As we near Rounds 10 and 11, the AFL competition will take a moment to recognise the contributions of the Indigenous people to the game over a two-week block, dedicated to Sir Doug Nicholls.
All 18 clubs have specifically designed guernseys to commemorate the fortnight of football, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Nicholls lived in the 20th century and was a major catalyst for reconciliation, becoming the first Aboriginal Australian to be knighted in 1972.
He also played for Northcote and Fitzroy in the 1920s and 1930s, as well as representing Victoria in football.
Nicholls was a VFA premiership player for Northcote in 1929 and coached them in 1947.
Below are the write-ups from the clubs detailing the meanings and reasoning behind the designs.
North Melbourne
Inspired by Senior Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO and brought to life by Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett.
The design titled ‘walert morrok goattak', which means possum skin cloak in Woi Wurrung language, honours the club's existence on Wurundjeri Country for 100 years and Aunty Joy's connection to the club for over 10 years.
For tens of thousands of years, possum skin cloaks have protected First Nations people from cold and rain, mapped Country and told lifelong stories.
Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett tells the story of 'walert morrok goattak', our 2025 @AFL Indigenous guernsey!#Kangas pic.twitter.com/FIPZ4ViQ19
— North Melbourne FC (@NMFCOfficial) April 30, 2025
