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.
Kuwarna have unveiled its 2025 First Nations guernsey, designed by former player and Wirangu man Graham Johncock and Wirangu artist Aunty Christine Tschuna.
The guernsey design tells his story from growing up on the far west coast of South Australia to playing juniors at Mallee Park and SANFL at Port Magpies before being drafted by Kuwarna with Pick No.67 in the 2000 National Draft, and eventually returning to Mallee Park at the end of his AFL career.
The Brisbane Lions have launched their 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey, designed by premiership forward Callum Ah Chee's family, led by his eldest brother Jordan.
The story of the jumper represents not only Ah Chee's journey to the Lions but his connection to his parents, brothers and the football club.
Carlton have revealed its 2025 Indigenous guernsey, designed by Yorta Yorta siblings and founders of Bayadherra, Luke and Siena Tieri.
The Indigenous guernsey brings to life the story of connection, resilience and cultural identity.
The artwork pays homage to Luke and Siena's Yorta Yorta ancestry, weaving together cultural patterns and the Club's connection to community, strength and unity.
Designed by First Nations artist Lisa Thorpe, a woman from multiple Clans and Nations across Victoria, the Magpies' SDNR guernsey is inspired by her art piece ‘Wooroongi Biik', meaning ‘Lore of the Land'.
Thorpe's design features a magpie's view of ‘Y'alla-Birr-Ang' (Collingwood) at pre-colonisation, with the six Boonwurrung seasons depicted within its streets and laneways, each serving a purpose in life.
Collaboration and creativity were core focuses for Lucas Waddleton (a Tyerrernotepanner student from Northern Tasmania) and Lawson Richards (a non-Indigenous student) when creating Essendon's 2025 Dreamtime guernsey.
2025's design represents the unity of indigenous and non-indigenous people coming together. Further to that, the gum tree signifies a family tree where the circles represent different groups of people who become connected at a gathering place of humans and animals.
Walyalup's SDNR jumper has been designed by club icon Jeff Farmer, featuring the Dockers' classic colours of purple, white, red and green.
Designed by Worrora, Oomiday and Nyul Nyul artist Meeza Humphries, with contributions from her siblings Lawson, Joshua and Stephanie, and input from parents Jodi and Ross.
The guernsey, titled ‘Saltwater Stories', depicts a typical day in the West Kimberleys, where Meeza and Lawson are traditionally from, and is deeply connected with their family's story and Lawson's journey to the AFL.
The guernsey incorporates colours that are representative of the area, including the turquoise blue of the water throughout the coast, and bears a snake in the colour of the iconic pindan dirt. Animals also hold a significant importance in the design, and have been drawn traditionally by Meeza, depicting the connection they have with water.
The guernsey is designed by Larrakia artist Keelan Fejo and inspired by the Nightcliff Jetty, one of Darwin's most scenic viewing locations where locals and visitors alike gather to watch the sunset.
The design is centred on the sun and features elements representing strength and guidance, including a unique crosshatching technique passed by Fejo's predecessors.
Designed last year by proud Gomeroi man Kayleb Waters, the jumper is called Maaluga Ngarriylanha, which means ‘sitting as one.' The jumper tells a story of unity and the leadership the GIANTS take in reconciliation and moving forward as one.
The jumper was designed to represent the opportunities that the GIANTS provide to communities from all backgrounds and religions, including First Nations people, and their efforts to maintain relationships and connections to culture.
Featuring an artistic kangaroo/bandaar inside the trademark ‘G' on the front of the jumper, the sacred animal symbolises the strength and patience we need as a nation to move forward as one.
The circular shapes and linework displayed on the jumper represent all of mother earth's wisdom and knowledge and connection to country.
The orange circles depicted on the jumper, which represent people gathering and sitting as one, symbolises the communities the GIANTS have impacted with their initiatives and the journey as one to maintain the survival and nourishment of our country.
The tracks and grids featured on the jumper symbolise the path the GIANTS are taking with local communities to build connections and relationships as they overcome obstacles to maintain a journey as one.
Designed by proud Noongar and Yamatji man and Hawthorn's Indigenous Player Development Manager Jamie Bennell.
Bennell's design is centred around the Hawk in the middle of the guernsey, which symbolises power and strength with an eye for hunting down prey and protecting its nest.
The Hawk is landing on the players that represent the brown and gold each game, surrounded by the entire playing list as well as coaches and staff.
At the core of the guernsey is the club's 'nest', representing Hawthorn's 'family club' mantra.
The club will also proudly don the guernsey in Round 17 against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium to celebrate NAIDOC Week.
Kevin Kropinyeri is a proud Ngarrindjeri artist, comedian and sculptor who is the talent behind this year's Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey.
For many keen Dees fans, the Kropinyeri name would be a familiar one and that's because Kevin also happens to be the father of much-loved Demon Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett.
Ngarrindjeri tradition is key to Kevin's design, with the centre of the artwork displaying a shield. The shield represents warriors and symbolises divine protection, faith and resilience.
Upon the chevron and the back of the jumper is an intricate weaving artwork which has been inspired by the important tradition of the Ngarrindjeri People.
The process of weaving is a way to share knowledge and bring people together and has been passed down from ancestors, currently still continuing to connect people to this day.
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.
The Yartapuulti Football Club has unveiled its 2025 First Nations guernsey, designed by AFL legend Gavin Wanganeen.
Wanganeen said the design reflects his cultural connection to the Milky Way, cherished memories of playing football at the historic Alberton Oval, and the people that make up the club.
A striking teal stripe made up of his intricate paint strokes sits at the centre of the guernsey and represents the Milky Way, and the club's heartland.
The traditional ‘V' shape on the guernsey is made up of a series of dainty and detailed white and teal dots.
Richmond is proud to unveil its 2025 Dreamtime guernsey, which has been designed by the Mansell family, Clyde, Brett, and Rhyan, and tells their story and the story of their Country, lumaranatana down to larapuna.
The mutton bird, also known as the moon bird, features on the front of the guernsey, symbolising the connection to the local community.
The sash on the guernsey also features the flock, the land and water, and the fire and smoke.
St Kilda Football Club will once again proudly go by the Boon Wurrung name Euro-Yroke during this year's Sir Doug Nicholls Round, commemorated through a striking guernsey designed by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
The artwork tells the story of Wanganeen-Milera's upbringing and football journey in South Australia, surrounded by family, friends, and his yawa (journey) to Euro-Yroke.
The design's three central elements feature large gathering symbols representing the defender's two cultural groups - the Narungga and Kokatha peoples - surrounded by the community and family who have supported his journey. The third, positioned at the heart of the guernsey, symbolises Moorabbin, with surrounding motifs signifying the club's current First Nations players.
Other key elements include Nasiah's family totems - the wedge-tailed eagle and the kangaroo – with the footprints representing Nasiah's journey to the Saints and dot art forming the backdrop of the piece, embodying fans and others woven into his story.
The new guernsey shares a connection with club's home, Sydney Swans HQ, as it has been adapted from the work of renowned Indigenous artist Jordan Ardler, which is showcased through the Welcome to Country at the club's entrance.
Titled “Wuri Wuri”, which translates from the Dharawal language means “sunshine”, the artwork reflects the Sydney Swans community and is an acknowledgement of the Gadigal and Bidiagal lands on which Sydney Swans HQ stands.
The West Coast Eagles have revealed their First Nations jumper for Sir Doug Nicholls round, designed by Wongutha man Kevin Wilson and Maduwongga and Noongar woman Taryn Woods.
This season's design highlights the importance of family and connection, featuring totems of each of our First Nations players' families, along with several connections to the club.
One striking element of the design is '56 sharp points', representing the First Nations players drafted since the Eagles' inception, symbolising the strong warriors who paved the way, and continue to watch over the players carrying the legacy.
The kangaroo and emu were designed by Woods, symbolising the players always moving forward and progressing as a team.
Designed by Kamilya Lowana White, a proud Aboriginal artist born and raised in Naarm with Kija Bardi heritage on her father's side, the guernsey honours the Bulldogs' current First Nations players and their teammates while also celebrating the Club's reconciliation journey.
A meeting place symbol is central to the design, signifying the Club as a gathering point for its five AFL/W First Nations players.
Each section surrounding this symbol is laid out like a map, moving from Tasmania (bottom red), Victoria (bottom dark blue), south Western Australia (middle blue), north Western Australia (upper red), to central Australia (upper blue).
These represent the Country of respective First Nations players and significant people who have supported them throughout each of their journeys.
