the first time Bateman has made history at the Hawks. In Round 8 2005 he became the first indigenous footballer to play 50 games for Hawthorn, a goal he set out to achieve after he was drafted from Western Australia in 1999.

His first five seasons at the Club were hampered with injuries including osteitis pubis, torn hamstrings and a shoulder reconstruction but since the end of 2005 he has been one of the Hawks most consistent and important performers.

Bateman has played 80 matches with the Hawks, is a member of the leadership group and represented Australia in last year’s International Rules Series.

Bateman is one of three indigenous players at Hawthorn that includes Mark Williams and Lance Franklin.

Before this current crop, Cyril Collard was the first indigenous footballer to play for Hawthorn. He played a total of 13 games for the Hawks between 1957 and 1958. Northern Territorian Willie Rioli, recruited from South Fremantle, and Victorian Robert Bowden from Robinvale made it on Hawthorn’s list but were unable to debut for a senior game. Djaran Whyman spent time on the Club’s rookie list in 2002 while Harry Miller played 18 matches from 2004-2006.