Sir Doug Nicholls Round: Every AFL club’s Indigenous round guernsey – and their meaning

One of the game’s great Indigenous players, Gavin Wanganeen, never got to play in Sir Doug Nicholls Round – but he will certainly leave his mark on it this year.

Gavin Wanganeen never got a chance to play in Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

So while the Port Adelaide and Essendon legend will have some envy when he sees players take to the field over the next two weeks, there will also be pride at seeing the Power wear a guernsey in the round that he designed.

For this year’s guernsey Port Adelaide – who will go by the name Yartapuulti – will wear a design by Wanganeen that reflects his cultural connection to the Milky Way, playing at Alberton Oval and the people that have made up the club there.

Since he retired from footy, Wanganeen – a descendant of the Kokatha people of the Western Desert in South Australia – has harnessed his passion for art and First Nations culture.

Gemma Houghton, Gavin Wanganeen and Sam Powell-Pepper in the guernsey Port Adelaide (Yartapuulti) will wear in this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round and AFLW Indigenous Round. Credit: Matthew Sampson

The guernsey that Wanganeen designed and hand painted – which will be worn across both Sir Doug Nicholls Round and AFLW Indigenous Round for the first time by the club – was inspired by the art he creates.

“On a personal level, I paint about the night sky and the stars,” Wanganeen said.

“The Milky Way represents all the people encompassing the AFL program, the AFLW program, the fans, and all the staff that make up the club. It represents everyone involved in that community”.

“In the V, you’ll notice that there’s a single line of teal dots. They represent the First Nations players since the club’s inception, and the club’s strong connection to First Nations players over the years.

“The white dots represent all the other players who have played for the club, and who the First Nations players have been able to share their culture with.”

The design on the guernsey. Picture: Matthew Sampson

With Wanganeen’s name on the back. Picture: Matthew Sampson

Wanganeen is one of the great Indigenous players of the game, the first to win a Brownlow Medal when he triumphed in the count in 1993.

But he never got to play in the round celebrating and showcasing First Nations culture.

“It reminds all of us that it’s everyone’s culture, it’s Australia’s culture,” he said.

“Sir Doug Nicholls Round is a great way to showcase culture. I never got to play in one obviously, but I know it would have been special to represent your Mob.

“I will have a huge sense of pride to see the players run out in the guernsey. I’m extremely proud to know that I’ve contributed with my design.”

As part of this week the club will also hold the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup, a program to re-engage more than 700 First Nations students from metro, regional, and remote South Australia and the Northern Territory in their education.

Originally published as Sir Doug Nicholls Round: Every AFL club’s Indigenous round guernsey – and their meaning