Ellie Blackburn of the Western Bulldogs poses during the AFLW Pride Round Media Opportunity at Whitten Oval on February 19, 2020

For the fifth time in AFLW history, the Western Bulldogs and Carlton will go head-to-head in the annual Pride Game when they meet on Sunday afternoon.

The game recognises and supports the LGBTIQA+ community by celebrating inclusiveness and gender diversity, and welcoming all people, no matter their sexual orientation.

Since its inception in 2018, the Bulldogs and Blues have celebrated Pride every season – with St Kilda and Melbourne joining in 2020 – before being extended to a league-wide Pride Round last year.

As a way of marking the occasion, each team also wears specially-designed Pride guernseys, the 50m arc is transformed into rainbow stripes, and the two sides typically run through a joint banner prior to the first bounce.

The Bulldogs will launch their 2022 Pride guernsey this week.

 

HISTORY OF PRIDE GAME – BULLDOGS V BLUES

2018: Western Bulldogs 12.14 (86) def. Carlton 2.1 (13)

Guernsey designed in collaboration with Cotton On, Bulldog Pride and AFLW playing group

The famous hoops of the club’s guernsey were transformed into the colours of the rainbow flag – a symbol synonymous with the LGBTIQA+ community.

2019: Western Bulldogs 5.8 (38) def. by Carlton 6.5 (41)

Guernsey designed by Natalie Gills

The rainbow beams of pride that emerged out from the Bulldogs’ hoops represented the strength and solidarity of the Club, and its dedication to diversity and inclusion.

 

2020: Western Bulldogs 4.6 (30) def. by Carlton 8.3 (51)

Guernsey designed by Natalie Gills

The 2020 featured the Bulldogs hoops in the Pride rainbow, which grew out into a series of shapes and paths - symbolised the strong, interconnected links between the club’s diverse culture and the LGBTIQA+ community.

2021*: Western Bulldogs 6.6 (42) def. Carlton 5.6 (36)

Guernsey designed by Natalie Gills in collaboration with Bulldog Pride

The 2021 guernsey design featured the integration of all the different LGBTIQA+ flag colour representations in the form of the Bulldogs hoops. In the top panel, the progress pride flag stood as a proud statement of the Club’s commitment to inclusion and progression. 

*League-wide round