Some of the game's greatest indigenous have pulled on the royal blue and white stripes of North Melbourne.
From club champions such as Barry Cable, Jim and Phil Krakouer, and Daniel Wells, to exciting young talents such as Jy Simpkin and Tarryn Thomas, the Roos have long been synonymous with indigenous talent.
In Rounds 13, clubs will pay tribute to our First Australians, and their contribution to the game during 'Sir Doug Nicholls Round'.
Born on Cummeragunja mission in New South Wales in 1906, Sir Doug Nicholls played football for Fitzroy before becoming a Pastor and pioneer for reconciliation in Australia. He went on to become the first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander to be knighted and hold the position of Governor of South Australia.
One of the most popular tributes to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has been the themed guernseys adorned by the clubs during this round.
North will proudly wear its seventh Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey, ‘Totem - Never Surrender’.
North Media has taken a look back at all of the club's designs.
2020 | Totem - Never Surrender | Lorraine Kabbindi White
Designed by Gunmok woman and artist, Lorraine Kabbindi White, ‘Never Surrender’ pays homage to the players’ deep connection with culture and respect of their country.
Totems of the club’s Aboriginal AFL players: Jed Anderson (Honey Ant), Paul Ahern (Lizard), Jy Simpkin (Turtle), Kyron Hayden (Salt Water) and Tarryn Thomas (Goanna & Emu).
Each player’s country also features; Warramungu (Anderson), Gunaikunai (Ahern), Yorta Yorta (Simpkin), Wajuk / Ballardong (Hayden) and Lumaranatana / Kamilaroi (Thomas).
The background details freshwater and saltwater countries merging, symbolising the coming together of all different cultures.
The boomerang and spears sit alongside the totems and represent strength, resilience and a celebration of survival– all summed up by the name of the jumper: ‘Never Surrender’
2019 - Totem - Lorraine Kabbindi White
Totem [toh-tuhm]; A natural object or animate being assumed as the emblem of a clan, family or group.
Depicted on the fabric of North's 2019 Sir Doug Nicholls Round jumper, are the powerful totems of each of its Aboriginal players.
The honey ant (Jed Anderson), goanna (Paul Ahern), turtle (Jy Simpkin) and water (Kyron Hayden), all bring this delicate and unique artwork, aptly titled 'Totem', together.
Designed by talented Gunmok artist Lorraine Kabbindi White, Totem's flowing design also features the 'Rainbow Serpent' or the 'Ngalyod' in Western Arnhem Land; a powerful being that originated from beneath the earth and created huge ridges, mountains and gorges as it pushed upward towards the surface of the land.
North's spiritual home, Arden St, is also visible in the form of a blue oval or deep waterhole in which 'Ngalylod' dwell.
2018 | Origins | Tarrise King
Having collaborated with her sister for the 2016 ‘Bloodlines’ jumper, Tarrise King created the 2018 guernsey with artwork based on her “Earth Image” series.
North’s new indigenous jumper pays tribute to the club’s ancestry and the connection between past, present and future. From past players like Percy Johnson, Barry Cable, Winston Abraham, Byron Pickett, Daniel Wells, Lindsay Thomas, to current players Jed Anderson and Jy Simpkin – each has had their name incorporated.
Tarisse’s story is an aerial view of a winding river, running through a series of communities that represent today’s footballing talent. The river feeds in to an indigenous Kangaroo - symbolic of the North Melbourne football club - where the wider community comes together.
2017 | Tribal | Sarrita King
Sarrita King was helped in the 2017 design process by Lindsay Thomas, Jed Anderson and Daniel Wells, and the result was the beautiful ‘Tribal’ design.
“Sitting down with the players and hearing what was important to them and what should be incorporated in this latest design was a great experience,” King said.
“This is very much their ideas and feelings laid out on their canvas which is their playing jumper.
“Taking the famous Kangaroo that’s synonymous with North’s success in the 90s but adapting it to fit the traditional Indigenous art style is a beautiful combination and wonderful synergy.”
2016 | Bloodlines | Sarrita and Tarrise King
The jumper combines the striking styles of the King sisters and provides an aerial view of the land. Dividing the pair's work is a thick line – the bloodline – a symbol of their connection to each other and the land.
2015 | Our Icon II | Sarrita King
After the unprecedented popularity of the first ‘Our Icon’ jumper, which sold out, the talented artist King released another version of the guernsey, encompassing the same design elements.
2014 | Our Icon | Sarrita King
Sought out by the club through its ties with the Ngarru Indigenous Art Gallery in Port Douglas, King was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to design the jumper.
King said the jumper symbolised “everyone; the supporters and the players coming together at the one place; the North Melbourne Football Club.
- The arrow-like symbols represent Kangaroo paw-prints, and symbolise everyone travelling.
- The circles represent tribes, campsites, communities, and symbolise everyone coming together to meet at the club.
- The Kangaroo paw encompassed by an oval is the North Melbourne community being brought together on the field.
