2023 North Melbourne Kangaroos Indigenous Guernsey - Youth

North Melbourne’s 2023 AFL Indigenous guernsey has been designed by Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett,

The design, titled ‘Connecting Through Identity’, was inspired by the men’s team’s three Indigenous players, Jy Simpkin (Yorta Yorta), Tarryn Thomas (Kamilaroi and Lumaranatana) and Phoenix Spicer (Numbulwar), and their connection to their kinship Country and the club.

At the heart of the guernsey is a football field with the outline of the Aboriginal flag in the centre. This represents the club’s home of Arden St Oval and Simpkin, Thomas and Spicer’s Aboriginal identity. 

The white lines on the wings and the kangaroo tracks through the middle represent the players’ journey to be on the field and their pride in playing, while the mob of kangaroos to the left of the ground represent their different positions and skills.

Water is also a key element of design, with the three circles connected to the field by rivers representing the three players being brought together at the club by the waterways from their Country and the waterways that surround Arden St Oval.

The back of the guernsey features the totems of each player – the long-necked turtle (Simpkin), the platypus and the goanna (Thomas) and the Barramundi fish (Spicer). 

The guernsey also pays respect to the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners of the land on which Arden St Oval sits, with the Bunjil soaring over the hills and waterways at the bottom of the guernsey.

The guernsey will be worn in Sir Doug Nicholls Round against Sydney in Round 10 and Collingwood in Round 11.