GUERNSEY UNITES BLUES AND EXCITES YOUNG STAR

Carlton’s 2023 Indigenous guernsey is a true depiction of one of the club’s core values – ‘United’. For the first time, the guernsey will be worn by both the AFL and AFLW teams this year, with the men’s side to wear it in matches against Collingwood and Sydney during the Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds.

The guernsey reflects traditional Tiwi culture representing the Kulama Ceremony, Pamajini (arm bands) and spear and has been designed by proud Tiwi woman Russellina ‘Russy’ Puruntatameri.

The Kulama Ceremony is an annual celebration of life and an important ritual for young men.

It consists of three days and three nights of ritual body paintings, singing and dancing which happens towards the end of the wet season when a ring appears around the moon.

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.

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 Tiwi ceremony.

Speaking at the launch of the guernsey, rising young star Jesse Motlop was just as excited to speak on the jumper design as he was talking about extending his tenure in Navy Blue until at least the end of 2025.

“It’s so cool … it looks amazing,” he said.

“She filled us in on the design and the specifics of the men’s and the women’s with the armbands. There’s a lot that has gone into it.

“She’s taken her work from the Tiwi Islands where she’s learnt from her parents.

“It’s a privilege to have the design on the jumper.”

Motlop has endeared himself to the Carlton faithful since he arrived in the 2021 NAB AFL Draft, providing energy and spark on and off the field.

JUMPER PRIDE: Russellina Puruntatameri, who designed the Blues’ Indigenous guernsey, displays the jumper alongside Carlton players (from left) Zac Williams, Jacob Weitering, Patrick Cripps, Jesse Motlop, Sam Walsh and Jack Martin.

Officially committing to a further two seasons, Motlop said it was always a case of when – not if – pen would be put to paper.

“Two more! It’s pretty exciting,” Motlop said.

“I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. I’m loving my footy here at the Carlton Football Club.

“Two years has felt like it’s gone for a while, but there’s still hopefully plenty of years to come.”

The opportunity to run out in last season’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round provided an opportunity for Motlop to reflect, given his second game was very much a whirlwind: it marked Carlton opening Sir Doug Nicholls Round, with Motlop heading to the coin toss alongside captain Patrick Cripps for the traditional gift exchange.

Standing on the other side of the centre circle?

None other than Sydney superstar Lance Franklin.

It’s a memory which Motlop holds dear 12 months on.

“It was weird, it was my second game and I was going to do the coin toss with ‘Buddy’,” he said.

“(Sir Doug Nicholls Round) is a great game to play in, you always get a packed crowd.

“To wear the design and have every team in the comp have a design of their own is special.”