AFL 2021: Crows player Ben Davis draws on his Torres Strait Islander heritage to design jumper
Ben Davis grew up disconnected from his Indigenous heritage, but his journey of discovery since moving to the Crows gave him what he needed to create this year’s jumper design.
Crows
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crows. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ben Davis has always loved the ocean.
But it’s not been until the past couple of years, since embarking on a personal journey of discovering his Torres Strait Islander culture, that’s he’s realised exactly why: that the ocean runs through his veins, just like it has run through the veins of his ancestors for thousands and thousands of years.
Davis grew up in Sydney but was somewhat disconnected from his father’s Indigenous heritage: his father didn’t tell, Ben didn’t ask.
It wasn’t until he arrived in Adelaide in late 2016, having been picked up by the Crows with pick No.75 in the National Draft that his lack of knowledge about his culture began to affect him.
“Becoming teammates with Eddie Betts was crucial,” Davis explains.
“He’s one of the most well-known people for spreading Indigenous culture and educating people and dealing with all sorts of stuff, so being involved with his family really kicked me up the arse to be like (exploring my culture) is something I need to do.
“(Betts) is so proud of who he is and so proud of educating people, it really struck a chord with me, that it was something I really needed to dive into and learn more about.”
In between his training sessions and game days, Davis has been meeting with community leader – and fellow Torres Strait Islander – Eddie Peters and delving into cultural stories and practices.
Now, as Davis continues to educate himself around his culture, he has turned many of those significant learnings into his special elements of his Crows’ Sir Doug Nicholls Round jumper design.
Davis’ design features a central Torres Strait Islander headdress, or dhoeri, above a crow’s foot, with other elements, including hammerhead sharks, smaller fish and spears all leading towards it.
A traditional Kaurna shield has been included, which honours the traditional country on which the Crows train and play. There are ropes either side of the dhoeri, which signifies the connectedness to culture.
“The hammerhead sharks are my family’s totem, so they’re an important piece on it because it represents my family and it reaches to the people I haven’t met yet,” Davis says.
“I also see it as representing my friends as well back home, who I consider family.
“The ropes connecting the headdress show the strength of our Indigenous players and their strength to their culture. I really connect with the headdress now, but in the past it’s not something I would have.
“So, I see myself as having strength to culture now that I’m also wanting to learn more and it makes me proud that I’m knowing more now and I’m a lot stronger (to) know more about my culture.
“And the headdress represents all of the Torres Strait.
“I’ve had so many Torres Strait people message me … had a heap of Torres Strait people messaging me saying: ‘Hey, brother, you’ve done a good job representing us’.
“I was really proud of that.”
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL 2021: Crows player Ben Davis draws on his Torres Strait Islander heritage to design jumper
Several Crows still in limbo after latest re-signings
A pair of promising defenders have signed on at Adelaide, but a number of Crows remain in limbo as the club prepares for a bumper trade period.
No, thanks: Crow turns back on Collingwood trade
Collingwood came hard at Mark Keane in an attempt to get the key defender back at the club. But the Irishman isn’t going anywhere, recommitting long term at the Crows.