In anticipation of the forthcoming Sir Doug Nicholls Round, North Melbourne has proudly presented its 2023 Indigenous guernsey, a meaningful symbol of Aboriginal culture and identity.
Emma Bamblett, an artist of Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji, and Taungurung heritage, is the creative mind behind the guernsey’s design, aptly named ‘Connecting Through Identity’. She drew inspiration from the club’s trio of Indigenous talents: Jy Simpkin of Yorta Yorta, Tarryn Thomas, a descendant of the Kamilaroi and Lumaranatana, and Phoenix Spicer from Numbulwar.
Bamblett, in creating the design, had heartfelt conversations with the players to deeply understand their origins, their affiliations, and their connections to their ancestral lands. The design emphasizes their bond with their kinship Country and the club.
Reverse Side
The guernsey’s centerpiece is an Aboriginal flag-adorned football field, symbolizing Arden St Oval, the club’s home, and the Aboriginal identities of Simpkin, Thomas, and Spicer. The white lines gracing the wings and the kangaroo tracks bisecting the middle celebrate the players’ journey to the field and their pride in playing. A mob of kangaroos, representing the varying positions and skills of the players, resides to the left of the ground.
The design also incorporates water as a significant motif. Three circles, interconnected by rivers to the field, symbolize the unity of the three players at the club, facilitated by the waterways from their Country and those encircling Arden St Oval.
The reverse side of the guernsey is adorned with each player’s totem – the long-necked turtle for Simpkin, the platypus and the goanna for Thomas, and the Barramundi fish for Spicer.
“Having our individual totems on the jumper is quite extraordinary,” remarked North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin, highlighting the personal importance of this emblem.
The guernsey also pays homage to the Wurundjeri people, the traditional custodians of the land where Arden St Oval is located, with an image of the Bunjil soaring over the hills and waterways gracing the bottom of the jumper.
Simpkin, who was named as the club’s first Indigenous co-captain alongside Luke McDonald earlier this year, eagerly anticipates wearing the guernsey in the Sir Doug Nicholls Round. He believes the round offers an opportunity for the community to deepen their understanding of Indigenous culture.
He emphasized, “The Sir Doug Nicholls Round is not only significant for me, but it’s also a vital moment for the club and the wider community. It’s a platform for open dialogue about Indigenous culture across Australia. We have made strides, but there’s still a considerable journey ahead. Encouraging young people to ask questions and learn will contribute to eradicating racism, not only in AFL and sport, but also across Australia.”
The 2023 Indigenous guernsey will be available for purchase both online and in-store at the Roo Shop. Bamblett is also set to design the AFLW Indigenous guernsey for the forthcoming season.
Get yours here.
