PAFC Have Launched Their Aboriginal Uniform Design For 2017

This afternoon, Port Adelaide launched the uniform design it will wear in the 2017 AFL Sir Douglas Nicholls Indigenous Round against Geelong and its own Aboriginal cultural game in Round 11 against Hawthorn.

It is the first time the Power will wear a guernsey with an Aboriginal design in two games during a single year.

The guernsey, designed by Nathan Krakouer, who is a member of the Minang language group of Western Australia, tells a story about the journey of the Power’s Aboriginal players.

The front of the guernsey features a boomerang motif, the uppermost featuring the Aboriginal flag, while the lower features ‘1967’ in recognition of the 50-year anniversary of the referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australian citizens.

The boomerangs will also appear on the Power’s shorts and socks.

The nine hands on the body of the guernsey represent Krakouer, Chad Wingard, Karl Amon, Jarman Impey, Paddy Ryder, Jake Neade, Brendon Ah Chee, Sam Powell-Pepper and Aidyn Johnson. The animal tracks represent the cultural totems of the players.

Krakouer said he wanted to design the guernsey to recognise the significant referendum anniversary and also tell the story of his fellow Aboriginal players at the club.

“I placed the year 1967 on the front of the guernsey, which is the year Australia had a referendum where 90% of the country voted for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be included in the Australian population,” Krakouer said.

“I placed boomerangs in the guernsey, shorts and socks to represent our people hunting, fighting and protecting each other like we do at Port Adelaide.

“And the hand prints are in recognition of the traditional art Aboriginal people have made for thousands of years.

“They would put a mixture of ochre, water and animal fat into their mouths and blow it across their hands onto a surface. Unfortunately much of this tradition has been lost of the years and may not exist into the future, so I wanted to recognise this on our jumper.”

Port Adelaide launched the uniform at a special celebration of its Aboriginal Programs at the Yidaki didgeridu exhibition at the South Australian Museum.

It also launched the guernsey its Aboriginal AFL Academy will wear in 2017, inspired by the Power’s first ever jumper worn in an AFL match, but featuring the colours of the Aboriginal flag, instead of Port’s black, white and teal.

For more head to portadelaidefc.com.au