Fremantle’s new era under senior coach Justin Longmuir is a central theme of its 2020 AFL Indigenous jumper, designed by former player Antoni Grover and his sisters Nicole King and Alicia King.

The jumper will be worn by Fremantle players for the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round against Sydney on Saturday 22 August at Optus Stadium.

Grover, who played 202 games between 1999 and 2012, is the fifth past or current player to design one of Fremantle’s Indigenous jumpers, joining Roger Hayden (2013-2016), Dale Kickett (2017-2018), Troy Cook (2019) and Jasmin Stewart (AFLW 2020).

As well as Fremantle’s new beginning under Longmuir, the jumper also illustrates the importance of family to Grover, symbolising his biological family as well as his ‘Fremantle family’.

At the base of the jumper is the main pathway, showing Kangaroo and Emu footprints – animals that can only move forward – along a journey through three mandalas, which represent Fremantle in its third decade as a club.

The dots inside each mandala are representative of those who have contributed to the club and the 20 dots connecting the mandalas represent Longmuir’s number in his playing days.

At the back of the jumper is a sunrise over Yamatji country, another symbol of a new beginning and an homage to Grover’s father’s side of the family, who hail from Yamatji country.

At the centre of the front of the jumper is a message stick, which encapsulates the family theme - the passing of wisdom through generations – as well as the return of past players such as Longmuir, Roger Hayden, Simon Eastaugh, Josh Carr, Aaron Sandilands, Tendai Mzungu (NGA coach) and Garrick Ibbotson (AFLW coach) to coach the next generation of players at Fremantle.

Grover said it was an honour to be asked by former teammate and Fremantle’s Indigenous liaison officer Michael Johnson to design the jumper.

“When I first got the call from Johnno, I was overawed,” Grover said.

“I felt such a buzz inside, as it’s something very special to be asked to do.

“Initially, I wasn’t sure where to go first, so I called my old man and he suggested that I talk to my sisters Nicole and Alicia.

“Nicole has a real talent, she’s the artist out of the three of us. We came together several times to brainstorm ideas to come up with a theme and how we can link it back to our family and show what it means to us to have an opportunity to design something that’s etched in history now.

“We were a bit nervous and we wanted to get it right. No matter what anyone’s opinion is of the jumper, we’re really proud of the work that we’ve done.”

With family being a central theme of the jumper, Grover said it was fitting that the design process only brought his family closer.

“The fact that we’ve done this together is a bond that will never be broken,” Grover said.

“Nicole has young children, I have as well. So while we’re working on our design all of the little cousins are hanging out together too.

“It’s just going to be an absolutely surreal moment when we get these jumpers and I get to see my kids wearing them, and my little nieces and nephews wearing them.”

Grover said he was inspired to feature Longmuir on the jumper as the pair have always shared a close bond through their football careers.

“Justin and I, we played state 18s together and we were drafted together. When you first start out in football, you spend a lot of time with the guys that you’ve been brought to the club with,” Grover said.

“They become your football family. Just recently, I was telling my 10-year-old daughter how Justin was at her first birthday party.

“I’m proud of where he’s got to, to now be a senior coach at an AFL club.

“He wants to bring long-term success to this football club. The jumper is designed in that light, with Justin being the new senior coach and bringing a new era to the Fremantle Football Club.”