Community set to celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Round

Image courtesy of Leigh Gazzard.

 

AFL NSW/ACT is proud to celebrate the 2019 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round, with football clubs across New South Wales and the ACT acknowledging and paying tribute to the significant contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made to our game.

AFL NSW/ACT CEO, Sam Graham said he is thrilled to see the New South Wales and ACT footy communities come together to celebrate the historical and ongoing contribution made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, coaches, umpires, officials and volunteers to the game.

“Right across our football community, from the grassroots to the elite, this weekend our code comes together to acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal people and their culture,” Graham said.

“To see so many of our community clubs from across the state and territory celebrating and honouring the round is fantastic and I encourage everyone to get out and support your local club this weekend.”

Yesterday, AFL NSW/ACT in partnership with NASCA, hosted the First Nations Cup at Glebe’s Jubilee Oval as approximately 60 Indigenous high school students participated in a fun-filled afternoon of AFL 9s and a range of traditional games, including Marn Grook.

Tonight, the Sydney Swans will host Marn Grook at the SCG, against Collingwood. An Indigenous ceremony will be held in the lead up to the game and members of the Aboriginal Community will form a guard of honour for the players. At half-time, Indigenous Auskickers from across the state and territory will have the opportunity to showcase their skills on the hallowed turf of the SCG.  Following the final siren, players and staff from both the Sydney Swans and Collingwood will be linking arms to make a stand against racism.

Playing away in Melbourne this weekend, the GWS GIANTS will back up and don their Indigenous guernsey again for their home crowd when they take on the Gold Coast Suns at GIANTS Stadium at 1:35pm on Saturday, June 1.

Aboriginal artist and Yuin woman, Rheanna Lotter has designed the specially made Sherrin footballs that will feature in the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round. An AFL Sydney player and coach for Southern Power, Lotter has previously designed uniforms for sporting teams including the 2018 Winter Paralympics, the GWS GIANTS 2017 Indigenous Round, Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers.

Celebrations for Sir Doug Nicholls Round will extend beyond the SCG and GIANTS Stadium with football teams from across the State and Territory set to play in special Indigenous guernseys and celebrate with a range of activities this weekend:

• – The Ingleburn Magpies will be celebrating Sir Doug Nicholls Round with a smoking ceremony and acknowledgement of country.  The national anthem will be sung by a Youth Girls player in the Darhawal language and the Youth Girls team will play in the Indigenous Guernsey designed by Under-17 club player, Braithan Kemble
• – Pennant Hills Juniors will play in a specially designed guernsey and will partner with charity Kitbag for Kids. They’ll have a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country at their game this weekend
• – The Glebe Greyhounds last night at training, launched their Indigenous guernsey. Designed by Archibald Prize finalist Adam Hill aka Blak Douglas in consultation with Aboriginal families in the club the guernsey will be worn by Glebe players in matches across the weekend
• – The Balmain Tigers will play for the annual Pemulway Shield in their match against Western Magic this weekend. They will have a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, Half-time Auskick and Indigenous dancers.
• – The Inner West Magpies and Western Suburbs Juniors will celebrate with two ceremonial footballs, painted by Senior Women’s player Zoe Cassim that will be part of a pre game smoking ceremony
• – Southern Power Masters will be wearing an Indigenous guernsey and partnering with the Tiwi Bombers to raise money for mental health and suicide prevention
• – The AFL Sydney Independent Schools Competition will acknowledge Sir Doug Nicholls Round across their matches this weekend, with Waverley College donning an Indigenous Guernsey for the games
• – In the Illawarra, the Port Kembla Football Club are partnering with the Coomaditchie Aboriginal Corporation, having a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country along with a musical performance from local groups Eagle Kids and Beyond Empathy. Port Kembla proudly play in an Indigenous guernsey year-round
• – Also in the Illawarra, all three teams from the Shellharbour Suns will be wearing guernseys designed by renowned Indigenous artist Uncle Gee – A welcome to country and smoking ceremony will be held by volunteers from the Shellharbour Aboriginal Men’s Shed community group and in the Women’s game, the Shellharbour Suns player nominated best on ground will be awarded the inaugural Rosie Johnston Medal
• – The Bathurst Giants are celebrating Sir Doug Nicholls Round in the AFL this weekend with an Indigenous Game against the Cowra Blues in the Senior Women. Players will wear jumpers purchased though a Charles Sturt University Community University Partnership Grant and designed by Hailee Provest from Dotpoint and members of the Goanna Good Years Aboriginal Antenatal Support Group and Play Group
• – Across three grounds in the ACT, goal post wraps designed by Tuggeranong Hawks midfielder, Thomas Hodge, will be raised in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. The design incorporates the silhouette of Black Mountain Tower and the historic colours that represent AFL Canberra
• – Across the AFL Canberra competition, clubs including the Tuggeranong Hawks, Eastlake Demons, Marist College and Weston Creek Wildcats will don Indigenous guernseys over the weekend and host a range of celebrations
• – On the North Coast, the Macleay Valley Eagles and Sawtell will celebrate with Welcome to Country and Indigenous performances. Local Elders have also been invited to the footy across the weekend

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