Ahead of the NFNL’s Sir Douglas Nicholls Round this weekend, clubs across senior men’s, senior women’s and junior competitions will wear specially designed jumpers.
View the jumpers as well as their descriptions below.
DAREBIN
Worn in last year’s Division 1 Grand Final, the jumper was designed in 2022 by Fitzroy Stars artist Rebecca Bell in collaboration with the Falcons’ VFLW players and tells the story of the Darebin Sporting Club.
Merri Creek, which runs alongside the club’s home ground at A.H. Capp Reserve, featured as the centerpiece.
ELTHAM
The artwork of Eltham’s Indigenous jumper was designed by Nakia Cadd. Nakia is a proud Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Bunitj woman living in northern metro Melbourne.
Nakia’s work connects with her family lines and landscapes of her Countries. Her artwork is also inspired by her motherhood journey, family and country.
In her own words, Nakia describes the meaning behind the artwork.
The two gathering circles on the sash represent the Present and Future. In the spirit of reconciliation, the footprints circling are people (Indigenous and Non-Indigenous) walking together and the other print is a Kangaroo track to depict the local area of Eltham.
The four gum leaves represent the values of Eltham Junior Football Club; Respect, Leadership, Team spirit & Competitive spirit, whilst the design behind the gum leaves is the Diamond Creek flowing through.
‘Nillumbik’ in the language of the Wurundjeri people (Woi Wurrung language) means ‘shallow earth’. Which is why I has used different elements of the design to honour the story of Wurundjeri country, its lands and waters. Gum trees and the Diamond Creek have been situated in Eltham for many years. I wanted to reflect the history of Eltham and acknowledge that the stories of country are still present. I’d like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people, their Elders, Country and their song lines.
EPPING
The picture above consists of players from Epping’s senior, Under-17 Boys and Under-16 Boys squads. Each side will wear these jumpers throughout this weekend’s games.
Former Epping player Seth Hudson-Joseph and stepfather Wayne Morgan helped design the jumpers.
HEIDELBERG WEST
Heidelberg West Football will wear an indigenous playing guernsey for the first time during Sir Douglas Nicholls Round. The indigenous guernsey was designed by Bindi James, a relative of senior player Alex Williamson.
In Bindi’s words:
“We wanted to represent the traditional Heidelberg West Jumper and incorporate Aboriginal art at the same time. We wanted to make it appear as though we were peeling back a traditional jumper to display the culture inside the club.
We have separated the traditional Heidelberg West jumper and Aboriginal art with some Traditional etchings.
The Long Neck Turtle is representation of the Yorta Yorta Nations Totem.
The circles on the front represent campsites with people sitting around them. We purposely did 24 people to represent the 18 Football players who take the field, four players on the bench and the two coaches the Head Coach and Assistant Coach.
On the back of the playing jumper, we have replaced the traditional stripes with traditional etchings of shields. They have been placed on the back of the jumper to represent the players and community protecting each other and having each other’s back protected.
OLD ELTHAM COLLEGIANS
Old Eltham Collegians will again wear this special Indigenous jumper designed by Kirrae Gunditj Art. It will be worn as part of their NAIDOC Cup match against the Fitzroy Stars on Saturday.
ST MARY’S
These jumpers have been designed by Alicia Arden in collaboration with her sister Julie and players Cheryle Arden and Judhil Canendo (pictured). They’ll be worn by the St Mary’s senior women’s side.
The water line running through the centre of the jumper represent the Plenty River which surrounds Whatmough Park. The footprints in the ‘V’ represent the players with the symbol at the bottom of the jumper representing the field of play with symbols of players and staff in that field.
SOUTH MORANG
South Morang’s Indigenous jumper artwork is designed around the club colours. The artwork is based around the club’s four core values, Respect, Growth, Strength and Pride.
The circle in the middle represents the Aboriginal land on which the players play and acknowledge.
The dots represent the many players that come together, while the line work is the continuing pathways of growth for the club.
THOMASTOWN
Thomastown’s new Indigenous jumpers were designed by Jessica Nannup.
Jessica’s work incorporated all the club colours and represented the traditional custodians of the Thomastown area: The Wurundjeri Willum People.
Ashley Hood is seen in the picture above, wearing the Indigenous jumper the club will play in throughout the weekend.
Thomastown thanks Wamarra for sponsoring the jumpers as well as Elizabeth Norris and Ashley Hood for helping organise and coordinate our jumper design with Jess.
YARRAMBAT
Yarrambat Junior Football Club will again wear Indigenous jumpers across all sides in 2023.
The Wurundjeri people believe an ancestral Wedge-tailed Eagle called ‘Bunjil’ created the land. Bunjil originated from a falling star, and as he fell from the sky, he blew air from his beak to create the earth we live on today.
Throughout games this weekend, the clubs stripes and colours will be worn proudly alongside Bunjil the creator to acknowledge this significant culture.
