Aboriginal players across the league are preparing to celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
North Melbourne’s players, alongside Gunmok woman and artist, Lorraine Kabbindi White, designed this year’s ‘Never Surrender’ guernsey, which depicts the powerful totems of the club’s Aboriginal AFL players.
“It’s something we get to do every year which is really special for us Indigenous boys at the club,” Jy Simpkin, from the Yorta Yorta country, told North Media.
“We all have our own say in the jumper which is really cool and this year we’ve gone with ‘Never Surrender’.
"In parts of the club where we’ve been struggling at times but like the Aboriginal people and the culture we’ve never given up and never surrendered so it’s a pretty special jumper for us this year.
"It’s a chance for people to not only celebrate our culture for this round, but to keep celebrating and keep learning in the future.”
North midfielder and Warramungu man, Jed Anderson, echoed Simpkin’s thoughts.
“It [Sir Doug Nicholls Round] means a lot to my family, my people, my background and Aboriginal culture as a whole. It’s fun to celebrate all the Aboriginal players who have played before us … the ones playing today as well, and it’s an exciting round for us,” Anderson said.
“We’ve had some really good [Aboriginal] players play before us and even our time,” Simpkin added.
“It’s good to just carry on now and lead the way for all the brothers we have playing and hopefully more to come in the future.”
The following totems are represented on the guernsey; Anderson (Honey Ant), Paul Ahern (Lizard), Simpkin (Turtle), Kyron Hayden (Salt Water) and Tarryn Thomas (Goanna & Emu).
The background details freshwater and saltwater countries merging, symbolising the coming together of all different cultures.
Each player’s country also features; Warramungu (Anderson), Gunaikunai (Ahern), Yorta Yorta (Simpkin), Wajuk / Ballardong (Hayden) and Lumaranatana / Kamilaroi (Thomas).
