Wilston Grange, an AFL Queensland club, has paid tribute to the contributions of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a remarkable jumper design created by Indigenous artist Emma MacNeill. Wilston Grange Honors Indigenous Contributions with Striking Jumper Design
MacNeill, a celebrated artist known for her previous Indigenous jumper designs for North Melbourne and Brisbane, crafted a design that highlights the club’s inclusivity and celebrates the journey of past, present, and future players.
The design incorporates two powerful elements: the boomerang and digging sticks, symbolizing the men’s and women’s sides of the club, respectively. MacNeill, who also plays footy at Wilston Grange, integrated every player’s home totems to weave together their past stories with their present experiences at the club. The boomerang represents the men’s fierce spirit, while the digging sticks honor the women and the generational stories passed down through these traditional tools.
“Creating the guernsey was such a journey, one I am grateful to have been able to contribute to,” MacNeill expressed. She emphasized that AFL Queensland’s Indigenous Round is about respect, inclusivity, and pride. “It’s such an important round; I love all the special elements of it,” she added.
At Wilston Grange, the celebrations start with an Acknowledgement of Country, followed by performances by Indigenous dancers before the match. Players also run through a ribbon or balloon banner, embracing their culture and celebrating their Indigenous heritage.
AFL Queensland clubs wore specially designed jumpers as part of the league-wide recognition of Indigenous Round.
Broadbeach’s first-ever Indigenous strip was created by Yugambeh artist Luther Cora. The design reflects the land on which the club is built and honors the Traditional Custodians. It illustrates how Traditional Owners lived sustainably off the seas, rivers, creeks, and waterways, gathering pippies and oysters.
The Bond University Bull Sharks jumper, designed by Wradjuri woman Narelle Urquhart, tells the story of how sport unites people through spirit and culture. It features a bull shark to symbolize the teams and highlights The Canal at Bond University.
Redland Victoria Point’s jumper was a collaborative effort by traditional artist Patrick Coolwell and his partner Kaiyu Moura Bayles. The 2024 design, their second, includes five totems representing the five Indigenous players at the club. Inside each jersey is the inscription, “We gather on Noonuccal Country, united by our club/family. Generations and generations of legends make up our teams,” honoring the players of the past and the land they play on.
These specially designed jumpers across AFL Queensland clubs serve as a powerful tribute to Indigenous culture and the vital role of Indigenous players in the sport.
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