HAWKS CELEBRATE THEIR HERITAGE IN TASSIE

Hawthorn is thrilled to be returning to Palawa land to celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Round at UTAS Stadium today. The club would like to acknowledge the Palawa people as the traditional custodian of the land and respectfully recognise elders both past and present.

Born on Cummeragunja mission in New South Wales in 1906, Sir Doug Nicholls played for Fitzroy before becoming a pastor and pioneer for reconciliation in Australia.

He went on to become the first Indigenous person to be knighted and hold the position of Governor of South Australia.

All 18 AFL clubs will wear specially-designed Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernseys, while all AFL umpires will wear dedicated uniforms celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Hawthorn’s guernsey is designed by proud Wagiman man and Indigenous artist Nathan Patterson, inspired by proud Yorta Yorta man and Hawthorn player Jarman Impey.

The design is a representation of the Hawthorn family and is inclusive of those who pull on the guernsey to play and those who cheer from far and wide.

The hawk shows pride and strength in its protection of our people and the land on which we play and cheer.

The many meeting places lead to the Home Ground, where we can come together as one to share in the pride and passion the family has for the brown and gold.

The iconic Sherrin match football will feature artwork designed by Tiwi Island artist Jennifer ‘Lulu’ Coombes and, for the first time, the word Sherrin will be replaced with the Tiwi phrase ‘Yiloga’ (pronounced Yi-lo-a), meaning football.

Ground signage throughout rounds 10 and 11 will feature symbols of cultural significance including the Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flag in each of the goalsquares, a symbol for meeting place in the centre circle, the Aboriginal symbol for man in each of the 50m arcs, while the name of the traditional owners of each ground will appear below the centre circle.

In addition, the GO Foundation logo – founded by former AFL greats Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin – will be placed on the broadcast wing at the request of Toyota in place of the Toyota 3D logo.