Whelan, who is set to play his 150th and final match for Melbourne against St Kilda at the MCG on Sunday (and become the first indigenous Demon to reach that milestone), says there is plenty of top-end talent capable of playing at the highest level.
"I believe there are a lot of people up in Darwin, who can play AFL football, but probably struggle to leave their family," he told melbournefc.com.au.
"When I was 18 or 19, I said to my old man: 'I'm going interstate to play footy'. He told me I wasn't. I said: 'I've already organised it'. So I went to South Australia first.
"I am proud that I actually wanted something, went after it and achieved it, so that's something I'm most proud of."
Whelan, who is one of six indigenous players on Melbourne's 2009 list, has become a mentor for Aaron Davey, Austin Wonaeamirri, Liam Jurrah, Neville Jetta and Jamie Bennell.
But he said it was important to be a role model – not just for indigenous players – but for all youngsters coming through.
"When you first come from interstate you get homesick very easily – not just for indigenous kids – but the fact we've got five other indigenous kids at the club makes life a lot easier [for them]," Whelan said.
"Speaking to Liam, when he was at Collingwood last year, he was never able to mix in properly, because he was on the VFL list. He wasn't able to mingle with some of the indigenous kids there and the fact that they were from WA means they are a bit different from blokes from the NT.
"I've played with Liam's dad and he knows 'Aussie' [Wonaeamirri] … and it makes it so much easier, because you have someone to relate to, someone to talk to and someone who knows where you are coming from."
Whelan said he was grateful to past Demons Scott Chisholm and Jeff Farmer, who helped him when he arrived at Melbourne after being drafted in the 1999 AFL Draft (No.50).
"I lived with Scott Chisholm in my first year and I'm thankful for him, for taking me in and looking after me and Jeff Farmer, who basically taught me everything I know about small forwards," he said.
"I used to play on him at training a fair bit and he gave me some great advice and what he hated small backmen doing to him, so that's what I tried to take into games and do to other small forwards.
"I'm indebted to those two."
After taking Davey under his wing, Whelan has passed the baton on to him. Davey is now a role model and confidant to Wonaeamirri, Jurrah, Bennell and Jetta.
"Aaron has basically taken over my role. He still bounces ideas off me, if he's got any troubles, he generally comes to me, but he looks after the younger fellas more," Whelan said.
"If he can't figure out what to do, they'll come to me, so we work together.
"Even the coaching or fitness staff, if they've got any problems with any of the young guys, they come to us and we'll work a way around it, get back to them and give them an idea or what to say or how to approach it."
As for his post-AFL plans, Whelan hoped to forge a career in indigenous welfare, preferably in Victoria, although he was open to options. He will also lace up the boots again – but not in the AFL.
"I'm going to play somewhere at a lower level. I'm not too sure where, but we'll just wait and see what happens. I've had a few offers that have come my way," he said.
"For work, hopefully I'll be involved in indigenous welfare. I've got a couple of offers outside, so I'll weigh up what's best for me and my family at the moment.
"I'll look at doing that and playing a bit of footy."
