Family, culture and pride: The stories behind every AFL Indigenous jumper

The AFL is celebrating Sir Doug Nicholls Round over rounds 10 and 11, recognising the rich history and culture of the game’s Indigenous players.

Here are the stories behind every club’s Indigenous guernseys, which will all proudly take centre stage over the next two weekends.

They are stories of family, connection, country and pride.

Adelaide

Adelaide’s guernsey is designed by AFLW premiership player Danielle Ponter’s aunty, Anmatyerr educator and artist April Napangardi Campbell from the Ti Tree community in the Northern Territory. The main theme is of connection, and a club inclusive of all Crows players, staff, members, fans and communities.

It has a particularly special meaning as the artwork brought Ponter and Campbell together for the first time in person, having only ever spoken over the phone previously, after the family lost connection with Ponter’s grandfather on her mother’s side when he was forcibly removed as a two-year-old.

Brisbane Lions

The Lions’ jumper is designed by premiership players Des Headland and Ash McGrath and incorporates their heritage, the story of their families, and their journeys from Western Australia to Brisbane, with the Swan River on the left and the Brisbane River on the right, with the Gabba in the middle.

Carlton

Designed by Tiwi woman Russellina “Russy” Puruntatameri, the Blues’ guernsey reflects traditional Tiwi culture. It represents the Kulama ceremony, an annual celebration of life and an important ritual for young men, and the strength of the Tiwi women, through Pamajini (arm bands) and spear. It will be worn by both AFL and AFLW teams this year.

In addition, Carlton’s players, and coach Michael Voss, will also wear individually designed boots, by Mandandanji and Noonuccal woman Kirralee Costelloe. “Each boot came with what the boys wanted. So, their tribe name or what tribe they wanted to represent if they weren’t Indigenous, and the colours they wanted and then number,” Costelloe said.

“It’s so cool that everyone gets a jersey, that’s amazing because it sort of tells the story of the club and our land and stuff like that, but each player having their own story on their boots, I feel it’s just extra special for the players running out.”

Collingwood

The jumper features circles within the black stripes. Each one is unique and represents the people, and their stories, that make up Collingwood. It is designed by Djab Wurrong and Kirrae Wurrong artist Tarni Jarvis, telling the story of how the people and groups that make up the club connect with the community.

Essendon

Essendon’s guernsey is designed by two students from Thornbury Primary School – Momo Wilcox and Jackie Sinclair. It features Waa the Crow’s open wings to create the sash. Waa is the protector spirit and a totem for the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Eastern Kulin nation.

The circles in the background show the connection between the Bombers’ teammates, coaches and staff. At the bottom of Essendon’s jumper, people are standing arm-in-arm, representing the backgrounds of everyone who has contributed to the club.

“It is very important to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of Indigenous sporting greats and Indigenous people who have had to overcome barriers of prejudice and discrimination,” said young Bomber Tex Wanganeen, the son of Essendon and Port Adelaide great Gavin Wanganeen. “Achieving such accolades through these barriers inspires young Indigenous people and encourages them to participate more in sport and aspire to reach the top level.”

Walyalup (Fremantle)

Fremantle announced in February that during Indigenous rounds the club would be named Walyalup. This year’s jumper is designed by Carly Grey in tandem with Dockers captain Alex Pearce. The two are close friends, hailing from palawa country in Tasmania.

It includes a yarning circle to illustrate Pearce’s connection to Aboriginal culture through his grandmother and his three uncles, and shells that connect to the women at the club. There is also an outline of lutruwita (Tasmania) and yula birds.

Geelong

Awabakal woman Michelle Searle tells the story of coming together, sharing, caring and supporting one another in her design for Geelong. The stars at the top represent meeting place and navigation towards each other, while the hoops, dots and circles represent things that are brought to share, including food, flowers, and knowledge. The roots also represent the choices that can lead people down many pathways in life.

Gold Coast

Suns defender and Indigenous artist Jy Farrar has designed Gold Coast’s guernsey, with contribution from the community. The centrepiece of the design represents the club, and it is surrounded by fans watching a game at the Suns’ meeting place (Heritage Bank Stadium).

The crocodile, designed by Larrakia man and artist Trent Lee, represents the Northern Territory and the players connected with its lands and waterways, while the eagle, designed by Yugambeh man and artist Luther Cora, represents the Gold Coast, and is a totem to some traditional custodians of the land.

GWS

GWS’ guernsey is designed by Leeanne Hunter, proud descendant of the Wiradjuri nation of Aboriginal people, and called Ngurra, which means country and connection in Darug language. It depicts the Giants’ home ground on freshwater country, with the region of Wwstern Sydney surrounded by rivers and bushland.

The large round orange circles on the front represent the areas that the players come from to come together, the footsteps represent their impact in western Sydney and the leaf on the back reflects the surrounding bushland of the region.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn’s guernsey is designed by Wagiman man and Indigenous artist Nathan Patterson and inspired by Yorta Yorta man and player Jarman Impey. The many meeting places represent the home ground, where the club comes together to share in the pride and passion of Hawthorn. “It was an absolute pleasure and honour to design a guernsey for this great club and represent my Yorta mob, family, friends and community,” Impey said.

Narrm (Melbourne)

Narrm’s guernsey is designed by sand artist Lowell Hunter, a Nyul Nyul Saltwater Man from the Kimberley region in WA but who lives in Geelong (on Wadawurrung country). It centres around fire and the significance of storytelling among First Nations culture, and depicts two suns which reflect reconciliation. The back features the names of the club’s Indigenous players.

North Melbourne

North Melbourne’s jumper is called “Connecting Through Identity” and is the work of Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett. It is inspired by the club’s three Indigenous AFL players, Jy Simpkin (Yorta Yorta), Tarryn Thomas (Kamilaroi and Lumaranatana) and Phoenix Spicer (Numbulwar). Each player’s totem is shown, with the long-necked turtle (Simpkin), the platypus and the goanna (Thomas) and the barramundi (Spicer), and the inclusion of Bunjil the eagle (the creator spirit) pays respect to the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners of the land on which Arden St Oval sits. “Each one of us Indigenous boys have our own totems on the jumper, which is really cool,” Simpkin, North Melbourne’s co-captain, said. “Mine is the long-necked turtle which represents where I am from, my community and my family. To have that individualised for Tarryn, Phoenix and I is really special.”

Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide)

Yartapuulti’s jumper was created by two-time premiership player Peter Burgoyne and Adelaide artist Laz Gein. The front centres around a beautifully intricate eagle, with its wings forming the classic “V” shape. It depicts several generations of Burgoynes including Peter’s son and current Yartapuulti player, Jase Burgoyne, and Mirning and Kokatha elder Peter Burgoyne snr, who played SANFL football for Port Adelaide in the 1970s. “I stand here a proud Mirning, Kokatha and Warai man,” Peter Burgoyne said. “One of the three generations of Burgoynes that played here on Kaurna land. History, culture, and family all connect to this club, and this land … The eagle represents a cultural totem of my grandfather and was passed on to me. This eagle is the main centrepiece of the design, to pay respect to my grandfather, who passed away during Covid, and we couldn’t attend his burial on our Gulngarring homelands due to borders being closed.”

Richmond

Richmond’s guernsey is designed by assistant coach and Larrakia and Amrreamo/Marritjavin man Xavier Clarke and his family. The artwork on the sash is from an original painting by Xavier’s uncle Timothy Dumoo, and depicts a wangka (dance) from Clarke’s clan of the Moyle River floodplains in which Elders call on their ancestors to protect and guide people. “I have two girls at home, and Zena is now four. She was pretty excited last year that [Richmond player] Marlion [Pickett] designed the jumper, and she got to wear one, and she is even more excited this year that I have been able to design it, and she gets to wear that as well,” Clarke said. “That probably makes me prouder than anything.”

St Kilda

St Kilda’s guernsey was created by Indigenous artist Jade Kennedy of the Noongar nation (Wadjak, Willman, Kaartdijin and Bibulman) and represents the yawa, or journey, of the club and its First Nations players and their families. It celebrates “Ganbu marnang n’uther boolong” – the Boonwurrung translation of “150th year” for the Saints’ anniversary, and features the totems of Bradley Hill, Jade Gresham, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager, Isaac Keeler, Jack Peris and J’Noemi Anderson.

Sydney

Sydney are wearing the club’s Marn Grook jumper, designed by Wiradjuri woman Lua Pellegrini, and is called “Duguwaybul Yindyamangidyal”, which means “altogether respectfully: respect, gentleness, politeness, honour, careful, altogether as one”. It represents the 19 Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders who have played for the club. “To have myself on there, representing my people back home in Adelaide – the Narungga/Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna people – that for me is really special, as it would be for all the other players who have represented the club,” said Swans great Michael O’Loughlin.

West Coast

West Coast’s guernsey is designed by AFLW player and Kija and Jaru woman Krstel Petrevski, who consulted elders Simon Forrest and Vivienne Hansen. It uses feathers, a pathway drawing and boomerangs to illustrate a theme of connection, unity and love for the club.

Western Bulldogs

The front of the Bulldogs’ jersey features an eel (kooyang) intertwined throughout the red, white and blue hoops. The eel represents many things for Gunditjmara people, including resilience, as well as being an important resource for food and trade. The jumper was designed by Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta man Jason Walker and represents Mirring (country), where the Bulldogs are affiliated in south-west Victoria, and the Bulldogs’ staff, players and supporters connection to country.

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