The AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous round is upon us once more, and clubs have gone all out with spectacular jumper designs to honour their First Nations stars. See every guernsey here.
Kuwarna (Adelaide Crows)
The Crows have retained the rich blue background for this year’s jumper, but defender Wayne Milera created the new design to reflect his ancestry and journey to the AFL. The design draws on creation stories while incorporating his family, his amateur football clubs Ingle Farm and Central District, as well as his time in the AFL. His two mobs, Narungga and Gunditjmara, are at the core of the jumper.
Brisbane Lions
Designed by Matt Serrurier and Keidean Coleman, the Lions guernsey tells Coleman’s story and the strong circle of support that has guided him along the way. Powerful Indigenous women who have shaped him take centre stage, with footprints and trails showing them walking alongside him on Coleman’s path. The jumper’s totems nod to his past and present teammates, while his children’s handprints are also front and centre.
Carlton
Larrakia artist Cian McCue has brought the Blues’ Sir Doug Nicholls Round offering to life. The navy jumper features crisp designs, mostly along the bottom third, celebrating the Larrakia calendar and the passing of seasons, as well as the wildlife that flourish at different times of year. Fans will instantly spot the crocodile, but there are several clever designs almost hidden around the rest of the jumper.
Collingwood
The Pies brought in a fan to design their 2026 guernsey, which has a strong West Australian connection. The journey of Norm Smith medallist and Whadjuk-Ballardong Noongar man Bobbie Hill inspired 11-year-old Noongar Yamatji artist Jed Bennell. Two grass trees in the middle of the design represent Hill’s sons, resilience, and connection to Country, while much of the art incorporates elements from Hill’s tattoos. Surrounding the grass trees are layered ring patterns that reflect the support of family, community, Collingwood Football Club, members, and supporters.
Essendon
The Bombers will sport their Dreamtime guernsey against the Dockers on Sunday, with the eye-catching red jumper featuring several different artistic styles. It was created by Gunditjmara woman Aunty Karen Lovett and symbolises her journey growing up in institutions, honours Elders who have passed, and reflects important symbols of Country. Two snakes make up the Don’s famous sash, while footprints are also prominent.
Walyalup (Fremantle Dockers)
You won’t be able to miss either side in the Dockers-Bombers clash, with Walyalup wearing a striking purple jumper in 2026. Club great Stephen Hill and Mariah Yarran collaborated on the design that takes fans back to Hill’s first-ever AFL game in a Purple Haze clash. The white anchor is also back. Looking directly at the jumper, the right side of the anchor represents Stephen and Mariah’s Pop’s story, while the left side symbolises their Nan’s story. More of their story can be seen along the bottom of the jumper.
Geelong Cats
The Cats jumper has another strong WA connection as they continue their Saltwater Stories series. Meeza and Lawson Humphries are behind the 2026 additions to the design that include whirlpools on the top with feet walking through. The whirlpools represent aquatic landmarks from the Humphries’ early life, most impactful being Whirlpool Pass off the coast of the Kimberley. The other change on the front is the green on the bottom, which represents the islands where they and their ancestors lived.
Greater Western Sydney Giants
Dharug artist Kane Wright designed the Giants’ Indigenous guernsey to celebrate belonging. The design incorporates symbols representing harmony, health, education, and employment, alongside handprints honouring Elders, seven yarning circles symbolising communities across Dharug Country, and meeting places that reflect the bond between players and supporters.
Gold Coast Suns
The Suns’ jumper celebrates the club’s ties to the Northern Territory. Trent Lee was involved in the design for the second year, with elements mirroring the rich artwork connected to Larrakia culture installed across the seats of TIO Stadium. The concentric circles represent the sky and where the players and staff hail from.
Hawthorn Hawks
The Hawks’ incredible Indigenous jumper was inspired by North Stradbroke Island, more than 1800km from Melbourne. Noonuccal man and Hawks star Karl Amon inspired the design, created by Quandamooka artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins. The guernsey captures the meeting of land and sea, with the story centred on the osprey, also known as the seahawk, which symbolises vision, agility, and precision. Earthy browns and golds represent the rocky land, while netting patterns are prominent, with fishing a staple of the island.
Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide Power)
The Power have celebrated their history with their 2026 design. Kaurna man and former player Uncle Mickey Kumatpi O’Brien uses teal and white ochre lines to represent Port River, as well as the surrounding peninsula and coastlines. Landscapes of Mudlangga, the nose of the Lefevre Peninsula, along with Tarnta, the red kangaroo, also feature in the striking design.
Narrm (Melbourne Demons)
The Demons jumper was created with one place in mind: Nyirripi. The small town is situated in the Northern Territory, 440km from Alice Springs. Walls all around town are covered in blue and red, and the local footy team is named for the Demons. Local Vanetta Nampijinpa Hudson designed the guernsey through stories of Warlukurlangu Jukurrpa (Fire Dreaming) — stories that have been passed through her family for millennia.
North Melbourne Kangaroos
The Roos have created a striking take on their blue and white traditions for this season’s First Nations jumper. Acclaimed artist Emma Bamblett designed the guernsey, which features intricate, interconnected line and circle work, surrounded by marram (kangaroo) tracks to represent the 25 distinct language groups and mobs that the 33 Indigenous players to represent the club have come from. North Melbourne’s bounding Roo is also prominent. References to Bunjil and the MCG are woven into the fabric.
Richmond Tigers
A Tigers legend has taken a direct hand in the club’s 2026 Dreamtime jumper. Michael Mitchell, alongside his daughters Meghan and Sam, has told the story of his direct family and his footy family from his time at Claremont and Richmond. In another major nod to his WA roots, the colours tie back to Mitchell’s homes of Carnarvon and Shark Bay. The red-tailed cockatoo on the back of the guernsey represents Mitchell’s parents, while the dugong and turtle on the front sash are a piece of Shark Bay.
Euro-Yoke (St Kilda Saints)
WA’s Bradley Hill is celebrated in the Saints’ Sir Doug Nicholls Round jumper. Also designed by Jed Bennell, the art explores Hill’s journey through three clubs, including the Dockers. Across the red stripe, there are three meeting places for each club, while kangaroo footprints represent the club’s current First Nations crop. The boomerang represents strength, resilience, and culture, with every Indigenous player to represent the Saints celebrated on the back of the jumper.
Sydney Swans
Sydney will sport the same jumper as last season that reverses the red and white of their traditional guernsey. The jumper shares a connection with the club’s home, while the artwork acknowledges the Gadigal and Bidiagal lands on which Sydney Swans HQ stands. The central symbol represents the SCG, while a mullet trail marks the move from South Melbourne to Sydney.
Waalitj Malawar (West Coast Eagles)
The Eagles’ latest First Nations jumper, designed by Andrew Beck, again features an eagle’s head. The eagle is a significant symbol in many Indigenous cultures, while the front of the guernsey features a large circle representing the club, surrounded by figures honouring the first three Aboriginal players to represent West Coast: Wally Matera, Phil Narkle, and Chris Lewis.
Western Bulldogs
The Dogs’ jumper incorporates their traditional colours into stories of land, with red mountains and blue waterways. Past and present players are celebrated in the designs.
