To celebrate AFLW Indigenous Round this weekend, the Club will wear its 2022 AFLW Indigenous Jumper for the next two weeks starting on Friday night against the Western Bulldogs at Ikon Park.
The jumper, which was unveiled earlier in the year, will also be worn in round four against Carlton at Fremantle Oval.
The design of the jumper is based on the Mikayla Morrison and Des Headland design that was also used for the Men's AFL Indigenous Jumper last season.
Click here to order your AFLW S7 Indigenous Jumper!
Local Indigenous artist Kevin Bynder – an uncle to Morrison and cousin to Headland – worked with his family members to create the stunning design, with the trio eager for the jumper to be worn by both the AFL and AFLW teams.
The jumper was adapted for the AFLW team this year, including the middle tapping stick, from the men's design, changing to a berry colour.
The design process was done in conjunction with Fremantle’s ‘Stretch’ RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan), which was developed in assistance with the Club’s Indigenous program partner, Woodside.
Morrison is still recovering from an ACL injury she suffered in March this year but will fly to Melbourne with the team to be part of the gift exchange prior to the bounce on Friday night.
The small forward was fortunate to play in the Indigenous jumper in season six and although she won't be out there on Friday night she is proud the Club chose to wear it again in the same year.
“Personally, the jumper shows all of my tribes connected and coming together to the point where I was drafted and became a part of the AFLW team.
“Indigenous Round means a lot. I feel like it gives us Indigenous players a platform to showcase our skills and also have that opportunity to share our culture and knowledge with our teammates and fans.”
As well as telling her personal story, the jumper shows the Beeliar Wetlands, which is an area of significant meaning to Morrison. They are shown on the left side of the jumper from the viewer’s perspective to represent the three lakes around the Cockburn area.
Click here to order your AFLW S7 Indigenous Jumper!
“(The lakes are) very important to the Beeliar mob,” Morrison said.
“I was born and raised on Whadjuk country, which is the Perth region, but my family is spread all around WA, through the Yamatji region around Shark Bay and Geraldton and Gija around Halls Creek in the Kimberley.
“My Noongar country isn’t actually Perth, it’s Balladong, which is the Wheatbelt. The left side (of the jumper) shows all of those aspects together and coming to Perth.”
Bynder explained the importance of water to all Indigenous cultures.
“The lakes are significant because water is important to our ancestors,” Bynder said.
“It provides food, shelter and it plays a part in the Wagyl, who we say is our creator. The Wagyl created the lakes by coming up underground looking somewhere to lay her eggs and go down and the water will fill it.”
