Byron Pickett’s family story inspires Port Adelaide’s Sir Doug Nicholls round guernsey design

Port Adelaide premiership player Byron Pickett has spoken of his pride after being able to honour his late father in the design of the club’s indigenous guernsey for 2024.

Byron Pickett and Willie Rioli with Port Adelaide's 2024 Indigenous guernsey for Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Picture: Matt Sampson

The late father of Byron Pickett and the story of the Port Adelaide cult-hero’s family looms large in the Power’s guernsey for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

The 2004 Norm Smith Medallist has designed the guernsey that Port Adelaide — who will again be known as Yartapuulti for Sir Doug Nicholls Round — will wear against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval in Round 10, and North Melbourne in Hobart in Round 11.

The guernsey, inspired by the essence of family, was a collaboration between Pickett and his first cousin Melanie.

He said it depicts his strong connection to family, to the land and the Port Adelaide region.

“I’m a pretty humble guy, I like to think I am, and I was just over the moon when they asked me to design it,” Byron said.

“It (the design) is about family. I’m really big on family. I’ve always put family before myself, it’s just what I’ve been taught by my father (Byron), my mother (Christine), and my older sister.”

Willie Rioli, Jeremy Finlayson, Jason Horne-Francis, Lachie Jones, Jase Burgoyne and Quinton Narkle in Port Adelaide’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round jumper. Picture: Sarah Reed / AFL Photos

The design of the guernsey is centred around three round symbol, with the Port River forming the traditional ‘V’ shape across the chest.

Pickett said his football journey was also encapsulated into the design.

“The animal prints on the side of the guernsey are my totems,” he said.

“The bird footprint is the pee wee, that’s my Nyoongar totem on my dad’s side. And the dog print is the black dog, a dingo, and that’s my mum’s totem on the Yamatji side.

“The background represents my father; he did a painting a while ago with that design on it.

“My dad is no longer with us today, and I just thought because I am really family orientated man, I wanted to include that as a representation of my father.”

Byron Pickett and Willie Rioli with Port Adelaide's 2024 Indigenous guernsey for Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Picture: Matt Sampson

The three symbols at the centre of the guernsey represent three meeting places of great significance to Pickett.

“The main one is Alberton Oval and the smaller shapes around it represent the seven current First Nations Yartapuulti players, plus one that represents me,” he said.

“The top is a place called Mount Magnet (Budimia) that’s where my Mum is from, and the bottom is where my dad is from Quairading (Balardong) down south in Western Australia.

“There are three symbols on the back of the guernsey. The teal one is my Granddaughter, Zaylera, and the two others are the boys, my two grandsons Z’kye and Zyree.”

Port Adelaide's Jase Burgoyne in the Power's Sir Doug Nicholls guernsey. Credit Matt Sampson

For Indigenous Port Adelaide player Jase Burgoyne, it is an exciting design especially with his father Peter and Pickett being Power premiership teammates.

“We got to see it a couple of days ago … it looks really good and I am so happy that he and his family got the opportunity to do it,” Burgoyne said.

“My family (dad Peter) got the opportunity to do it last year, so it is good that he (Pickett) was able to do it this year.

“We are close to his family so it’s pretty cool.

“They played in a premiership together dad and Byron so it will be an honour to wear the guernsey.”

Pickett said Sir Doug Nicholls Round was important for the AFL.

“It didn’t happen when I was playing, but the AFL community around the whole of Australia has really jumped on board with it,” he said.

“It’s getting bigger and bigger every year. That’s something to be proud of”.

Originally published as Byron Pickett’s family story inspires Port Adelaide’s Sir Doug Nicholls round guernsey design