Janet Baird back in training for Gold Coast Suns ahead of AFLW Indigenous Round
TERRITORIAN Janet Baird has returned to training this week for Gold Coast Suns with her eyes firmly on making the side to face West Coast on Sunday during the inaugural AFLW Indigenous Round.
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TERRITORIAN Janet Baird has returned to training this week for Gold Coast Suns, with her eyes firmly on making the side to face West Coast on Sunday during the inaugural AFLW Indigenous Round.
Baird was ruled out of her side’s Round 4 game against Fremantle after picking up a knee injury in training, but is set to return to training with the side this week.
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And as one of three Indigenous players on the Suns’ AFLW list, alongside Paige Parker and Kalinda Howarth, Baird is particularly eager to get a run out against the Eagles.
“Indigenous round is not just important to players, it’s important to our community because it lets us have a platform to express our culture,” Baird said.
“Artists design guernseys, dancers perform, elders tell stories and Indigenous players get to put on a show on the field. It’s something positive to look forward to.”
In 2020, the Suns were the first AFLW team to introduce an indigenous guernsey which they wore as the side’s clash guernsey.
The predominantly blue jersey was designed by Bundjalung/Yugambeh woman Christine Slabb, with the colouring symbolising water, an important pillar of the Gold Coast.
The jersey also depicts the sun, signifying people coming together with a cultural connection.
Former Palmerston Magpies star Baird said there were no limits to what young Indigenous girls could achieve.
“There are no limits to the things you can do,” Baird said.
“Speaking as a young girl who grew up out bush, I didn’t know how to speak English, never wore shoes to the shops because I was a wild bush kid that loved to be outside.
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“Determination and belief in yourself will take you places, but always remain true to yourself and culture.”
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