Port Adelaide to pay respect to the club’s 62 indigenous players with new 2020 jumper design
Port Adelaide’s 2020 First Nations jumper design will pay tribute to the ancestors and the 62 indigenous players who have ran out onto the field for the Alberton club.
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Port Adelaide has unveiled its 2020 First Nations guernsey, which pays tribute to the ancestors who have gone before, as well as each of the 62 indigenous players who have ever pulled on the Port jumper.
The guernsey, designed by traditional owner from the Adelaide region Karl Winda Telfer, will be worn in Port Adelaide’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round game against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval on August 22.
Winda said he used strong cultural symbols within the guernsey, including language from country, to help people further understand the first cultures history which dates back more than 80,000 years.
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“I have called this design ‘Bukko Tjidna – Bare Foot’ to honour all of those who came before us and to respectfully walk softly alongside the footprints of the ancestors,” he said.
“I have bi-culturally brought our stories together in a respectful and meaningful way to better share our collective histories since colonisation.”
Among the many symbols on the jumper, are Kuraka woppa/ four feathers of the magpie to represent the players, coaches, staff and supporters; Mullabakka/four shields that symbolise the warrior brotherhood of the team that guide, defend, protect and look after each other on and off the field; and Winda/four spears to represent the tradition of the club to fly straight, stand strong, run together and honour the club.
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Winda said he also included a centre circle (Meyunna Kuri) in the design, which represents generations of people coming together, while two large boomerangs (Wadna) face each other to symbolise the longstanding relationship between indigenous players and the wider Port Adelaide community.
“The two boomerangs have black and white lines at each end to represent our peoples coming together through the culture of football and holds an element of fear for the opposition when held in the hands of the warriors when they took to the field to contest,” Winda, who is also a senior cultural custodian of ceremony, said.
“They also speak to the Prison Bars which to this day, also incite fear in opposition teams.”
Then come the 62 boomerangs which have every name of every indigenous player to have played for the club.
Winda said he hoped his design would retell the stories of old and open up new conversations and connections.
“I have drawn inspiration from the past to present day to bring the living culture and history together with strength, respect and pride for all the achievements and contributions our first nations Aboriginal people have made and continue to do so,” he said.
Power midfielder Karl Amon said he loved the design.
“It is pretty special to have all 62 past and present indigenous players who have played for the club recognised on the guernsey, and hopefully we’ll do them proud when we wear it against Hawthorn,” he said.
Originally published as Port Adelaide to pay respect to the club’s 62 indigenous players with new 2020 jumper design