The AFL is hosting Sir Doug Nicholls Round over the next two weeks, with a host of blockbuster matches and beautiful tributes planned.
For the first time, three AFL clubs will swap their club name for traditional in-language names, with Melbourne becoming ‘Narrm’ (pronounced na-arm) for the second consecutive year, while Fremantle will change its name to ‘Walyalup’ (pronounced wul-yul-up) and Port Adelaide will be referred to as ‘Yartapuulti’ (pronounced Yarta – pole-tee).
Across the two weeks, all 18 teams will be wearing a special indigenous Round strip.
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Scroll down to see all 18 designs and learn more about their history!
ADELAIDE
The 2023 jersey was designed by Anmatyerr educator and artist April Napangardi Campbell from the Ti Tree community in the Northern Territory, and will be worn by all three of Adelaide’s teams.
Campbell has a heartfelt link to the Crows, as Adelaide AFLW premiership player Danielle Ponter’s aunty.
The duo had only ever spoken over the phone after their family lost connection when Ponter’s grandfather on her mother’s side was forcibly removed from traditional lands as a two-year-old.
But connected for the first time to design the Crows’ jersey, the primary theme is connection.
BRISBANE
Former Lions Des Headland and Ash McGrath joined forces once again to create Brisbane’s 2023 jumper, which is painted by Kevin Bynder.
The jumper itself represents the stories of both players as a tale of two halves – with initials DJH (Des James Headland) on the left side and CHM (Cliff Henry McGrath) on the right side.
The jumper features a design including Headland’s family, the Swan River, McGrath’s family and the hawk constellation among others.
CARLTON
Carlton’s 2023 jumper has been designed by proud Tiwi woman Russellina ‘Russy’ Puruntatameri.
Puruntatameri said she was honoured to be asked to design the 2023 indigenous guernsey and draw on the history of her culture.
“It was so exciting to be asked to design the indigenous guernsey for Carlton for this year. The brief was to focus on a story that has been practised and painted for thousands and thousands of years,” Puruntatameri said.
“I thought the Kulama Ceremony in combination with key elements of women’s business was the perfect fit as it will be worn by players from both AFL and AFLW.
“I am proud to have created something that both the players and supporters who wear the guernsey can connect directly with and learn about the historic and continuing cultural practices of the Tiwi Islands.”
COLLINGWOOD
Designed by Djab Wurrong and Kirrae Wurrong artist Tarni Jarvis, Collingwood’s 2023 jumper tells the story of the many individuals and groups that make up the club.
“It is a true honour to be given the opportunity to design the club’s indigenous jumper and dress, and to represent the club’s Aboriginal supporter base. This design has brought to life our support for this great club,” Jarvis said.
The Magpies’ jumper features circles within the black stripes to represent the people, and their stories. Crosshatching – which is a commonly used technique within Aboriginal artwork in the southwest region of Victoria – is used to create the white stripes of the jumper.
ESSENDON
The Bombers will wear a guernsey designed by two students from Thornbury Primary School, Momo Willcox, a Yawuru girl born on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country, and Jackie Sinclair.
The duo created a guernsey featuring Waa the Crow – one of the moiety totems for the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Eastern Kulin nation and is the protector spirit.
“In my Dreamtime jumper design, I’ve tried to really focus on getting the theme of ‘team’ on there,” Sinclair said.
“Being with others and working together is really important to me. This is why I’ve got the figures holding hands in the design.”
WALYALUP (FREMANTLE)
The Dockers unveiled a jumper designed by Carly Grey in collaboration with close friend, and Freo skipper Alex Pearce.
The jumper aims to tell the story of Pearce’s journey from Tasmania to Noongar country to play for Fremantle, with Pearce stating he’s “incredibly proud” of the design.
“It’s been really nice to bring elements of our Tasmanian indigenous heritage and Freo’s indigenous heritage and combine them,” he said.
“It tells my story of travelling from my home of Tasmania to now, my home of Fremantle. It’s a story shared by Carly as well.”
Pearce becomes the seventh Docker to contribute to the club’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round jumpers, after the likes of Michael Walters, Troy Cook, Dale Kickett and Roger Hayden.
GEELONG
Mother-of-three and artist Michelle Searle has produced Geelong’s 2023 jumper.
Searle said the use of stars represent meeting under one sky while the centre of the design shows players and community coming together.
The bands across the middle show the waves of emotion but also the support that are wrapped around one another to support each other.
“For me, painting as an Aboriginal artist is a way of telling stories, we learn them, we grow them and share them with one another, I have always been artistic, but through Covid period it sparked an interest and I really got enthusiastic in redeveloping myself and finding out who I am. It is exciting to be back on the painting and back developing and being able to share people’s stories through my painting,” Searle said.
GOLD COAST
This year’s edition is designed by SUNS defender and indigenous artist Jy Farrar, and collaboratively contributed to by members of the Gold Coast community.
Gold Coast spectators were able to add their fingerprint to the artwork throughout the 2022 games, and that is now featured on the 2023 design.
“I am proud to have my artwork featured on our 2023 indigenous guernseys,” Farrar said.
“The inspiration behind the artwork is that we wanted a painting that symbolised bringing everyone together and we thought what better way than to have the broader community be part of its creation.
“It’s special to be able to showcase our Gold Coast community on the guernseys, represented through our members, fans and supporters fingerprints in the design.”
GWS GIANTS
Leeanne Hunter is back designing the Giants’ jumper, after creating the club’s 2019 edition and the current AFLW indigenous jersey.
This year’s version is call Ngurra, which means country and connection in Darug language, the native tongue of the lands of Western Sydney.
“I always reflect on what once was on traditional lands,” Hunter explained.
“The environment will diminish as progress moves forward and this piece is to remind people even though the city grows, we must allow space for nature to continue along the way.
“I depicted an interpretation of the Cumberland Plains, with people living on, playing in and enjoying its surrounds.”
HAWTHORN
The Hawks jumper was officially designed by Wagiman man and indigenous artist Nathan Patterson with the inspiration coming from star Jarman Impey.
The design is a representation of the Hawthorn family and is inclusive of those who pull on the guernsey to play and those who cheer from far and wide.
“The Hawk shows pride and strength in the protection of our people and the land on which we play and cheer,” read a post on Hawthorn‘s official Facebook page.
“The many meeting places lead to the home ground where we can come together as one to share in the pride and passion the family has for the brown and gold.”
NAARM (MELBOURNE)
Proud West Australian Nyul Nyul Saltwater artist Lowell Hunter has put together Naarm’s indigenous jumper for 2023.
Hunter, who uses his feet to carve out breathtaking artworks into sand, said he uses the same technique taught through Traditional dance movements.
“I’ve always had this connection with the ocean and being by the sea,” he explained.
“So, for me, it’s about grounding, it’s 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.
“Particularly for myself, I love to involve my kids as well, [as] it’s also about passing on cultural knowledge to them and telling stories.
“For them to take time out with me and our family and do this, it’s something that’s really important.”
NORTH MELBOURNE
Designed by Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett, North Melbourne’s design is titled ‘Connecting Through Identity’.
The jumper was inspired by Jy Simpkin (Yorta Yorta), Tarryn Thomas (Kamilaroi and Lumaranatana) and Phoenix Spicer (Numbulwar), and their connection to their kinship Country and the club.
As a result, the back of the guernsey features the totems of the trio – the long-necked turtle (Simpkin), the platypus and the goanna (Thomas) and the Barramundi fish (Spicer).
Water was also a key element of Bamblett’s design, along with the club’s connection to Arden Street.
YARTAPUULTI (PORT ADELAIDE)
Yartapuultihas unveiled this year’s design, which is a collaboration between two-time Port Adelaide premiership player Peter Burgoyne and Adelaide artist Laz Gein.
The guernsey 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,” 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.”
RICHMOND
After Marlion Pickett’s inspired design in 2022, this year assistant coach Xavier Clarke and his family have stepped up.
Clarke, a proud and respected Larrakia and Amrreamo/Marritjavin man, created the predominantly yellow design with artwork on the sash from an original painting from Xavier’s uncle Timothy Dumoo.
It depicts a Wangka (dance) from Clarke’s people, the Marri Ammu Marri Tjevin clan of the Moyle River floodplains and tells the story of Elders calling out to their ancestors to protect and guide people while on Country.
The design also includes 42 Merrepen leaves representing each player on the list.
ST KILDA
Designed by indigenous artist Jade Kennedy of the Noongar Nation, the guernsey represents the yawa – or journey – of the club and its First Nations players and their families.
The family totems of Bradley Hill, Jade Gresham, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager, Isaac Keeler, Jack Peris and J’Noemi Anderson are all included on this year’s edition.
These are accompanied by traditional gathering place and journey path symbols to further reference the club’s yawa.
For the first time, both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags feature on the front of the jumper, while the words Ganbu marnang n’uther boolong – the Boonwurrung translation of ‘150th year’ – are printed into the hems.
SYDNEY
The Swans have opted to use their 2022 indigenous jumper again this season.
The Marn Grook guernsey tells the story of the 19 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players who have represented the Swans.
Designed by GO Foundation scholar and proud Wiradjuri woman Lua Pellegrini, the artwork is titled Duguwaybul Yindyamangidyal – meaning altogether respectfully: respect, gentleness, politeness, honour, careful, altogether as one.
The jumper features 19 interwoven circles, representing the 19 Swans players, while the surrounding blue represents water – the giver of life.
WEST COAST
West Coast’s jumper, designed by AFLW player and proud Kija and Jaru woman Krstel Petrevski, has a theme of connection, unity and shared love for the club.
Petrevski is from the Kimberly but sought advice and consultation from elders Simon Forrest and Vivienne Hansen on appropriate elements to represent on the guernsey.
“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 said.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Designed by proud Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta man Jason Walker, for the first time in club history all four teams (AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW) will wear the same jumper.
The design represents Mirring (country) on Gunditjmara, where the Bulldogs are affiliated with in south-west Victoria, and is inspired by the Lake Condah Possum Skin Cloak.
The etching designs on the cloak represent the Bulldogs’ staff, players and supporters connection to country and journey throughout life.
The kooyang’s (eel) inclusion in the design also acknowledges the West-Vic Eels Aboriginal Football Club, where many Aboriginal and Gunditjmara families – including Jamarra Ugle-Hagan – have played in state-wide Aboriginal Football Carnivals.