Arguably one of the most anticipated rounds of the year is almost here, the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous round for 2020. The first game kicks off on Friday night with the Gold Coast Suns taking on Carlton Football Club at Darwin’s TIO stadium. A highlight of the round is the launch of the leagues Indigenous guernseys, let’s check them out.
Adelaide Football Club
The 2020 Adelaide Crows Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Designed by former Crow’s listed player Eddie Hocking and artist Shane “Mankitya” Cook.
“The hand print in the middle is mine” said Hocking, the club’s first Indigenous player.
“The playing group is represented around the chest of the crow, and down the bottom, with the families and people congregating at Adelaide Oval."
The 2020 Adelaide Crows Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Richmond Football Club
The 2020 Richmond Tigers Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
The 2020 Richmond Tigers Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Essendon Football Club
The 2020 Essendon Bombers Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
“The circle design is a Milimika circle. In a Milimika circle, everyone is equal. When Tiwi people from different clan groups sit in a Milimika circle, everyone’s voice is heard and considered,” Ms Cunningham said.
The 2020 Essendon Bombers Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
“The design in the sash represents a journey of knowledge. The dot pattern shows movement across the land and the lines represent the Purrintjirti; a message stick.
“By putting the two patterns together, I wanted to show how Tiwi people share knowledge over a long journey through life.”
Carlton Football Club
The 2020 Carlton Football Club's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Blues CEO Cain Liddle said the club was proud to wear a guernsey for Sir Doug Nicholls Round that holds such significance.
“It was important we acknowledged our six Indigenous players as well as every other player, coach staff member and especially our members and supporters. Sir Doug Nicholls Round is not just important to our Indigenous players, it is important to every Carlton person and we think this year’s guernsey is symbolic of that,” he said.
Collingwood Football Club
The 2020 Collingwood Magpie's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
"The Cummeragunja walk off is remembered as well as the journey, strength and resilience of our ancestors and now elders," said Morgan.
The diamonds down the centre represents the strength of Ancestors and Elders and the white colour represents the support of those from the non-Indigenous community. The symbol in the top right corner represents the meeting place where members of the community gathered before staging the walk off.
Melbourne Football Club
The 2020 Melbourne Demon's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
"Art has been a big part of my family, growing up, I used to be able to walk home from school and walk into my family’s house and see people painting – painting their story and stories that have been passed down to them. The dots symbolise the ongoing connection with the lands and skies of our country while the connected lines display our songlines, pathways and shows that we are always protected.
“The language groups written on the bottom half of the jumper show that although we are one people, we are also many” Jetta said.
North Melbourne Football Club
The 2020 North Melbourne Kangaroo's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
The background symbolises the coming together of freshwater and saltwater Countries.
Sydney Swans Football Club
The 2020 Sydney Swan's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Greater Western Sydney Football Club
The 2020 Greater Western Sydney's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
The 2020 Greater Western Sydney's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Brisbane Lions Football Club
The 2020 Brisbane Lion's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
“None of the lines are symmetrical and that illustrates that not every journey is the same, but we are all in the same place as one mob,” he said.
“The guernsey has been designed to represent the current Indigenous players of the Club. This year has been like no other, so to be able to create a design that represents us Indigenous players for 2020 has been an honour,’’ he said.
Gold Coast Football Club
The 2020 Gold Coast Sun's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Created by local Yugambeh artist, Luther Cora, the guernsey features the names of all current and past Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players. The sun in the centre represents people coming together.
St Kilda Football Club
The 2020 St Kilda Football Club's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
This year’s design has been inspired by Forward, Mathew Parker and his Noonga/Yuet family from the Ballardong region. The goanna represents his family totem while the spear symbolises strength. Mathew Parker said this is” my journey for you.”
Hawthorn Football Club
The 2020 Hawthorn Football Club's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
The 2020 Hawthorn Football Club's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Western Bulldogs Football Club
The 2020 Western Bulldog's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Geelong Football Club
The 2020 Geelong Cats's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Another player designed guernsey, this one comes from 22-year-old young gun Quinton Narkle. The 2019 design represents several stories, the story of the Wadawurrung people from the Geelong region, the totems of each of the club’s Indigenous player group and the story of Geelong champion, Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer.
Port Adelaide Football Club
The 2020 Port Adelaide Power's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
“There has always been an understanding and respectful relations between our peoples, especially in the Port Adelaide area. So, this design I have done will hopefully retell the stories of old and open up new conversations and connections and further deepen respectful relationships for our peoples, cultures and our game.”
The 2020 Port Adelaide Power's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
Mr Telfer added “I have drawn inspiration from 1891 to present day to bring the living culture and history together with strength, respect and pride for all the achievements and contributions our first nations Aboriginal people have made and continue to do so.”
Freemantle Football Club
The 2020 Freemantle Docker's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
The creation of former Docker, Antoni Grover and his sisters, Nicole and Alicia King. Grover said the symbols represent his family.
“Nicole has a real talent, she’s the artist out of the three of us. We came together several times to brainstorm ideas to come up with a theme and how we can link it back to our family and show what it means to us to have an opportunity to design something that’s etched in history now. We were a bit nervous and we wanted to get it right. No matter what anyone’s opinion is of the jumper, we’re really proud of the work that we’ve done.” He said.
West Coast Eagles Football Club
The 2020 West Coast Eagle's Indigenous round guernsey. Source: Supplied
“It’s about being strong and growing up through ceremony and it’s in line with a traditional kangaroo skin cloak that the old people would wear but it also draws synergies with ceremonial body art and when we would attach feathers to our ceremonial garb” Belottie said.
