In the ensuing weeks the controversy raged on, with Goodes continually booed by crowds at grounds around the country.

The saga was an indictment on those who jeered the dual Brownlow Medal and Premiership winning champion.

But two years later, with the round now named after Indigenous Australian icon Sir Douglas Nicholls, a different on-field image emerged to remember this year's Aboriginal round. And it was provided by players both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Namely, Trent Cotchin, Alex Rance, Dyson Heppell, Eddie Betts, Michael Walters, Stefan Martin and Lynden Dunn. They were among a handful of players who chose to swap their specially designed Sir Douglas Nicholls Round jumpers with opposition players.

It happens all the time in soccer, but it's a custom not often seen in Australian football. However, on the weekend the jumper-swapping took place at several grounds, on the field, right after the games had ended.

One memorable instance of jumper-swapping in the AFL was in 2015, when Geelong's Cam Guthrie shocked many when he asked his childhood-hero Chris Judd if they could swap jumpers.

The players clearly enjoy the occasion that this Indigenous round has become. They recognise it as something special and feel comfortable to put aside normal custom and swap their guernseys in plain sight of fiercely partisan supporters.

Rance looked pretty good in the Bombers strip, by the way, although Cotchin couldn't really fit into Heppell's. He chose to wear a tracksuit jacket over his bare torso instead.

Dunn and Martin, old teammates from their Melbourne days, swapped jumpers on the MCG while Betts and Sloane stood out in their Fremantle guernseys singing the Crows' song in the rooms.

Meanwhile at Domain Stadium in Perth, Lewis Jetta performed an Indigenous dance after he scored a goal in the first quarter. It's unlikely he'll be derided like Goodes was two years ago, so maybe we've learnt.