The guernsey, which the Swans will wear in next Thursday night’s Indigenous Round opener against Geelong, was created by Lisa Sansbury, mother of Swans champion player, Adam Goodes.
The unique design, which features eye-catching blue, red and white features, is representative of the mass of water that surrounds the Harbour City and how the ocean connects Sydney’s people and communities.
The Sydney Swans’ unique Indigenous Round guernsey is now available for purchase through the Swanshop
While Indigenous Round has always been a special time for Goodes, he told SwansTV that this year’s match would hold extra significance.
“It’s a really special round for a couple of reasons,” Goodes said.
“The first of those reasons is that we get to wear a Swans jumper with Aboriginal designs on it, which is the first time we’ve had a jumper with Aboriginal design.
“But our jumper is also a little bit more special for me as my mum designed it.
“The club asked me if mum would like to design the jumper many months ago and she was very, very honoured to be able to do that.”
Designed in honour of his late Aunty, Goodes explained the meaning of the detail his mother put in to her unique creation.
“When you think of Sydney, we’re pretty much surrounded mostly by water on the east coast, so it’s about us living with and on the land with lots of water around us,” Goodes said.
“The red and white parts are the meeting places, which actually intertwine with the water, which is the blue.
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“There are lots of circles on the guernsey, which are all connected, which means that the land is connected with the water.
“There’s a beautiful story in there, and the story is a tribute to my late Aunty Margaret, who passed away a year-and-a-half ago.
“It’s a really amazing jumper and when you see it up close you can really see the detail in it and see what mum was trying to do with her meeting places, the circles, connecting to the water lines as well.”
Sansbury, a part-time artist who has previously created artwork for the AFL’s Indigenous Round ll, said she was proud of her design and couldn’t wait to see the team wear it next Thursday night.
“I was quite looking forward to coming up with the design and now I feel proud that the boys are going to wear it on May 29 and the whole of Australia is going to see my design,” she said.
“I’m very happy with what I created.
“I’m very, very happy indeed.”
Indigenous Round, which will be officially launched at the Swans’ SCG game next week, is held each year in recognition of the important contributions Indigenous footballers have made throughout the history of the game.
Goodes, who was named Australian of the Year earlier this year for his active involvement in several Indigenous sport and community programs, said he was looking forward to proudly taking the field next week.
“Indigenous Round for me is a very special round each year and is a game that I really want to play well in,” he said.
Sydney Swans v Geelong Match Day Information
“It’s also a massive round for us to celebrate the contribution Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people have made to the game, whether it’s been on the field or off the field as volunteers or at local football at the grassroots.
“It’s a really special round and I know I walk out a little bit prouder knowing that we have a round to celebrate our culture and our people.
“It’s going to be a great night and I’m really looking forward to wearing mum’s design on the Swans jumper.
“Mum did a fantastic job with the design, and it’s something that we’re very proud to be able to wear for Indigenous Round.”
