Natoli called on Western Bulldogs premiership star Jake Stringer to address his players during training at St Peters Primary School in Bendigo on Sunday.

The pair have been long-time friends, stretching back to the days Stringer was an under-12s inter-league player under the coaching of Natoli.

"Peter and Lisa Natoli have been good friends of ours and Blake (Natoli) and my best mate Koe Ngawati are playing in the carnival, so it's  a good opportunity to come down and show my face to the boys and give them some support," he said.

"Hopefully I can try and get the community behind a great cause - it's not just about the indigenous (people), it's about bringing everyone in the community together.

"It's a wonderful thing the indigenous people have their own carnival and celebration, but there is some non-indigenous players as well."

This is the second year running Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation have co-hosted the carnival.

About 70 football and netball teams over the weekend, with grand finals to be played on Sunday afternoon.

Each of the 21 football teams contesting the carnival is allowed two non-indigenous players, with Sandhurst 2016 premiership midfielder Ngawati and Eaglehawk's Blake Natoli filling the role for Bendigo.

Stringer has two indigenous teammates at the Bulldogs - premiership defender Joel Hamling and midfielder Kobe Stevens, who missed the grand final triumph.

He said he would watch with interest the Bendigo team's progress over the two days.

The former Bendigo Pioneer and Eaglehawk player is still coming to terms with the Bulldogs' stunning grand final win and first premiership since 1954.

"It's been a whirlwind - to be honest I think it;s only just starting to sink in, if it even is," Stringer said.

"It was an amazing week.

"The support and the amount of people that were behind us was unbelievable.

"Because you get so caught up with what you have to do and what the team needs to do, you don't sort of get the whole feel of it all. Afterwards, it is quite touching.”

Natoli said he was encouraging players to get around each other, be positive and enjoy the carnival.

"Jake had a talk to me about how they were at the Bulldogs this year - it was all about playing happy and enjoyment," he said.

"If you are happy and enjoying your football your confidence shows out and you actually work harder and play for each other.

"That what I've been trying to instil in the lads here."

The carnival will be bolstered by the on-field preence of a sprinkling of former AFL stars including West Coast's David Wirrpanda