In 2016 and going forward, the AFL's Indigenous Round is known as the Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round.
The AFL Indigenous Round has become an important cultural event on the AFL calendar, celebrating the relationship between the game and Indigenous Australia by connecting AFL fans to indigenous culture.
And to recognise all Indigenous AFL player's of past and present, all 18 club's will wear an Indigenous guernsey, designed by various artists from around Australia.
This year, our Indigenous guernsey has been designed by the talented Emma MacNeill (fiancée to Mitch Robinson) who tells her own story of the players and of our Club, as well as paying tribute to former Fitzroy player Sir Doug Nicholls. Emma tells the story of the jumper below:
You may notice that every circle is connected by a path, this symbol represents a place, a community or a tribe. It means that we aren't all from the same town, city or country and we have travelled both near and far to one destination... Brisbane. This Club, this city, this family is the one thing that connects all together.
The small "U" shaped symbols in each circle represent either a man or a woman. This is our community, the people who impact your lives daily, the ones who support you, who pick you up when you're down, the people who you have lost and gained.
You may notice that the background is full of dots that never run the same way... This is your life. Life is not always easy going, it never runs smoothly, can be filled with plenty of ups and plenty of downs.
In the bottom left circle on the back of the jumper, is a group of women holding hands. These women represent the women of the pride. These are the ladies who come down and watch your training sessions religiously, the ones holding functions and gatherings to raise money and numbers for the Brisbane Lions Football Club. These women are mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, daughters and most importantly partners who work tirelessly to support you.
The large hands on the front of the jumper represents friendship, sportsmanship and courage. Let them remind you to tackle each and every obstacle you may face front on and with both hands. The feet on the back of the jumper is to remind you that you have made it. You are walking in the footsteps of many great players before you and also leaving a path for someone to fulfil their dreams in the future.
The large yellow boomerang on the front of the jumper is a symbol that represents a man, a fearless hunter and a provider. I have placed this over your heart to give you strength to fight for each and every win, to learn from the losses and to never give up.
Finally, a large part of this jumper is dedicated to a Club legend; a proud and strong man that made the most of life and chased every dream with success. Sir Douglas Nicholls.
The map of Australia with a cross shows his home country and his place of birth, and the cross represents his faith in Christianity. The football goal posts represent his love for the game and his huge achievement being the only Aboriginal player in the Victorian Football League at the time. During his six seasons with the Fitzroy Football Club, Sir Doug Nicholls played 54 games wearing mainly the #9 jumper. Lastly, the dates represent his D.O.B. AND D.O.D., and the footprints is the path that he has paved for all indigenous players.
On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to say a huge thank you for giving me this amazing opportunity. I hope this story is a story you can relate to and is one that makes you realise how far you have come. Nothing will make me more proud, than to see you all running out with your heads held high wearing this jumper that I designed for you.
The 2016 Indigenous guernsey as worn by Mitch Robinson.
Buy now
Click here to order your 2016 Brisbane Lions Indigenous guernsey or call the Lions Shop on (07) 3335 1712.
Wear it with pride!
