PRE ORDER YOUR 2019 WESTERN BULLDOGS INDIGENOUS GUERNSEY VIA THE FORM BELOW
The personal story of Brett Goodes, told through themes of family, culture and club, inspired the design of the Western Bulldogs’ 2019 Indigenous guernsey.
The Bulldogs will wear the specially designed guernsey for their Round 10 Sir Doug Nicholls Round game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, May 25.
Goodes was presented with the opportunity to have his story depicted on the guernsey, with the design created by renowned Indigenous artist Nathan Patterson.
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Goodes has enjoyed a long association with the Western Bulldogs through a number of roles – as a player welfare manager, a 22-game AFL player and as the Club’s Ballarat Engagement Manager.
More recently, he has led the Club’s Indigenous programs, including the launch and ongoing execution of the Bulldogs’ Reconciliation Action Plan.
“With my role at the Club, and the Club going down the path of reconciliation with an Action Plan and me taking this new role, I thought it was a great opportunity to tell my story through the guernsey, but to also tell the story of what we’re doing as a Club,” Goodes said.
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“It’s quite humbling to have this jumper designed and to work closely with the artist Nathan Patterson, who’s a wonderful artist based here in Victoria.
“To know a lot of the boys who will go out and wear it and play in it, I’ve got a lot of connections with those players, so I’m sure they’ll represent it and be as proud of it as I am.”
Along with committing to a Reconciliation Action Plan, the Bulldogs have long been a supporter of the Indigenous community.
One of its flagship community programs, the Nallei-Jerring Koori Youth Leadership Project, aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander young people by encouraging leadership within the local Aboriginal community.
The Bulldogs’ Next Generation Academy aims to identify the best young Indigenous playing talent in the Club’s zone, through inner western Melbourne and regional western Victoria.
A portion of the proceeds made from the sale of the guernsey will go towards its Indigenous programs.
IN HIS OWN WORDS: BRETT GOODES TELLS THE STORY BEHIND THE 2019 BULLDOGS INDIGENOUS GUERNSEY DESIGN
Family
The most important element, and the centrepiece of the design, represents my love for family; sitting at a campfire with my brothers Jake and Adam, and my mother Lisa.
Culture
I am of Adnyamathanha & Narungga descent (South Australia). Adnyamathanha, also known as the ‘Rock People’ of the Flinders Ranges, is represented in the artwork with the sun rising on Akurra (giant water snake) moving and shaping the Ranges around him.
Narungga people are also known as the ‘Butterfish Mob’ of the Yorke Peninsula (represented bottom left).
Club
At the bottom of the design there are three footballs and three circles, representing my connection to the Club; my first role as player welfare manager, my current role working in Indigenous programs and my time as a player spanning over eight years.
PAY IT FORWARD THREE-GAME MEMBERSHIP OFFER
If you are already a Western Bulldogs member, with the purchase a 2019 indigenous guernsey you have the option to pass on a free three-game membership to a non-for-profit Indigenous organisation, to give other families a chance to attend Bulldogs games. Confirm your selection via the pre-order form below.
