The 72-year-old – elevated to "legend" status in the Australian football hall of fame four years ago – is the last Indigenous man to coach a VFL/AFL team, having been at the helm of North Melbourne from late in 1981 to the end of 1984. He and fellow legend Graham "Polly" Farmer are the only two Indigenous coaches in league history, while only two current assistant coaches are Indigenous: Roger Hayden at Fremantle, and Andy Lovell at Gold Coast.

AFL chief Gill McLachlan will present the next phase of the league's Indigenous plans at a meeting of the Indigenous advisory group on Friday, hours before Sydney and North Melbourne take to the SCG to open the first Indigenous Round since the weekend was rebranded in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls.

The league announced the formation of the Indigenous advisory group last year. Fairfax Media revealed in February that among the recommendations put forward by the group to the AFL Commission was one which would compel AFL clubs to interview Indigenous candidates for coaching positions – a measure similar to the NFL's Rooney Rule.

Cable said while the game had taken great strides in welcoming Indigenous people since his playing and coaching days which stretched from 1962 to 1984, more needed to be done to ensure they were given the chance to ascend to top positions within football. The issue extends to club boards – with none of the 18 clubs having an Indigenous board member.

"Part of the reason [for the dearth of Indigenous coaches] has been the fact that they haven't been given the opportunity. And because of that they've always thought maybe it's not for them," Cable said.

"But I think the more we keep going down this track I'm hoping we will get some of them that will come forward, take up those roles, or at least be interested in those roles. I think that'd be great."

Cable said high-powered discussions such as the ones undertaken by the advisory group were necessary to engender change. "By doing that they might be able to guide some of the younger [Indigenous coaching aspirants] into thinking seriously about it, and that it's not beyond them. I think that's the big thing."

Other recommendations tabled by the advisory board included the appointment of the first Indigenous AFL commissioner – a suggestion is expected to materialise by 2018 – and the possibility that Indigenous coaches could fall outside the football department salary cap.

Cable lauded the work done by the Kangaroos, who earlier this week launched their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). "It's just great to see the club's going to get themselves really involved in that and really make a big difference."

Reflecting on his time in the game, Cable said football had come "a long way" in its dealings with Indigenous people. "It was pretty tough [when I was involved], and when you go further back it was really tough.

"Things have changed, which you would expect of course. As you go forward, things should get better.

"It's just great to think North have now shown initiative in their own club to really come forward and do something about it.

"Something had to be done. When you consider all the players that are playing all around Australia, I think it's about time that people started to realise that Indigenous people are the same as what they are – head, two arms, two legs – and they should be treated as such."