Indigenous Round: Adam Goodes

The theme for 2013 – Identity – 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!”

The 2013 Indigenous Round will celebrate this moment and remind football fans of its significance in the history of our game, and the identity it gives each and every Indigenous player in the AFL.

“The instant reaction is that it reminds me of the times I’ve had to stand up for myself when I’ve been racially abused on the football field, at school, by my own relatives,” Goodes said.

“It’s a very powerful thing that Nicky Winmar did and it made it a lot easier for people to stand up for who they are.

“The key message is that no matter if you are black, white, Asian, you should be proud of who you are. If people want to discriminate against you then you stand up proud and tall like Nicky Winmar does in that photo and say, ‘You know what? I’m proud to be black, I’m proud to be who I am’.”

To celebrate the diversity and reach of the game, matches will be played in every state in Round 9, and Adam Goodes encourages all Australians to participate in the celebrations.

“I think indigenous Round is a fantastic way for the AFL, supporters and its players to express how much of a contribution Indigenous players have made to the game. Whether it’s on the field, off the field with umpires, staff, it’s a fantastic contribution for indigenous people,” Goodes said.

“To have a round, it’s a celebration of that, the contribution and the contribution going forward is a fantastic thing and I look forward to seeing it growing it further in the future. I see more clubs are having an Indigenous Round strip and it’s definitely something I would love to talk to our football club about having.”