Some of the finest, most talented Indigenous players have represented North Melbourne throughout the club's history.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round will take place this weekend as a part of National Reconciliation Week, with the AFL and the football community formally celebrating and acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, communities and cultures.
One of the key ways that clubs have shown their recognition of the Indigenous people in recent years, is the now traditional Indigenous jumpers that are designed each year.
The ‘Origins’ guernsey of 2018 will be North’s fifth Indigenous Guernsey, and in celebration, North Media has taken a look back at all of our designs.
2014 - Our Icon - Sarrita King
Sought out by the club through its ties with the Ngarru Indigenous Art Gallery in Port Douglas, King was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to design the jumper.
King said the jumper symbolised “everyone; the supporters and the players coming together at the one place; the North Melbourne Football Club.
- The arrow-like symbols represent Kangaroo paw-prints, and symbolise everyone travelling.
- The circles represent tribes, campsites, communities, and symbolise everyone coming together to meet at the club.
- The Kangaroo paw encompassed by an oval is the North Melbourne community being brought together on the field.
Daniel Wells and Lindsay Thomas model the 'Our Icon' jumper.
2015 - Our Icon II - Sarrita King
After the unprecedented popularity of the first ‘Our Icon’ jumper, which sold out, the talented artist King released another version of the guernsey, encompassing the same design elements.
Daniel Wells in the second version of 'Our Icon'.
2016 - Bloodlines - Sarrita and Tarrise King
The jumper combines the striking styles of the King sisters and provides an aerial view of the land. Dividing the pair's work is a thick line – the bloodline – a symbol of their connection to each other and the land.
Daniel Wells in the 'Bloodlines' jumper.
2017 - Tribal - Sarrita King
Sarrita King was helped in the 2017 design process by Lindsay Thomas, Jed Anderson and Daniel Wells, and the result was the beautiful ‘Tribal’ design.
“Sitting down with the players and hearing what was important to them and what should be incorporated in this latest design was a great experience,” King said.
“This is very much their ideas and feelings laid out on their canvas which is their playing jumper.
“Taking the famous Kangaroo that’s synonymous with North’s success in the 90s but adapting it to fit the traditional Indigenous art style is a beautiful combination and wonderful synergy.”
Jy Simpkin models the 'Tribal' guernsey.
2018 - Origins - Tarrise King
Having collaborated with her sister for the 2016 ‘Bloodlines’ jumper, Tarrise King created the 2018 guernsey with artwork based on her “Earth Image” series.
North’s new indigenous jumper pays tribute to the club’s ancestry and the connection between past, present and future. From past players like Percy Johnson, Barry Cable, Winston Abraham, Byron Pickett, Daniel Wells, Lindsay Thomas, to current players Jed Anderson and Jy Simpkin – each has had their name incorporated.
Tarisse’s story is an aerial view of a winding river, running through a series of communities that represent today’s footballing talent. The river feeds in to an indigenous Kangaroo - symbolic of the North Melbourne football club - where the wider community comes together.
Jed Anderson shows off the 'Origins' jumper.
You can buy your 2018 ‘Origins’ guernsey here.
