The Western Bulldogs revealed their 2024 Pride guernsey last week, ahead of Friday's Pride Round match against Essendon at Mission Whitten Oval.
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 celebrated a Pride game every season – with St Kilda and Melbourne joining in 2020 – before it was extended to a league-wide Pride Round in 2021.
Pride guernseys from the past
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.
2022 (S6)
Western Bulldogs 4.6 (30) def. Richmond 1.7 (13)
Guernsey designed by Natalie Gills
The Bulldogs’ season six Pride jumper highlighted the progress pride flag, intertwined with the famous red, white and blue colours in place of the traditional hoops as a display of the Club’s commitment to supporting diversity, inclusion and progression.
2022 (S7)
Western Bulldogs 4.11 (35) def. St Kilda 3.2 (20)
Guernsey designed by AFLW playing group in consultation with Bulldog Pride
The Bulldogs’ last Pride guernsey reflects the transgender flag, with the traditional red, white and blue hoops swapped out for pastel blue, white and pink. The rainbow progress pride flag is also featured across the top back panel of the guernsey.
2023
Western Bulldogs 1.3 (9) def. by North Melbourne 7.13 (55)
Guernsey designed by AFLW playing group in consultation with Bulldog Pride
Following the positive reception last season, the Bulldogs have opted to again wear the transgender flag-inspired guernsey with two minor additions. A rainbow progress pride heart has been added to the front, while the playing numbers are outlined in rainbow.
2024
Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Friday 10 September, 7.15pm AEDT @ Mission Whitten Oval
Guernsey designed by AFLW playing group
Designed by members of the playing group, the guernsey once again features the colours of the Transgender Pride Flag – a staple in the design since 2022.
For the first time, it will be based on the Club’s white clash guernsey and has the additional details of the gender-identity symbols featured across the pink and blue hoops in the centre of the guernsey.