When our women’s team runs out in Brisbane this weekend, they will do so in a new Marn Grook guernsey designed by young artist and GO Foundation Alumni Lua Pellegrini.
Pellegrini is a proud Wiradjuri woman who grew up on Darug country in Western Sydney. She designed the Marn Grook guernsey worn by the Sydney Swans men’s team in 2022 and 2023, and becomes the first artist to have designed a Marn Grook guernsey for both Swans teams.
The front of the new design incorporates symbols that represents the Sydney Swans women’s team gathering in the bottom left-hand corner. The circles are surrounded by people in the community, coming together to support the women’s team.
“It represents women coming together to play sports and how that impacts the larger community, both now and for future generations,” Pellegrini said.
“For me, as a young First Nations woman, it means so much to me that women's sports is growing, so it was incredibly exciting to work on this guernsey.”
Pellegrini worked on the design with former Swans Jaide Anthony and Aliesha Newman, who were the first two female First Nations players to pull on the red and white guernsey.
The back of the design features Newman and Anthony’s initials, along with three symbols that represents the three-year journey of Sydney’s women’s team so far. The design also includes a nod to Pellegrini’s men’s Marn Grook artwork.
“Something that was important to me was that I also incorporated the same pattern on the back of the women's guernsey that is on the back of the men's guernsey. While their journeys are unique they share similarities, and in the future, I'd love to see equity in terms of men’s and women's sports and how it's valued in this country that loves sport so much.”
The Sydney Swans will wear the new Marn Grook guernsey for the first time this Sunday when the team takes on Brisbane in Round 9 at Brighton Homes Arena.
The guernsey will also be worn in the final game of the women’s home-and-away season at Henson Park on Saturday, November 2, when the Swans celebrate Marn Grook at home.
CLICK HERE to secure your tickets now to catch the Swans in action for the final time in the club’s 150th year.
Want to purchase the 2024 Marn Grook Guernsey. Click here to buy from the Swanshop.
