Why Tassie Tiger’s Dreamtime guernsey design is ‘proudest moment’

Tasmanian product Rhyan Mansell says the chance to design Richmond’s Dreamtime guernsey with his father and grandfather is his “proudest moment in football.” Read the story behind the design here.

Richmond player Rhyan Mansell (centre), teammate Maurice Rioli and fellow Tasmanian Toby Nankervis model the Dreamtime guernsey Mansell and his family created. Picture: Lucy Edwards/Richmond Media

Richmond’s Tasmanian star Rhyan Mansell has described the chance to honour his heritage by designing Richmond’s Dreamtime guernsey as his proudest moment in football.

Mansell, father Brett and grandfather Clyde were given the honour of designing the Tigers’ Dreamtime guernseys the side will wear in their annual clash with Essendon next Friday night.

Rhyan flew home to Launceston midway through last year where the family brainstormed the design, and unveiled the guernsey with a recent photo shoot at north-east Tasmania’s wukalina Walk.

The family are proud pakana people of north-eastern lutruwita (Tasmania).

Below the guernsey’s player number are four mutton birds flying over the Furneaux Islands - lungtalanana, truwana and Flinders Island, where Clyde Mansell grew up and where the family originates from. The birds represent Rhyan, Brett, Clyde and the Richmond playing group.

The guernsey ends also features the Mansell family totem, the minungkana (yellow tail black cockatoo).

The pride of being given the opportunity was evident when Rhyan showcased the guernsey to his teammates.

Richmond players Rhyan Mansell and Maurice Rioli model the club's Dreamtime guernseys created by Mansell and father Brett, left and grandfather Clyde, third from left. Picture: Lucy Edwards/Richmond Media

“I’ll try not to be too emotional. The whole process of this has been unbelievable, my family and I are so proud,” he said.

“I’ve never seen my Pop and Dad so emotional in my life. It’s by far the proudest thing in football I’ve accomplished and I can’t wait to run out in it with you boys.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to step up with leadership in the community. I went back to Tassie halfway through last year and sat down with pop and dad and the media team about what we wanted to put on the guernsey and the family story.

“We went down with a group to Tassie and that was probably the most special thing I’ve ever done.

“I got pretty emotional down there and it was the most connected I’ve felt with my family and state.

“I already want to be a role model to young Tasmanian footballers aspiring to get to the top level, let alone Aboriginal kids that want to get into the system.”

There are also two handprints on the back of the guernsey, which represents Richmond’s players having each other’s backs.

Richmond player Rhyan Mansell and teammate Maurice Rioli model the Dreamtime guernsey Mansell and his family created. Picture: Lucy Edwards/Richmond Media

“It was a really special day, not only having Rhyan and dad involved in it, but just for our whole family. Having an opportunity to represent our community. It was pretty fitting, to be honest,” former Rocherlea and Bracknell coach Brett said.

“It’s hard to comprehend the influence and impact it’s going to have on our community, a lot of young Aboriginal sports people that are going to go, ‘that jumper represents me’.”

Mansell is a one of a number of Tasmanians playing for the Tigers, which is a dream come true as much for his grandfather as himself.

“I’ve barracked for Richmond all my life, and when they drafted him, unbelievable,” Clyde said.