Ahead of our annual Marn Grook at the SCG clash this Friday night, Sydney Swans staff and players, and staff from the GO Foundation, came together this week to share in a unique cultural experience.

Partnering with Tribal Warrior, an organisation who have been a central part of the Redfern community for over two decades, the Swans took part in a cultural cruise on Goat Island.

Sydney Swans Indigenous Strategy and Player Development Manager Jarred Hodges said the chance for the entire club to come together was a great and important opportunity ahead of celebrating Marn Grook at the SCG later this week.

“We have been able to hear the stories and a yarn about the Sydney Harbour from a first nations perspective, and we are here at Goat Island where we heard stories from the staff, had a dance, shared a yarn and a laugh,” Hodges said.

“Marn Grook is a massive week for us but this provides us an opportunity to bring everyone together as a club, but broadly as a nation. It’s about sharing a conversation, discussing, and looking at our First Nations culture and how we can go forward.

“To see our entire club embrace it, our CEO, our senior coach, put everything aside, for us as First Nations people it really means a lot.

“Today has been really aligned with our entire organisation’s values which are around respect and unity,” Hodges added.

“It has created an opportunity for everyone involved at the club, to come together and hear the stories and learn lessons in a respectful way from our First Nations people.”

Sydney Swans player James Bell welcomed the opportunity to share some of the learnings with his fellow teammates.

“I think it was an eye opener for a few lads who have never really experienced some of these cultural awareness topics before, so it was good for all of us to understand some of the ceremonies that once happened in Sydney Harbour,” Bell said.

“It was good to see everyone immerse themselves into it. It was a fun session, nothing was too serious, but there were a lot of key learnings from just the way Aboriginal people treat each other and I think that can flow into how our workplace operates as well.”

This year, the Swans unveiled a new Marn Grook guernsey which has been designed by GO Foundation scholar, artist and a proud Wiradjuri woman Lua Pellegrini.

The artwork on the guernsey is titled Duguwaybul Yindyamangidyal which means altogether respectfully: respect, gentleness, politeness, honour, careful, altogether as one. It represents connectedness, depicting the story of the 19 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men who have played for the Sydney Swans, both in the past and the present.

Bell said this week was particularly special for himself and his family, being acknowledged in the new Marn Grook guernsey design.

“Marn Grook at the SCG means a lot to me. I obviously have a lot of family up and down the coast, and when they hear about Marn Grook round it is very special to them too,” Bell said.

“I feel privileged to be one of the nineteen on the guernsey, and it didn’t really hit me until the other day when I pulled it on that I realised I will be remembered as one of the Swans Indigenous players.”

Marn Grook at the SCG, Sydney Swans v Richmond is THIS FRIDAY. Tickets via TICKETEK

Click here to view the game day activity during Marn Grook at the SCG.