On Friday night, the Western Bulldogs will launch AFLW Indigenous Round against Fremantle at IKON Park, on Wurundjeri Country.
To mark the occasion and celebration, the Bulldogs will wear Indigenous guernseys designed by former development coach and proud Noongar woman, Kirby Bentley.
Bentley said the design itself was a collaboration between herself and the leadership group, and hopes the group feels a sense of pride while wearing it.
“I worked closely with the leadership group in what it was they wanted - I got them to do a bit of cultural research, asked them what symbols resonate with them and who they are, and then the reflection of their teammates,” Bentley said.
“If we look at the design closely, (it includes) the woman symbol, these mounds which represent the leadership group, hunting boomerangs and footprints.
“The meeting places on the back represent how players have come together and figured out their pathway, whether it’s through their youth or playing forever or just starting.
“I used those colours because they were grounded, and the girls at the Bulldogs are very humble.
“It doesn’t matter who comes in, whether they were here last year or are new to the team. I feel like they can wear this guernsey with an absolute sense of pride and belonging. That was the theme that the leadership group were trying to approach.
“When you put that all together – the girls wanted to chase their dreams while leaving their mark and trailblazing for the future, not just for Aboriginal women and men, but holistically just leading the way for our young girls and creating a new pathway.”
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Bentley said she wants to continue creating conversation, while encouraging those who want to learn more to not to be afraid to ask.
“We’re all on different pathways and journeys – it’s about being proud of that and knowing that it’s okay to not really know what that looks like,” she said.
“I think it’s so important to start conversations, and continue to lead the way especially for communities. The AFL is a massive platform to provide an opportunity to break those barriers – if we can continue to do that, without having (something to initiate it) then I think we are going make a huge change.
“Creating conversation through art is part of our culture, so I think it’s really important that we continue to have conversations and start to feel comfortable with the uncomfortable.
“(Indigenous Round) is a celebration time – it’s about welcoming people into our culture and understanding what that looks like.
“If players are finding out who they are later in life – that’s okay too, but it’s probably a great starting point to have those conversations and find out how they can learn more.
“There’s always an opportunity. There’s always a pathway, someone to catch you when you fall and someone to help you walk tall when you’re up and about.
“I think it’s about just taking the risk and challenges, and owning them for what they are. Stand true for who you are.”
The match-worn guernseys will be auctioned off post-game, with a limited amount of guernseys also available for retail at the Bulldogs Shop.
