Indigenous Sport Month: Port Adelaide relaunches guernsey after controversy
Indigenous artist Elle Campbell has described Port Adelaide’s response to their guernsey controversy as ‘heartwarming’, as the club relaunched their jumper.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This time last week, Elle Campbell was a vet nurse from Adelaide’s southern suburbs who loved to connect with her Aboriginal culture through painting.
Yesterday, she was on spiritual Kaurna land at the Warriparinga Living Cultural Centre helping the Port Adelaide Football Club relaunch its 2021 Indigenous jumper, which the players will wear when they take on Fremantle at Adelaide Oval in their Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash on Sunday.
It’s been a whirlwind week for Campbell who was thrust into the spotlight after her original artwork was plagiarised by a 17-year-old school student, and subsequently chosen for the Power’s 2021 Indigenous guernsey.
Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Campbell, whose artwork depicts the sacred Aboriginal burial ground at Kingston South-East, said it had been an overwhelming week after the initial shock of seeing her artwork end up on the Port jumper.
“I’m not really used to any of this attention, so it has been quite overwhelming, but the way that I’ve been able to have meetings with Port and get through everything together, it’s actually been quite heartwarming,” she said.
“I’m glad it’s all worked out, it’s going to mean quite a big deal to see my design out on the field and all my family will be there with me.”
The proceeds from the sale of the jumper will go back into the club’s Indigenous programs.
Port’s Aboriginal Programs manager Braedon Talbot said the club was proud to unveil Ms Campbell as the true artist behind the artwork.
Campbell started painting in 2018 after she had a dream in which she was painting together with her late grandma, Noeline, even though she had never painted before.
“That morning, I woke up, went down to the shop, got myself art books and paints and paint brushes and just started painting and it went from there,” she said.
The jumper relaunch came as The Advertiser celebrated the start of Indigenous Sport Month – a News Corp-wide initiative that will recognise, celebrate and advocate for the achievements of Indigenous athletes and explore the intersections of Indigenous sports, race and culture.
Port Adelaide great Gavin Wanganeen said it was important that initiatives such as Indigenous Sport Month existed because it gave young Indigenous kids a platform to aspire to.
“It is great for the current Indigenous players to run out in a current Indigenous jumper and wear it with real pride and be reminded of their Indigenous heritage and celebrate their Indigenous heritage,” he said.
“It is such a wonderful opportunity. I’m jealous that I didn’t get to do it.”
Originally published as Indigenous Sport Month: Port Adelaide relaunches guernsey after controversy
Through the fire: How Rioli found happiness after ‘very dark days’
Willie Rioli’s best footy comes when he’s happy according to his cousin Dean – but there was serious doubt he’d ever get back here. MATT TURNER tells the Port star’s story of perseverance.
Eight years since Port’s last loss to Sydney: Where are they now?
Port has the wood over Sydney – in fact, the Swans haven’t beaten the Power in eight matches. So where are the players from that Swans win in round 20, 2016, now?