A guernsey for a new beginning.  

At its core, that’s the message behind Courtney Hodder’s 2022 AFLW Season 7 Indigenous guernsey design. 

“The inspiration came from our new facility out at Springfield,” Hodder said. 

“It’s such a new step for the Club and a huge journey. It’s taken the girls a long time from the start to get to here and I was lucky enough for it to happen within two years of me being here. 

“My story is just about what it has taken for the Lions to get where they are now and the new beginnings, new journeys, and great opportunities for the younger generation.” 

With Brighton Homes Arena a home for the entire Club, Hodder felt that it was only fitting to incorporate as many people from the Club as possible. 

The families, members and fans that support the Brisbane Lions week-in, week-out are represented in the hands along the sides of the guernsey, while the foundations of the Club are represented in the tree on the front of the guernsey.

Her design also features her totem, the turtle, as well as the totems of proud Ghungalu woman Ally Anderson and proud Gunditjmara woman Dakota Davidson along the bottom of the guernsey.   

To Hodder, it was important to reflect everyone that makes up the foundation of the Club in her design. 

“When I was designing it, I just wanted to incorporate as much as possible that represents our Club,” Hodder said. 

“Our biggest thing is our culture, so to have everyone on that guernsey just shows how good our culture is around the Club.” 

With her focus on representing the Lions’ journey to becoming one at Brighton Homes Arena, Hodder also made the decision to represent both the men’s and women’s football programs side-by-side in her design, as they will be at the new facility. 

“The men’s [football program] is represented on the guernsey because for the very first time the men’s and women’s programs are one,” Hodder said. 

“We won’t be separated by different training venues anymore, we both have one home at Brighton Homes Arena.” 

Recalling the process of designing the guernsey, Hodder said that it provided her with a rare opportunity to tell her story at the Club in her own way.  

“[My family] were all pretty shocked that I was designing it because I’m not the artistic type,” she said. 

“It just sort of came to me, I didn’t have much help but took inspiration from others and learnt off my own back. I’ve been able to connect with who I am and be able to tell my story with my own little spin on it. 

“No-one [from my family] has seen it. I haven’t shown them, I just wanted it to be special. 

“I know they’ll probably get a little bit emotional when it’s released, but they’ve all already put in their orders and are super proud without even seeing it.” 

The Brisbane Lions will wear the 2022 AFLW Season 7 Indigenous guernsey designed by Courtney Hodder on Saturday September 10 against the Gold Coast Suns.  

The auction for all match worn and player issued AFLW Indigenous guernseys will be live from the first bounce in Round 3 (4:40PM Saturday September 10). Head to lions.aflauctions.com.au to bid. Bidding closes at 7pm Wednesday September 14. 

A limited supply of replica guernseys are now available for pre-sale order at shop.lions.com.au. 

Our 2022 Indigenous Guernsey was photographed by Meriam/Yiginiji man Lewis Bin Doraho on Yuggera and Toorabul Land.