Eighteen years and 403 AFL premiership matches after the Adelaide Crows first appeared, they were on Monday given permission to play at their West Lakes home by the land's traditional owners.

The Crows began the AFL's indigenous round observances by hosting a Greetings to the Country ceremony, conducted by members of the Kaurna people - Adelaide's longtime indigenous inhabitants.

Adelaide have over the years lacked the proud indigenous tradition on display at clubs like Essendon and Port Adelaide, the torch carried largely alone by Andrew McLeod and Graham Johncock.

However a raft of indigenous draftees in recent years have upped the Crows' Aboriginal contingent to seven in 2008.

McLeod said it had been valuable to take part in a ceremony that allowed the Crows to recognise their indigenous players as well as the original owners of the land.

"We all come from different groups around Australia, so to be welcomed onto the land by the traditional owners is something important to all Aboriginal people, and it happens wherever you go," McLeod said.

"So I was honoured to be welcomed onto Kaurna land and to have their permission to play footy here.

"It's great we've got seven Aboriginal players in our team and hopefully down the track we can improve on that as well, but to have 70 odd in the competition as well it's great, and wonderful the AFL can dedicate a round to indigenous people.

"Over my time I've played with a few Aboriginal boys but to be where we are now it's a great reward for the fact the club has got great service out of some of the Aboriginal blokes and it gives us confidence to employ some more."

One player singled out during the ceremony was in-form Crow Brett Burton, who was told he "must have some kangaroo blood in him" to be able to leap like he does, most recently in taking a hanger over Melbourne's Matthew Warnock on Sunday.

"He's pretty exciting isn't he, just taken his game to another level and it's just great to have `Bird' out there, but to have him out there injury free and creating havoc is awesome to see," McLeod said.

"His stuff off the ball and in general play that goes unnoticed he's continuing to improve.

"A key for Brett is he's got his body right, giving him the best opportunity to produce his best footy and that's something as a club we're grateful he's been able to keep his body sound.

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