This is my favourite “theme” Round that the AFL does to promote a cause or honor a group of people.  In this case, it is Sir Doug Nicholls, a pioneer in advocating for Aboriginal people’s rights in Australia. You can read last year’s post to discover about the man and what he was able to accomplish and why he is such a big deal.

This year, we will be concentrating on the guernseys themselves, what they mean, and how you can buy them.

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In alphabetical order:

Adelaide Crows

What it means:

Where to get it: $120 AUD

Brisbane Lions

pic.twitter.com/grb1ZiNuG3

— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) May 14, 2019

What it means:

The Brisbane Lions 2019 Indigenous guernsey pays homage to the Club’s four indigenous players by displaying their individual totem or birth sign.

The guernsey, to be worn in Sir Doug Nicholls Round in Fremantle and again in Round 11 at The Gabba, was designed by Derek Oram, a proud Birri Gubba-Barada Ghungullu-Darumbul man.

Oram’s design was painted by hand on two canvases, for the front and back of the guernsey.

The two paintings reflect country, specifically south-east Queensland and displays a traditional map focusing on ancient and culturally significant parts of the Brisbane CBD.

The small white dots represent the old travelling pathways of Indigenous ancestors between meeting places. These tracks are now the main roads used to link the suburbs of Brisbane.

The yellow circles spread across the mountains represent camp fires (darlo). The darlo’s are either surrounded by white or black dots. The white dots surrounding the darlo are places where men would typically reside, in the high country overlooking and protecting their families below. The black dots represent the women in the lower parts of country, close to billabongs and creeks, which were used for sacred women’s business, including birthing holes.

The Lions colours have been incorporated into the sunset that blends the mountains into the night sky.

Embedded within the stars is each players’ totem including Ally Anderson’s emu; Cedric Cox’s lizard and Allen’s Christensen’s flying fox.

Charlie Cameron’s goanna ties in with the Yuggara people’s totem, the people of Brisbane, and is displayed near the bottom of the guersney. The goanna or Bungkurr is Cameron’s birth sign and later became his traditional name. His totem is Thanba, a shovel nose shark which is the male totem from the Gunbah Clan of Mornington Island.

Oram said he was proud to feature the players’ totems and birth sign in his design as they are intrinsic to Indigenous people’s lives.

“To give a totem, it belongs to a family… you don’t just get them, it gets passed down through your family, through your elders from generation to generation,” Oram said.

Where to get it: $100 AUD (for kids version, Didn’t see the adult version on sale)

Carlton Blues

What it means:

The design entails the iconic Navy Blue with meaningful indigenous symbols which represents family, strength, protection and highlights the path each individual player has taken on their journey to Carlton.

Shelley Ware, a proud Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman from South Australia, was the creator of the guernsey.

Ware said she felt privileged to create the Blues’ 2019 Indigenous guernsey.

“It’s an honour to have my design chosen for the guernsey, and for the design I wanted to show what comes to my mind when I think of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man,” Ware said.

“I picture a warrior standing strong and proud for his people, so I asked artist Michael Harding to draw the shield and spear of the warrior. To show the strength and grace of the warrior ready for battle,” Ware said.  

“The guernsey features the sun on the players left shoulder, the giver of life. I included my totem, the Wedge-tailed Eagle, to watch over and keep them safe. Across the back, you can see ancestors in the stars, showing those who led the way before them and now watch over and guide the players.”

Where to get it: $120 AUD

Collingwood Magpies

What it means:

The 2019 Collingwood Magpies Indigenous Guernsey was designed by Lea-Anne Miller.

The inner circle represents the players, united as one entity.

The dots around the players represent the families, staff and those connected and supporting the team day to day. Much the same as a traditional camp, the outer circle and dots represent people coming together from different places within the Collingwood community, including our fans and supporters. This piece represents the rich community that provides unwavering support when one of our own is faced with hardship and a time of need.

Where to get it: $120 AUD

Essendon Bombers

What it means:

The colours represent Essendon, Mother Earth and our people. The circles & tracks are the towns and mileage walked by Michael Long.
The square symbols are Michael with his stick and the men who walked with him. The U shapes represent the women who walked.
The circles are the people who came together as a blended community – this is the legacy of the Long Walk. 
– Merryn Apma Atkinson, 2019 Dreamtime Guernsey Artist and Original Long Walker

Where you can get it: $120 AUD

Fremantle Dockers

What it means:

Fremantle Dockers life member Troy Cook looked to his hometown and heritage for inspiration when designing the club’s Indigenous guernsey for the 2019 season.

The jumper was announced at Fremantle’s season launch on Tuesday at the Crown Ballroom and will be worn by Freo in round 10 against the Brisbane Lions on Sunday May 26 at Optus Stadium for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Cook, who grew up in Carnarvon 1000km north of Perth, utilised the landmarks, fauna and cultural connections that have had a lasting impression on his life.

The 150-game player for Fremantle said the Gascoyne River is the central feature of the jumper.

“The middle feature is the Gascoyne River with 25 River Mullet, symbolising the 25-year history of the Fremantle Football Club,” Cook said.

“The river was my oasis. Spearing, lashing, fishing and swimming with family and friends was a regular occurrence.

“The Gascoyne is not a flowing river but to witness the river coming down after heavy rains inland is an amazing experience which brings the surrounding area to life.

“Either side of the river are the tracks of a kangaroo, emu and goanna. Each was hunted as a respected food source for many families. The animals survive around the permanent water holes.

“The Gascoyne’s language groups are acknowledged and represented in people meeting around a fire. They represent the groups that remain and also those who have passed through over time.”

Co-designed with up and coming Carnarvon artist Victor Bellotti, the jumper also represents the multicultural background of many Australians, including Cook.

“This guernsey acknowledges a part of who I am and where I come from,” Cook said.

“I was born in the Year of the Dragon. At the bottom right of the guernsey is the character of the Dragon, representing my Grandfather’s Chinese heritage, on my mother’s side.

The jumper will once again feature the Sorry Day Flower.

The club is honoured to have once again been given permission by the Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation to feature the Sorry Day Flower on this guernsey.

The flower represents the native hibiscus, which survives in harsh conditions and is a symbol of strength, resilience, compassion and understanding with the purple colour also symbolising healing.

Fremantle’s coaching, football and off-field staff will also wear the Sorry Day Flower pin on their lapel during Sir Doug Nicholls Round in unity with our playing group.

Where you can get it: $110 AUD

Geelong Cats

What it means:

“This year’s Sir Doug Nicholls round Guernsey is about the different language groups all around Australia that have come together at the Geelong football club which is in Wathaurong country.

Firstly, the Guernsey includes the Bunjil which is the eagle. The Bunjil is the creator to the Wathaurong community. It then involves the Giant Trevally which shows our connection with the Arnhem Land region. And there is a snake like pattern throughout the whole jumper which symbolises the Rainbow serpent which is also a creator throughout my own Nyoongar Region.

We have also put down on the jumper the names of all the different language groups that our seven aboriginal boys come from.
Lastly, we have put the number 5 on the back of the Guernsey in a glow in the dark material in respect of Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer and what he has done for not only the Geelong football club but also Indigenous players.”

Where you can get it: $110 AUD

Gold Coast Suns

What it means:

Luther Cora has played an integral role in generating awareness and educating SUNS players and staff about local Aboriginal & Torres Straight Island culture since the club’s establishment.

The guernsey is designed with a pattern of cracked earth representing Queensland and traditional Aboriginal artwork watermarked throughout.

“There are a few elements in the guernsey this year, in the background we’ve got the land or the earth, representing country, particularly the land we’re on here on the Gold Coast,” Cora said.

“SUNS colours feature, but they’re also traditional colours, yellow represents women, red represents men and they’re both coming together on the one guernsey to represent our community.”

Club life member and current games record holder, Jarrod Harbrow’s totem features prominently on the front of the guernsey.

“The hero of the guernsey is Jarrod Harbrow’s totem, which is the Yirriganydji (Jelly fish), but we also have the other players totems on there to represent all players,” Luther explained.

“The Dhari is on the back to represent Torres Straight Islanders, representing indigenous Australia as a whole.”

All current players of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island cultures are represented via their choice of totems, tribe and/or language groups:

• Jack Martin – Yawuru
• Izak Rankine – Ngarrindjeri
• Sean Lemmens – Tarnikini – Flying Fox
• Callum AhChee – Kwoka Kwantan – Sand Plain Wallaby
• Jarrod Harbrow – Yirriganydji – Jelly fish

Where you can get it: $90 AUD (kids version, I couldn’t see the adult version on sale)

GWS Giants

What it means:

Based on artwork by Wiradjuri woman Leeanne Hunter, the design called ‘Football Dreaming’ represents harmony, health, education and employment; the GIANTS’ four community pillars.

The oval on the front of the guernsey represents a football, while the hands represent the people – family, friends and staff of the club – who support the journey of all footballers who play for the GIANTS.

The two boomerangs that sit on the chest of the design are symbolic of the acknowledgement and connection to Indigenous culture, and pride in aboriginality.

On the back of the guernsey a large circle represents the club, the meeting place, where people gather in harmony and reconciliation, to be employed and to learn.

The flying boomerangs around the meeting place are symbolic of the constant movement of life and the game of football.

The footprints walking to and from the meeting represent a footballer’s journey. They come to the club to work and learn, and they leave stronger and smarter than when they arrived.

Leeanne Hunter’s design was chosen by the GIANTS’ Reconciliation Action Plan working group which includes the GIANTS’ aboriginal players Zac Williams, Jeremy Finlayson and Bobby Hill.

Williams and Finlayson also worked with the artist to help shape the story reflected in the final design.

Where you can get it: $110 AUD

Hawthorn Hawks

What it means:

Painted by Jennifer “Lulu” Coombes and inspired by Cyril Rioli, Hawthorn’s 2019 indigenous guernsey design features two prominent aspects of the Tiwi Island culture, Pukumani Poles and the Kulama ceremony.

Pukumani Poles, which are found on the front of the guernsey, are commonly used in ceremonies and are also placed around the graves of the deceased in order to protect the dead from evil spirits. The art on these Poles is unique, often telling a story about the departed individual.

On the back of the guernsey, the circular figures are a depiction of a Kulama Yam Ceremony. Such ceremonies occur at the beginning of the dry season, around the months of April and May. They run over three days and nights, with the rituals conducted by Tiwi men and women who participate in the ceremony. Songs are composed to tell of events, both positive and negative, that have occurred on the Islands in the past year.

Within the inner rear facing neckline, the 2019 Hawthorn Indigenous Guernsey provides a nod to the amazing career of Cyril Rioli – beautifully presented statistics and imagery of our 189 game superstar, who retired in 2018.

Coombes’ final touch is on the outside of the guernsey.

“Junior Boy (Rioli) asked to have Tiwi wording on the jumper, so I called my aunty Therese Marie and, after a week and a half of consulting with Old Lady Callista Kantilla, we agreed on the wording.”

The wording they settled on is “Ngawa Puranji Yiloga”, which translates to “We love our footy”.

“I feel honoured and privileged that my nephew, Cyril Rioli, has asked me to design this year’s indigenous jumper,” Coombes said.

“Not just for our family, but the whole of Tiwi Islands and the Tiwi people, to be able to showcase our culture on the footy arena is just an awesome feeling.”

Where you can get it: $110 AUD (plus you can get other stuff too!)

Melbourne Demons

What it means:

The unique fully sublimated Indigenous inspired artwork pays homage to the contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players both past and present have made to the Australian Football League.

This years Guernsey tells the story of Santa Teresa, a community found in the Northern Territory and have partnered with MFC to re-grass their local, red dirt oval. The community of Santa Teresa were the main inspiration for this year’s Guernsey, which was designed by local artist, Mary Young.

Where to get it: $110 AUD

North Melbourne Kangaroos

What it means:

This North Melbourne Kangaroos 2019 Adults Totem Guernsey has been designed by talented Mok artist Lorraine Kabbindi White and will be worn during the 2019 Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Featured on the North Jumper are powerful totems of each of its Aboriginal players – The Honey Ant (Jed Anderson), Goanna (Paul Ahern), Turtle (Jy Simpkin) and Water (Kyron Hayden).

The Totem design also features the Rainbow Serpent or Ngalyod, a powerful being that originated from beneath the earth and created hige ridges, mountains and gorges, pushing its way towards the surface of the land. Arden St, the Roos spiritual home is featured through a blue oval or deep waterhole in which Ngalylod dwell.

The centre of the jumper symbolises the NMFC, with the six blue bands running into it representing the main rivers and water from each of the players home country, linking it back to their country.

Where you can get it: $130 AUD

Port Adelaide Power

What it means:

Designing the Port Adelaide Indigenous guernsey has been an honour bestowed upon five players in recent years, and in 2019 it’s Sam Powell-Pepper’s turn to tell his story.

Powell-Pepper is a proud Wadjuk & Ballardong man and the guernsey is a representation of his journey from Western Australia to Alberton.

The 21-year-old sat down with his teammates on Wednesday morning to proudly elaborate on the meaning behind his design.

“On the left of the guernsey are the 16 Indigenous players and staff that we have at Port Adelaide,” he said.

“I think the most in the AFL which is something we are very proud of.

“Here on the heart we have the 46 players – us boys, the brothers, on the heart, one heart.

“The bottom left circle represents Alberton Oval, our heartland, where all players and staff come together to support our dream of playing AFL.”

Powell-Pepper went on to explain the importance of the teal and white swirl emerging from the V, saying they were the flowing waters of the Port River going down to Alberton Oval.

It is his way of recognising and paying respect to the Karuna people, who are the traditional owners of the land.

The Goanna tracks in the teal V of the guernsey represent Powell-Pepper’s totem back in Western Australia.  The tracks represent the journey he has experienced in his life.

The strong-bodied midfielder then discussed the meaning behind the bottom part of the guernsey, and the impact the members and fans have on the entire football club.

“We have the steps and the journey of all our members and fans,” he said.

“We are always wanting to pay respect to the people who support us through thick and thin.”

Where you can get it: $125 AUD

Richmond Tigers

What it means:

This year’s guernsey has been designed by Daniel Rioli and his parents – Bradley Rioli and Belinda Punguatji. It is the ninth Dreamtime guernsey worn by the Club in what will be the 15th edition of Dreamtime at the ‘G.

The Rioli family’s rich history with the Richmond Football Club will be etched even deeper when the Tigers run out for Dreamtime at the ‘G this month. The famous Yellow and Black jumper worn for the match will represent the Rioli family, the Tiwi Island community and Daniel’s Tiwi upbringing.

Key features of this guernsey are:

• The Pukumani pole that the Turtle sits on in the special guernsey represents Daniel’s people, the people of the Tiwi Islands, and the bird atop of the pole is native to Tiwi, appearing proudly on the flag.
• Daniel’s totem – The Turtle is featured twice on this design. This totem represents the “dreaming and spirit animal of the Rioli family”.
• Daniel’s dad – Bradley Rioli, completed “all the dot paintings around the jumper, which is a big part of Aboriginal culture, the colouring’s are iconic to the Tiwi Islanders style of artwork”
• Daniel mentioned “The spears on the reverse are similar to those my friends and I used to go hunting with and traditionally into battle, they represent men, and power.”
• The jumper also features the Treaty logo in support of the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission’s plans to engage and encourage the Victorian Aboriginal community to have their say in shaping Treaty for Victoria.

Where you can get it: $120 AUD

St. Kilda Saints

What it means:

The guernsey, which was designed by Emily Long (sister of Ben Long) and club graphic designer Megan Mitchel, represents the Long family and the totems of their people. The front of the guernsey represents the Long familys paternal grandfather’s ancestors, the Anmatyere people, who come from Ti Tree, Norther Territory. The three eggs and footprints speak to the emu, totem of the Anmatyere people. The two watering holes represent the land that the emus frequent, connected by 20 mile creek. The shark represents the protector of the Tiwi Islands, where Jack Long was adopted by the Kerinaiua fmaily, where they were born and still live to this day.

The back of the guernsey represents the Long familys paternal grandmothers ancestors, the Maranunggu people, who hail from Daily River, Nothern Territory. The feathers represent the White Tailed Sea Eagle. The eagle is the protector, hunter and all-seeing totem of the Maranunggu people. The artwork featured on the guernsey was hand drawn by Emily Long and is a modern interpretation of traditional Indigenous artwork.

Where you can get it: $120 AUD

Sydney Swans

What it means:

The Story of the Black Swan – Guunya

In the dreamtime lived a beautiful white swan. It was graceful and elegant and had beautiful white feathers, amongst all the birds the swan was the most beautiful. We call him Guunyu. He lived in the waterways of lakes and billabongs.

Guunyu was a humble, quiet bird and mostly stuck to himself. Guunyu’s nest was a huge mound made from rush and sedge grass. All the other water birds where small and their feathers did not stand out like Guunyu beautiful white feathers. In our laws and customs, it’s not good to talk about yourself or praise yourself up and Guunyu never did, always bowing his head and going quietly about his business.

One day as Guunyu swam to a place where all the birds congregated to feed on weed and food at the bottom of the lake, he felt every bird staring at him. Some birds got in Guunyu way and tried to stop him from eating all the food at the shallow end of the lake. They said go out deeper and eat because your neck can reach the weed in the deeper end of the lake and, so he did.

When the birds saw that Guunyu was eating good weed from out the deep end they got jealous of him and all the birds had started to begrudge Guunyu for that. They began to whisper to each other their nasty thoughts. They began to talk out loudly so that Guunyu could hear, “look at Guunyu, who does he think he is. He thinks he’s better than all of us they started to say. Guunyu wasn’t worried about what they were saying and just swam past with his head bowed without saying a word.

That evening when all the birds roost in amongst the reeds they began to talk about Guunyu and plot against him. They were so nasty and jealous they wanted him out of their waterways, so they plan to kill Guunyu. The whole time the birds were talking the old black crow sat in the treetops above them listening and shaking his head in shame. He had seen and heard a lot over the years, but this was the worst.

The next day on his way to get some more of the good weed to eat two water fowls came to Guunyu and said come over closer to the long reeds Guunyu, the weed here is nice and juicy. So Guunyu happily followed thinking he was going to get a good feed but when he got there all the birds of the waterway jumped out of the long reeds and started to attack Guunyu. They scratched his beak and pulled out his beautiful white feathers, all Guunyu could do was curl up, tuck his wings in and hope for the birds to stop.

While this was happening, the old black crow sat in the tree tops, because there was so many birds attacking Guunyu all the crow could do was watch on, until they had beaten Guunyu up so much and pulled out every feather he just lay in the long reeds and die.

When the birds had finished attacking Guunyu and everything went quiet the crow swooped down to see if Guunyu was still alive. Seeing that Guunyu was still breathing the crow stared to comfort Guunyu and told him he would help him recover.

The crow started to wipe away all of the blood from Guunyu naked body. All the while telling him it was all going to be ok. When the crow tried to wipe away the blood from Guunyu beak he could not take away the red stain from the blood. The only part of the beak that remained white was a stripe across his beak where a single feather had lay when Guunyu tried to protect himself. Next the crow had seen Guunyu had no feathers and knew he would surely freeze to death if he did not have any feathers to keep him warm. So slowly the crow started to pull out some of his own feathers to share with Guunyu. When he had finished Guunyu was able to rise up out of the swamp and fly away with his beautiful new shiny black feathers that the old crow had given him. He was more beautiful than ever before.

Today when you see Guunyu flying above you can see that his wing feathers are white underneath where he had tucked his wings in when the birds attacked him. They could not pluck out those feathers because Guunyu had tucked his wings in very tightly. His beak is still red and stained, and he is still beautiful and graceful and humble as well.

Where you can get it: $125 AUD

West Coast Eagles

What it means:

The story behind West Coast’s 2019 Indigenous guernsey is as compelling as the garment itself.

Designed by prominent Western Australian Aboriginal artist Darryl Bellotti, the ‘Wings of an Eagle’ artwork draws inspiration from traditional Aboriginal ceremonial practice.

The eye-catching feathers wrap around the player like a ‘Booka’, a traditional kangaroo skin cloak, while the white lines represent song lines to sacred ceremonial areas.

There are three circles located in the ‘heart’ of the guernsey, which depict the playing and coaching group in the centre, support staff surrounding them, and the fans around the outside.

Such patterns were often drawn in the sand during traditional ceremonies, similar to the white lines of a football field.

“The story is more in line with older traditions, especially around culture and ceremonial practice,” Belotti explained.

“It’s in line with traditional ‘Booka’, which is a traditional kangaroo skin cloak that the old people would wear. At times during ceremony, the old people would not just paint themselves, but add feathers to their ceremonial garment.

“Right in the heart are the three circles and those three circles represent the supporters, the club and staff and the players in the middle.

“They’re concentric circles of support for the players to go off and achieve that level of success and then carry all that support in the centre of their heart.

“They’re wearing their hearts not so much on their sleeves, but on their guernsey.”

Where you can get it: $120 AUD

Western Bulldogs

What it means:

The personal story of Brett Goodes, told through themes of family, culture and club, inspired the design of the Western Bulldogs’ 2019 Indigenous guernsey.

The Bulldogs will wear the specially designed guernsey for their Round 10 Sir Doug Nicholls Round game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, May 25.

Goodes was presented with the opportunity to have his story depicted on the guernsey, with the design created by renowned Indigenous artist Nathan Patterson.

VIEW THE CLUB’S RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

Goodes has enjoyed a long association with the Western Bulldogs through a number of roles – as a player welfare manager, a 22-game AFL player and as the Club’s Ballarat Engagement Manager.

More recently, he has led the Club’s Indigenous programs, including the launch and ongoing execution of the Bulldogs’ Reconciliation Action Plan.

“With my role at the Club, and the Club going down the path of reconciliation with an Action Plan and me taking this new role, I thought it was a great opportunity to tell my story through the guernsey, but to also tell the story of what we’re doing as a Club,” Goodes said.

“It’s quite humbling to have this jumper designed and to work closely with the artist Nathan Patterson, who’s a wonderful artist based here in Victoria.

“To know a lot of the boys who will go out and wear it and play in it, I’ve got a lot of connections with those players, so I’m sure they’ll represent it and be as proud of it as I am.”

Family

The most important element, and the centrepiece of the design, represents my love for family; sitting at a campfire with my brothers Jake and Adam, and my mother Lisa. 

Culture

I am of Adnyamathanha & Narugga descent (South Australia).  Adnyamathanha, also known as the ‘Rock People’ of the Flinders Ranges, is represented in the artwork with the sun rising on Akurra (giant water snake) moving and shaping the Ranges around him.

Narungga people are also known as the ‘Butterfish Mob’ of the Yorke Peninsula (represented bottom left). 

Club

At the bottom of the design there are three footballs and three circles, representing my connection to the Club; my first role as player welfare manager, my current role working in Indigenous programs and my time as a player spanning over eight years.

Where to get it:  $110 AUD

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Sorry Day and the Sorry Day Flower

Sharp readers will have noticed a reference to Sorry Day and the Sorry Day Flower in the Fremantle Dockers section.  You may also be wondering what that is all about.

Australia marks National Sorry Day every May 26. Also known as the National Day of Healing,  Sorry Day is an occasion for solemn commemoration of the mistreatment of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders throughout the country’s history.

It began as a national day of mourning in 1998 for the Stolen Generation – those children of indigenous people forcibly separated from their families by federal, state and church authorities between 1905 and 1967 – the date was chosen to remember the Bringing Them Home report being tabled in Parliament in 1997.

The Sorry Day Flower is the native hibiscus and was chosen as a symbol for the day because it is found widely across Australia and it is a survivor. Its colour denotes compassion and spiritual healing.

You can read more about this here, here,  and here.

The subject continues to be sensitive and Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples still experience a higher incidence of disease and lower life expectancy than other Australians.

Efforts have been made and money has been raised to improve those statistics.

Obviously,  more is needed,  but Australia should be commended for addressing this issue head on and trying to do something about it.  The AFL should also be commended for its part in raising funds and awareness.

It’s a lot better than here in the US where the same statistics apply and all our politicians do is claim Native American heritage for personal gain.

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