Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says Leon Davis' 200th AFL game is a "landmark day" for the club given the episodes of racial vilification in the Magpies' past.

The small forward on Saturday became the first indigenous player to reach the milestone for Collingwood, against Carlton at the MCG.

McGuire said the Magpies had built themselves as a club for "anyone who's disassociated" but there were regrettable parts of their history that did not reflect that attitude.

"We did go the wrong way, we were racial vilifiers, not standing up for the people that we should be looking after, which are the people being vilified," McGuire said at a pre-game function.

"We've turned that around and Leon Davis is the personification of that in our team, a young man from Western Australia, who's played exciting, great football.

"And now at 29 years of age, he plays his 200th game and becomes the first indigenous player to wear the black and white stripes in 200 games.

"It's a wonderful landmark day for our club. Do not underestimate what it means to all of us close to Collingwood.

"We love Leon Davis, we love what he stands for and we know that he has made our club such a better club for his patronage of our football club."

Collingwood's history of poor race relations includes then-Collingwood president Allan McAlister infamously stating in 1993 that Aboriginal people were welcome at the club provided they behaved like white people.

That comment came soon after indigenous St Kilda star Nicky Winmar bared his skin to the crowd at the Magpies' then-home ground Victoria Park, in defiance of racial taunting from Collingwood fans.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP