The GIANTS have launched their latest indigenous jumper ahead of the 2017 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round this weekend.
This year’s jumper is designed by indigenous artist Rheanna Lotter and is based off the club’s away jumper, featuring a white background with unique indigenous artwork in the middle of the letter 'G' and covering the entire back of the jumper.
The indigenous design represents coming together as one community linked by a love of footy, while the dots and hands artwork representing the stories of the indigenous GIANTS players.
“The design was based on what the boys wanted, which was centred around the 50 year anniversary of the referendum,” Lotter said.
“In the middle, we’re all standing here in solidarity; indigenous and non-indigenous people. The lines coming in represent the journey over the 50 years that we’ve been on.
“The boomerangs represent the fight that indigenous people had to go on to get to the referendum and the hands resemble the impact of people on the journey.
“We’re continuing that journey, we’re nowhere near where we need to be but that journey is still continuing and it shows that we’re doing it together.”
Lotter is a young indigenous woman from the Yuin Nation through the Wodi Wodi Tribe, her language is Dharawal and black duck is her totem.
Luke Penrith, who designed the club’s past two indigenous jumpers, has hand-painted unique football boots for each of the club’s indigenous players - Zac Williams, Nathan Wilson and Jeremy Finlayson.
Penrith is a proud Aboriginal man with cultural ties to the Wiradjuri, Wotjobaluk, Yuin and Gumbaynggirr nations.
“It’s a special year around the anniversary of the referendum and what our ancestors and leaders did back then, is giving you the chance to play at the highest level in sport,” Penrith said.
“People are doing really well in their communities because of the fight from people that wanted to make sure Aboriginal people got the rights to vote, to live a free life and do what they want to do.”
Click here to purchase the 2017 GIANTS Indigenous Jumper in the GIANTS Shop
Williams met with Lotter and Penrith and thanked them for their creations.
“I’m really happy with it, I’m sure that the other boys will be pretty proud to go out and run out with it on,” Williams said.
The jumper also features the Recognise logo, representing the movement to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution and ensure there’s no place in it for racial discrimination.
The GIANTS will wear their indigenous jumper over the next two weeks, beginning when they play West Coast at Domain Stadium on Sunday afternoon. They’ll also wear it for the club’s home game against Essendon the following week.
The AFL’s annual round recognising and celebrating indigenous players and culture was re-named in 2016 in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls.
Sir Doug, who epitomised the spirit of reconciliation, played 54 games for Fitzroy and was a brilliant all-round athlete.
The first Aboriginal person to be knighted, he also served as Governor of South Australia and was devoted to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
All 18 clubs will wear special indigenous-themed jumpers during this week’s round.
The GIANTS will take on the Eagles in round 10 at Domain Stadium in Perth on Sunday, May 28 at 4.40pm (EST).
