Every AFL club's 2023 Indigenous guernsey

Every year the AFL pays respect to Indigenous culture with two rounds that show a beautiful display of art and traditions depicted on their playing guernseys. Sir Doug Nicholls was a fighter for social justice and became the first Aboriginal-Australian to be knighted in 1972, and his impact continues on even today. Here's how each AFL club will be suiting up for Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Adelaide Crows https://twitter.com/Adelaide_FC/status/1653339293824483328 The Crows guernsey created by Anmatyerr educator and artist, April Napangardi Campbell, is AFLW star Danielle Ponter's aunty from the Northern Territory. The message depicted on the guernsey is a connection in reflection on how this project brought Ponter with her aunty for the first time. The connection meaning also focuses on being one club including all players, staff, and fans. Brisbane Lions https://twitter.com/brisbanelions/status/1655860051243069442 Brisbane has been consistently voted to have one of the best-looking Indigenous guernseys and they may have upped the standard again. Des Headland and Ash McGrath, both part of Brisbane's famous three-peat, have come together to design a symbolic piece featuring parts of the Brisbane River and Swan River in Perth. The guernsey is divided with Headlands story on the left side and McGraths on the right. Symbols tell the story of family and the storyline of the Fitzroy and Bears merger. Carlton Blues https://twitter.com/CarltonFC/status/1655830772799139841 Carlton has launched their Guernsey after proud Tiwi woman Russellina Puruntatameri and is inspired by the Kulama Ceremony. The ceremony runs over three days and three nights with singing and dancing that occurs at the end of the wet season in the Northern Territory with a ring around the moon. Symbols on the guernsey recognise young men and women to be strong. Collingwood Magpies https://twitter.com/CollingwoodFC/status/1656120798514663424 Curated by Djab Wurrong and Tarni Jarvis, the artwork "captured the different people who are a part of the club and the Collingwood community, from its players and staff to the supporters," quoted Jarvis. The design will also be used in the club's netball team's upcoming matches. Essendon Bombers https://twitter.com/essendonfc/status/1652931105778024449 Unlike other clubs, Essendon has opted to have two students from Thornbury Primary School in Melbourne design their jumper. Momo Willcox, a young girl born in Wurundjeri Woiwurrung country, and Jackie Sinclair combined with the club for the 19th instalment of Dreamtime at the 'G. The guernsey features a crow with its wide wing representing a connection with figures at the bottom linking with arms to further this statement. Fremantle Dockers (Walyalup) https://twitter.com/freodockers/status/1656467819482185728 Carly Grey and Fremantle captain Alex Pearce, friends from the Palawa country, have together created the 2023 Indigenous jumper. "I'm incredibly proud, its been a really cool process." Pearce stated. The Guernsey tells the story of Pearce's heritage and his journey from Tasmania to Fremantle. He also mentions that it's exciting to have connections back in Tasmania after the announcement of the 19th AFL License just a couple of weeks back. Geelong Cats https://twitter.com/GeelongCats/status/1656194442058170369 Michelle Searle is an artist from the Awabakal country in Newcastle, New South Wales. She designed the guernsey to represent Geelong and its fans. She says that the stars are made to represent the meeting under one sky and the centre of guernsey to show us coming together and sharing. Towards the bottom of the guernsey shows all the different life paths as well as a wavy pattern as a symbol of having arms wrapped around each other. Gold Coast Suns https://twitter.com/GoldCoastSUNS/status/1656425665720381440 Suns Defender Jy Farrar has put his hand into creating the Indigenous jumper for the Suns. "I am proud to have my artwork featured on our 2023 Indigenous Guernseys," he said. The guernsey has fingerprints of Suns fans all over, but more importantly a crocodile totem that represents players from the Northern Territory's land and waterways and an eagle to represent the Gold Coast traditional custodians. GWS Giants https://twitter.com/GWSGIANTS/status/1655482671319982080 GWS have reintroduced Leeanne Hunter as an artist for their Indigenous Guernsey after doing their 2019 Guernsey as well. The jumper named 'Ngurra' means country and connection in the Darug language, which is the native tongue of Western Sydney. The guernsey represents the geographical significance of the land GWS play on. Footprints further symbolise the Giants' impact on Western Sydney. Hawthorn https://twitter.com/HawthornFC/status/1658396362306912257 Wagiman artist Nathan Patterson has been inspired by Hawks star Jarman Impey with his design. The art is an inclusive design of all players and fans no matter how far away they are. The Hawk with its wing spread is to show pride and protect everyone part of the Hawthorn Family. Melbourne Demons https://twitter.com/melbournefc/status/1653992369497456640 Lowell Hunter, a proud Nyul Nyul man from Kimberly in Western Australia has a strong connection with the ocean. He uses his feet shown in the clip above, to map out his artwork into sand. However, he doesn't drag his feet in the sand but rather uses footwork from traditional dances. "So, for me, it's about grounding, its a process of connecting to country, it's a process of slowing down the mind, body and spirit and connecting into the spiritual world of who we are as Indigenous people," Hunter told Melbourne Media North Melbourne https://twitter.com/NMFCOfficial/status/1655513119500951552 Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett is the woman behind North's 2023 Indigenous Guernsey. Titled and inspired by the club's three Indigenous players (Jy Simpkin, Tarryn Thomas, and Phoenix Spicer) and their connection to kinship country. “This came about by yarning to all the players and a key interest in where they come from, who they are, who their mobs are, and their connection to their kinship," she said. Port Adelaide (Yartapuulti) https://twitter.com/PAFC/status/1657679647012982784 Premiership player Peter Burgoyne and local artist Laz Gein have collaborated to create a guernsey that features the Burgoynes through the generations including Peter Burgoyne Snr who featured in Port's SANFL side in the 1970s. The eagle is a totem of Peter Burgoyne's grandfather that had been passed on to him. Richmond Tigers https://twitter.com/Richmond_FC/status/1656087057557770240 Northern Territory local and proud Larrakia man Xavier Clarke has two responsibilities with Richmond, coaching and designing this year's Dreamtime at the G' guernsey. Clarke has taken artwork from his Uncle, Timothy Dumoo, and used it for the sash that represents a dance from the Larrakia people. The dance tells a story of elders protecting all when on their land and guiding them in making the right decisions. The jumper also has 42 Merrepen leaves to represent each player on the list. St Kilda https://twitter.com/stkildafc/status/1656207760751747074 Jade Kennedy from Noongar Nation represents the journey of the club and its players whilst the club celebrates its 150th anniversary. Totems from Bradley Hill, Jade Gresham, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager, Isaac Keeler, Jack Peris and J'Noemi Anderson are all depicted after playing at least one senior game but also referring to the future of the club. The yellow stripe is about the Saints in 1915-22 which was used in solidarity with Belgium in World War I. Sydney Swans The Sydney Swans do not have a new guernsey for the 2023 season instead opting to use last year's guernsey. The guernsey named 'Marn Grook' represents the 19 Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander players and was designed by proud Wiradjuri woman Lua Pellegrini. [caption id="attachment_131454" align="alignnone" width="2560"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 27: Lance Franklin of the Swans celebrates winning the round 11 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Richmond Tigers at Sydney Cricket Ground on May 27, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)[/caption] West Coast Eagles https://twitter.com/WestCoastEagles/status/1656539178455420928 AFLW West Coast player Krstel Petrevski has created an artwork that shares a message on connection, unity and love of the Eagles. Petrevski is from the Kimberly region but asked elders from the area to confirm what symbols should be featured. "I am so grateful to be asked to design the First Nations Guernsey for the West Coast Eagles and I can't wait to see the players wear it on the field," Petrevski told the club media. The circles each represent the different programs run by the Eagles and the feathers as a nod to past players and staff of the Eagles. The guernsey also has a message of acceptance of everyone and that the club unites in mind, body and spirit. Western Bulldogs https://twitter.com/westernbulldogs/status/1656524597817397248 Artist Jason Walker from Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta country has created a design that for the first time in club history will be worn across all leagues (AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW). The Design incorporates Mirring Country in which the Bulldogs are based. The design has each player, staff, and supporter's journey in life and the connection to the land. The eel on the front represents the local people and their resilience.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	GC	3	3	0	12	191
2	WB	3	3	0	12	137.2
3	SYD	3	2	1	8	139.5
4	HAW	3	2	1	8	118.1
5	FRE	2	1	1	4	121.1
6	NMFC	2	1	1	4	116.3
7	PORT	2	1	1	4	109.3
8	ADEL	2	1	1	4	104.6
9	COLL	2	1	1	4	98.7
10	STK	3	1	2	4	92.3

Every AFL club’s 2023 Indigenous guernsey

See what jumper your club will be wearing for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

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