The Gold Coast SUNS today launched its 2019 Sir Doug Nicholls Round Indigenous Guernsey designed by local Yugambeh man Luther Cora in conjunction with the clubs Indigenous AFL players.
Cora has played an integral role in generating awareness and educating SUNS players and staff about local Aboriginal & Torres Straight Island culture since the club’s establishment.
The guernsey is designed with a pattern of cracked earth representing Queensland and traditional Aboriginal artwork watermarked throughout.
“There are a few elements in the guernsey this year, in the background we’ve got the land or the earth, representing country, particularly the land we’re on here on the Gold Coast,” Cora said.
“SUNS colours feature, but they’re also traditional colours, yellow represents women, red represents men and they’re both coming together on the one guernsey to represent our community.”
Club life member and current games record holder, Jarrod Harbrow’s totem features prominently on the front of the guernsey.
“The hero of the guernsey is Jarrod Harbrow’s totem, which is the Yirriganydji (Jelly fish), but we also have the other players totems on there to represent all players," Luther explained.
“The Dhari is on the back to represent Torres Straight Islanders, representing indigenous Australia as a whole.”
SUNS Leader Jarrod Harbrow spoke to the significance of the guernsey and how the design came together.
“My totem is the Yirriganydji jellyfish, that symbolises my family back up in Cairns and our traditional land, which stretches from Cairns to Port Douglas along the coast,” Harbrow said.
“We’re really proud of our culture, so to be able to go out there and play footy on a big stage, in a round where we can all celebrate is really important and we really love each year.
“All of our indigenous boys got together to work on the guernsey this year, all the boys have their own individual stories.
“We sat down and went through how it best reflects the players and their families and the Gold Coast community.
“It’s great that were able to express our culture and where we are from, but also the Gold Coast Indigenous community as well.”
The Gold Coast SUNS will wear the 2019 Indigenous Guernsey for the Round 10 match against Geelong as part of Sir Doug Nicholls Round at Metricon Stadium, with the NEAFL team to also wear the guernsey during their curtain raiser match against Sydney on the same day.
The AFL team will wear the guernsey again in Round 19 as part of NAIDOC week, after which the player worn guernsey's will be available via auction.
All current players of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island cultures are represented via their choice of totems, tribe and/or language groups:
- Jack Martin – Yawuru
- Izak Rankine – Ngarrindjeri
- Sean Lemmens – Tarnikini - Flying Fox
- Callum AhChee – Kwoka Kwantan - Sand Plain Wallaby
- Jarrod Harbrow – Yirriganydji – Jelly fish
