THE CARLTON Football Club is proud to announce that its 2021 AFL Indigenous guernsey auction has raised a staggering $32,478, with $16,239 to be donated to the Clothing The Gaps Foundation. 

The remainder of the proceeds will go towards the Club’s Indigenous programs and the implementation of its Reconciliation Action Plan.

01:50

Free the Flag | Thompson speaks on educating ourselves

Managing Director of Clothing the Gaps, Laura Thompson spoke to Carlton Media about the Free the Flag message.

With the 2021 Sir Doug Nichols Round spanning across two weeks, the Blues wore the limited-edition jumper against the Swans at the SCG for the Marn Grook Game in Round 11 and again for their clash with the Eagles the following week, before all match-worn and player-issued guernseys went up for auction on the official Carlton auction site. 

Designed by proud Gunditjmara woman, Melbourne artist and Clothing The Gaps Co-Founder Laura Thompson, the guernsey was created in consultation with Carlton’s seven Indigenous players at the time of it being designed, transforming the traditional Navy Blue strip to recognise Indigenous heritage and culture, while celebrating and paying tribute to the diverse Aboriginal cultures at the Club.

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Representing All of Us | Behind our 2021 Indigenous guernsey

Laura Thompson, our 2021 AFL Indigenous Guernsey artist, talks us through her inspiration behind the design.

A fresh and dynamic fashion label, Clothing The Gaps is a Victorian Aboriginal led and controlled social enterprise, which celebrates Aboriginal people and culture. Playing on the words ‘Closing the Gap’, which is an Australian Government health initiative to help close the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal people and non-Indigenous Australians, the not-for-profit foundation exists to get Aboriginal people and communities moving to enhance and maximise the lives of Aboriginal Australians. 

Following the auction’s tremendous success, Carlton interim CEO Tom Crookes said the Club was delighted to be able to assist the Clothing The Gaps Foundation, with the large donation a reflection of the entire Carlton family’s appreciation and support of the cause.

“On behalf of everyone at the Club, I would like to thank all Bluebaggers and the AFL community who supported both the auction and the 2021 Sir Doug Nicholls Round this year, getting behind such an important cause that sits closely with Carlton’s values,” Crookes said.

“Our club exists to ensure all people are welcome and feel as though they belong in the Navy Blue, so to have Laura design our 2021 AFL Indigenous guernsey and allow each of our players and the entire Carlton family to celebrate our Indigenous heritage and culture, certainly meant a lot to our football club. 

“We hope that this donation will make a difference to the Clothing The Gaps Foundation as it continues to strive towards closing the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal people and non-Indigenous Australians.”