Indigenous Round: Curtly Hampton

GWS GIANTS player Curtly Hampton says that this year’s Indigenous Round theme of Identity acknowledges the diversity of Indigenous culture.

In Australia there are more than 300 different nations (individual Indigenous groups) who speak over 500 languages. In 2013, there are 79 Indigenous players – which represents 10.25 per cent of all AFL players.

“Identity for Indigenous people is just knowing where you come from and your people and representing them through your sport, Indigenous Round is pretty important to all Indigenous people but all of us are different – we come from different places and different language groups,” Hampton said.

The theme for 2013 was inspired by Nicky Winmar’s iconic gesture at Victoria Park in 1993 when, at the conclusion of St Kilda’s match against Collingwood, he raised his jumper and pointed at his skin and declared: “I’m black – and I’m proud to be black!”

Hampton says he has a very special connection to Nicky Winmar’s historic gesture, with his uncle playing alongside Winmar for the Saints.

“It’s one of the most historic moments in AFL, It changed a lot of things as every knows and I guess that was the start of our identity and people starting to take notice,” he said.

“Non-Indigenous and Indigenous people respect that moment and respect Nicky Winmar or doing that.

“Especially for me, that’s one of the moments I remember as a kid.

“My uncle Gilbert McAdam was playing in that game with Nicky Winmar and every time I used to see Uncle Gilbert when I was young he used to tell me about the story, playing in that game, so I know a lot about it and I’ve heard the story since I was little.

“It was a pretty special moment for me personally.”