Gold Coast Suns to wear Darwin specific jerseys for double header
The Gold Coast Suns have marked their ongoing relationship with the Top End by unveiling Darwin-specific jerseys for their upcoming double header. Read what went into them.
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The Gold Coast Suns are gearing up for their Darwin double header, in which the side will wear a special NT jersey to show their ties to the regions.
The guernsey is designed by Larrakia artist Trent Lee and will be worn for the matches against North Melbourne and Geelong on May 11 and May 16 respectively.
The Darwin/Larrakia design features two predominant elements being the sun, which symbolises Darwin’s iconic Mindil Beach sunset, and the Rainbow Serpent.
Between the AFL and AFLW there are 10 players with Territory connections on Suns’ lists, and recent history suggests the Gold Coast side enjoys playing games in the NT.
Larrakia artist Trent Lee said he was honoured to have been asked to design the guernsey saying he wanted to connect the design to the creation story.
“It was important to make sure that was at the forefront, alongside the iconic sunset at Mindil Beach,” Lee said.
“When Jarrod Harbrow asked me, I was honoured. It’s been enjoyable to design past guernseys in collaboration, but it was a proud moment when I was asked to design this jumper.”
The design has impressed the Territorians in the Gold Coast list, including Joel Jeffrey who has used it as extra motivation to push on to get into the AFL squad.
“I was glad to see it, I think it’s the first time any team has had a specific jersey linked to a place,” Jeffrey said.
“It would be pretty cool to chuck on that jumper in front of all the Darwin fans back home, we’re pretty pumped for it having seen the art Trent Lee did for it.”
Suns captain Touk Miller said the decision to design a Darwin jersey, which will also feature as the first of two Indigenous jerseys for the side in the Sir Doug Nicolls rounds, was a great idea.
Miller didn’t get to play in the 2023 wins against the Bulldogs and Adelaide due to injury, but said the connection with Darwin was one the team loved.
“Playing in a limited edition jersey, which I think is so cool, it just makes it more special and builds the connection between the NT and the Gold Coast,” Miller said.
“We love coming up there, we’re 4-0 there in recent times so we have a good connections and memories up there, and love the opportunity to get out into the community.
“It gives an opportunity to branch the AFL and our team to a place that has a massive passion for the sport, but don’t have as much opportunity to watch it live.”
The Suns currently sit ninth with four wins and three losses following their 17.10 (112) to 12.3 (75) defeat of West Coast.
Miller said the side had adjusted well to the system new coach Damien Hardwick had brought across and were looking strong heading into their Q Clash match against Brisbane.
“We’re doing well, we’ve adapted to our game plan well and are aiming to play our best games at the back end of the season,” Miller said.
“Dimma has a system that is proven to work in the AFL world and has adapted it to our strengths as a team, and his ability to create a fun environment we want to improve in has been unreal.
“The Territory boys are looking strong, Malcolm Rosas’ injury is unfortunate, but they’re all progressing well and they’re all super talented and hopefully we can see them up in the NT.”
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