THE West Australian Football League will join NAIDOC
celebrations this weekend when each club wears special NAIDOC jumpers designed by
Aboriginal artist Richard Walley.
For the very first time in Australian sporting history, all clubs in one competition will participate in the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) celebrations across two weekends, beginning this Saturday and continuing in Round 16 on July 10 and 11.
Aboriginal players from each WAFL club and league umpire Brandon Simpson unveiled the NAIDOC jumpers at Subiaco Oval yesterday (Wednesday, July 1), with each club’s design representing features and landmarks relevant to the history of the club and its indigenous players.
The jumper designs were also presented and promoted to the United Nations (UN) in New York last month by Mr Walley, with the UN congratulating and recognising his work and achievements in leading this project.
The Department of Indigenous Affairs has funded the production of all jumpers and is the sponsor of the WAFL NAIDOC weekends, which will be based on the theme of “honouring our elders, nurturing our youth”.
WA Football Commission Director of Football Grant Dorrington said the WAFL was very excited about this year’s NAIDOC events.
“With the two WAFL clubs, Claremont and South Fremantle, initiating this journey in 2007, it has taken only two years for the WAFL NAIDOC themed rounds to come into fruition.”
NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia in July each year to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of indigenous Australians.
South Fremantle Football Club will also announce its Indigenous All-Star Team before clashing with Claremont this weekend.
Other NAIDOC games this Saturday will see West Perth take on Perth at Arena Joondalup, Swan Districts host East Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval and East Perth meet Subiaco at Medibank Stadium.
Peel Thunder has the bye but will host a NAIDOC game at Rushton Park next weekend against Claremont as the celebrations continue in Round 16.
Milestones – Round 15
50 Games
Chad Jones (Claremont) – 49 games
Brett Jones (Claremont) – 49 games
Andrew Foster (East Fremantle) – 49 games
Steven Armstrong (Perth) – 49 games
