Essendon great Michael Long rates Port Adelaide forward Shaun Burgoyne as "tremendous" and says he should be the AFL team's next captain.

Long, who has served as a role model to many of today's 72 indigenous players in the AFL, says they are now inspiring a new generation of children.

"Kids looked up to us - no doubt these players are having the same influence," Long said at the launch of this weekend's indigenous round.

"No doubt kids look up to Peter Burgoyne and Shaun Burgoyne - who I think will be the next, hopefully the next, captain of Port Power, I think he's tremendous," Long said in Adelaide.

"These guys are enormous, I think their status within the community is very important,

"I think football and sport has become very influential changing our kids' lives.

"I think most importantly there are other things that we have to strive for and be better at in terms of health and education for the future."

Long had a trailblazing 190-game career at Essendon, becoming an unofficial spokesman for indigenous players.

The two-time premiership player won the Norm Smith Medal as best afield in the 1993 grand final and continues to be a leader in the indigenous community.

© 2008 AAP
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