North Melbourne has unveiled its 2024 AFL Indigenous guernsey ahead of the upcoming Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Designed by Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett, the guernsey will be worn against Essendon in Round 10 and Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) in Round 11.
It will also be worn again when North Melbourne host the Gold Coast Suns in Round 17 to celebrate NAIDOC Week.
The design, titled ‘Kangaroo Way’, was inspired by the club’s First Nations players, including Yorta Yorta man Jy Simpkin and Wangkathaa Noongar man Robert Hansen Jr, the unity of the club and its existence on Wurundjeri Country.
It incorporates North Melbourne’s traditional royal blue and white stripes as the base and kangaroo tracks throughout to represent the journey of the club.
Four kangaroos are featured on the front to represent a mob of kangaroos, drawing parallels to the club. They are placed throughout facing in different directions, again representing the club’s journey.
The design also features a football field and a Bunjil on the right to represent the club’s home of Arden Street Oval and pay respect to the Wurundjeri people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which Arden Street Oval sits. While the waterhole and the half Sherrin on the left represent the waters that surround Arden Street Oval and the game of football.
North Melbourne will also wear a specially designed warm-up top by trawlwoolway man of Lutruwita/ Tasmania and direct descendant of Manaleganna, Danny Gardner, when the team plays in Nipaluna/ Hobart in Round 11.
The design tells the story of the creation of Palawa, the first Tasmanian Aboriginal person. The first Palawa was created by two spirits who are brothers, Droemerdene and Moinee, who came from the night sky. The design reflects on the deep connection between the Palawa people (the footprints) and their Country (kangaroo paw prints), as well as the knowledge of the Palawa people about the deep spiritual connection to their ancestors, which is passed onto future generations.
The written form of palawa kani, which means 'Tasmanian Aboriginal people speak', uses some lower-case letters following a decision by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, who the club has consulted with.
