THE CARLTON Football Club is proud to reveal its 2023 AFLW Indigenous guernsey which will be worn in this year’s Indigenous Rounds.
For the first time, both AFL and AFLW teams will unite and wear the same Indigenous guernsey, designed by proud Tiwi woman Russellina Puruntatameri.
The design was unveiled by the Club’s AFL team for Sir Doug Nicholls Round earlier this year.
Puruntatameri wanted to showcase the strength and resilience of the Tiwi women through illustrating a Numwariyaka (spear) and Pamajini (arm bands) which sit proudly across the front. The arm bands are woven from pandanus and are an important part of the Tiwi ceremony.
The circular shapes on the guernsey represent the ceremonial dancing ground, an important ceremony in the Tiwi community that symbolises good health, hunting and initiation.
Carlton will wear the Indigenous guernsey across two games, in its matches against Collingwood and GWS during the Indigenous Rounds 7 and 8.
Russellina Puruntatameri was honoured to be asked to design the 2023 Indigenous Guernsey and draw on the history of her culture.
“It was so exciting to be asked to design the Indigenous guernsey for Carlton for this year. The brief was to focus on a story that has been practiced and painted for thousands and thousands of years,” Puruntatameri said.
“I thought the Kulama Ceremony in combination with key elements of women’s business was the perfect fit as it will be worn by players from both AFL and AFLW.
“I am proud to have created something that both the players and supporters who wear the guernsey can connect directly with and learn about the historic and continuing cultural practices of the Tiwi Islands.”
