The Southport Sharks are excited to be wearing a special Indigenous guernsey for Sir Doug Nicholls Round this year.
The guernsey was designed by retired Southport Sharks QAFLW player Lateesha Jeffrey, a proud Woolwonga and Kukatj woman raised on Larrakia and Yolngu land.
The idea behind her design was to align the elements to the club’s value of being united.
Jeffrey said, “To acknowledge and celebrate Indigenous Round, I wanted to highlight a value at Southport that I feel deeply resonates with many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
“I didn’t want to move away from the Sharks colours because that is who we are and what we play for.”
“The dots represent the players at Southport Sharks. Although they come from different backgrounds, when we pull that guernsey on, we are one club.”
“The same concept was used for the Shark design, where all the dots represent the players, coaches and club officials, all of whom form the Shark.”
Photo (Left to Right): Matt McGuinness and Ryan Banks-Smith
Current Southport Sharks’ VFL Indigenous players Matt McGuinness and Ryan Banks-Smith love the jumper.
Matt McGuinness, proud Palawa man, said, “It is a very special jumper. I really like the meaning behind the dots and the combination of all three teams—VFL, QAFLW Seniors, and QAFLW Reserves—to form the powerful Shark.”
Ryan Banks-Smith, who is also a proud Palawa man added, “I am very honoured to be wearing this jumper, and I can’t wait to run out on Sir Doug Nicholls Round with Matt, who is my best mate, to represent the Aboriginal and Tores Strait Islander community.”
Photo (Left to Right): Maddy Rasmussen, Lillian Behan and Nakeisha Drew-Perkiss
Current Southport Sharks’ QAFLW Indigenous players Maddy Rasmussen, Lillian Behan and Nakeisha Drew-Perkiss are also looking forward to running out in the jumpers on Saturday.
Maddy Rasmussen, a proud Murrumburr woman, said, “The guernseys look awesome, and I think the story behind them is beautiful.”
Lillian Behan, a proud Bundjalung woman said, “This round is very special for me. Every round you want to represent your team and club, but this week is particularly special because it’s a chance to represent our culture and family.”
Southport’s VFL team will wear the Indigenous guernseys on Saturday, 25th May, against Northern Bullants at Genis Steel Oval, which is situated on Wurunjeri lands, and next Saturday, 25th May, at Fankhauser Reserve, which is situated on Yugambeh lands.
Both of the Sharks’ QAFLW teams will wear the Indigenous guernseys this Saturday, 25th May, against Coorparoo at Giffin Park, which is situated on Yuggerra-Turrbal lands.