Since 2007, the AFL has run its Indigenous Round, and since its name change in 2016, this will be the 10th edition of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

All 18 clubs will feature a specially designed jersey and six teams including both WA sides will change their names for the next two weeks – Fremantle will be known as ‘Walyalup’, and West Coast, ‘Wallitj Marawar’.

The process of the jersey design is given to selected players at clubs with Indigenous heritage, and they have the opportunity to present their design and their story to their clubs before they take to the oval.

Former Eagles and Port Adelaide forward, Brendon Ah Chee, is someone who has had the privilege of having his family’s story represented on one of these guerneys, and he joined Sports Breakfast this morning.

“Mum is a Noongar woman from Pinjarra, a very talented artist. I think it might have been 2013 or 2014 when I was at Port Adelaide, they asked me and my family to design the jumper and Mum was very happy to be able to provide that for the club,” he said.

“I didn’t get to play the game unfortunately, but it was in Alice Springs – I think against Melbourne – and just seeing the boys run out and playing in a jumper that my family had designed was really special.

“I got to speak about what it meant to me and my family. Those were back in the days when the designs were sort of reasonably simple, so mum put together something relatively quickly, which still was significant. But since then it’s got bigger and bigger.

“Callum [Ah Chee] got to do one with my older brother for Brisbane last year as well, so there’s two jumpers that have been put on the AFL stage that my family’s had a hand in creating which is very special.”

The round is designed to celebrate the deep connection to Aboriginal history the AFL has, featuring so many star studded names with Indigenous heritage.

“It’s gotten to a point where it’s just like, the standard of every club delivering it is fantastic and as a player, and I guess as a supporter of football as well, it’s always been my favourite round over my 10-year career in the AFL.”

“What I found with the weeks leading up is that it just started so much conversation. So, you know, aside from the amazing celebration of culture, it actually sparks a lot of conversation – obviously with the team – but then also in the wider community as well… All you have to do is just have some curiosity, ask some questions, educate yourself a little bit more, and then you can respect the culture and understand the history a little bit more.

“The AFL has got such a powerful presence in the community that whenever they put these rounds on, celebrating whatever aspect of society, it starts conversations and people can learn, which is what it’s all about.”

IMAGE: AFL Media