COX CELEBRATES 100

The football gods were having some fun this week. In the same week that Damien Hardwick announced his resignation as coach of Richmond, perhaps his greatest nemesis celebrates a significant milestone of his own.

Mason Cox, who in 2018 took Hardwick’s Tigers down in a stunning preliminary final performance, will play his 100th AFL game.

Cox is one of the most celebrated players in the AFL. The 211cm American played college basketball for Oklahoma State University and tried out for the AFL in 2014, almost as a matter of curiosity.

But he and the game were made for each other. He moved to Australia that year and signed for Collingwood, where an assistant coach – Craig McRae – was charged with teaching him the game.

He was a prized pupil, able to take a mark, kick the ball smoothly and use his high-intelligence – he was an engineering graduate – to master the game’s tactics and intricacies.

He debuted on a massive stage – the 2016 Anzac Day game – but it was the preliminary final two years later when he became a star, with a series of one-grab, contested marks that helped the Magpies to a boilover win over a red-hot Richmond, a victory that cost the Tigers their chance to become one of the greatest teams in League history.

Since then, he has become one of the AFL’s greatest ambassadors – and erudite commentators – and has played well enough for the Magpies to remain an important member of the side playing out of the goalsquare and as a relief ruckman.

As recently as three weeks ago, just after he was extensively profiled on the US edition of 60 Minutes, the 32-year-old was best afield in Collingwood’s win over the GWS Giants. ASHLEY BROWNE

ROUND S 10- 11

The AFL would like to thank our valued Partners for their support across the following initiatives throughout Sir Doug Nicholls Round;

GRASS SIGNAGE

The incredible contribution from Toyota, Telstra, Coles and rebel for giving back their grass signage to help us celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

INDIGENOUS RADIO COMMENTARY

Presenting partner Telstra for their support in this project to cover three different radio stations and languages across three games and six teams – tune in to something different for Dreamtime at the ‘G, the Gold Coast SUNS vs Western Bulldogs from Darwin or Adelaide Crows vs Brisbane Lions via the AFL Live Official App.

DREAMTIME AT THE ‘G ENTERTAINMENT

Supporting partner Coles for contributing to our Dreamtime at the ‘G Pre-Match Entertainment.

DREAMTIME AT THE ‘G COMMUNITY TICKETING

AAMI for their generous donation of 7,000 free tickets for community groups and people to attend Dreamtime at the ‘G.

Adelaide Crows

The Crows’ guernsey, with a primary theme being connection, features a family link with AFLW premiership player Danielle Ponter. It has been designed by Anmatyerr educator and artist April Napangardi Campbell from the Ti Tree community in the Northern Territory. Campbell is Ponter’s Aunty and the two met recently in Adelaide.

Brisbane Lions

Premiership players Des Headland and Ash McGrath have designed their club’s guernsey. Painted by Kevin Bynder, it represents the stories of each player and their families. The guernsey itself is a tale of two halves – signified by the initials DJH (Des James Headland) on the left side and CHM (Cliff Henry McGrath) on the right side.

Carlton

The Blues’ guernsey, designed by proud Tiwi woman Russellina ‘Russy’ Puruntatameri, reflects traditional Tiwi culture representing the Kulama Ceremony, Pamajini (arm bands) and spear. The Kulama Ceremony is an annual celebration of life and an important ritual for young men.

Collingwood

Designed by Djab Wurrong and Kirrae Wurrong artist Tarni Jarvis, the Magpies’ guernsey tells the story of the many individuals and groups that make up the club. The design features circles within the black stripes on the guernsey. Each circle is unique and represents the people and their stories that make up the club.

Essendon

Two students from Thornbury Primary School –Momo Willcox, a Yawuru girl born on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country, and Jackie Sinclair – helped the Bombers design their guernsey, featuring Waa the Crow. Waa is one of the moiety totems for the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Eastern Kulin nation and is the protector spirit.

WALYALUP (FREMANTLE)

Alex Pearce’s journey from Tasmania to his new home in Fremantle is the central theme of the Dockers’ Indigenous jumper, which is designed by Carly Grey in collaboration with Pearce. The pair are close friends who hail from country Tasmania.

Geelong

Michelle Searle designed the Cats’ guernsey. The design elements include stars (representing meeting under one sky), the centre (coming together), lower design elements (explaining different journeys and pathways through life) and the bangs across the middle (waves of emotions and support).

Gold Coast Suns

The guernsey features elements from ‘Our Cultural Journey’, an artwork designed by defender and Indigenous artist Jy Farrar and contributed to by members of the Gold Coast community. Fans had the opportunity to add their fingerprint to the artwork, representing Suns’ members, supporters, players, staff and the community.

Gws Giants

Leeanne Hunter designed the Giants’ guernsey, called Ngurra, which means country and connection in the Darug language, the native tongue of the lands of Western Sydney. Hunter is a proud descendant of the Wiradjuri Nation of Aboriginal people, with her family lineage stemming from the Central West region of NSW.

Hawthorn

Designed by proud Wagiman man and Indigenous artist Nathan Patterson and inspired by proud Yorta Yorta man and current player Jarman Impey, the Hawks’ guernsey is a representation of the Hawthorn family, both those who pull on the guernsey to play and those who cheer from far and wide.

NARRM (MELBOURNE)

Proud Nyul Nyul Saltwater Man Lowell Hunter is behind Narrm’s guernsey. He developed a unique skill in which he uses his feet to carve breathtaking artworks into sand. He describes his technique as the same foot movements he was taught through the traditional dance movements his people have practised for countless generations.

North Melbourne

North’s guernsey was designed by Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett. The design, titled ‘Connecting Through Identity’, was inspired by the men’s team’s three Indigenous players – Jy Simpkin (Yorta Yorta), Tarryn Thomas (Kamilaroi and Lumaranatana) and Phoenix Spicer (Numbulwar).

YARTAPUULTI (PORT ADELAIDE)

This striking design was a collaboration between two-time premiership player Peter Burgoyne and Adelaide artist Laz Gein . The guernsey depicts several generations of Burgoynes, including Peter’s son and Yartapuulti player Jase Burgoyne and Mirning and Kokatha elder Peter Burgoyne snr, who played SANFL football for Port Adelaide in the 1970s.

Richmond

Richmond’s guernsey is designed by assistant coach Xavier Clarke and his family. The artwork on the sash is from an original painting from Clarke’s uncle Timothy Dumoo and depicts a Wangka (dance) from Clarke’s people, the Marri Ammu Marri Tjevin clan of the Moyle River floodplains.

St Kilda

The Saints’ guernsey is in commemoration of their Ganbu marnang n’uther boolong – the Boonwurrung translation of ‘150th year’ – and those who have contributed to its yawa. Designed by Indigenous artist Jade Kennedy, the guernsey represents the yawa – or journey – of the club and its First Nations players and their families.

Sydney Swans

The Swans will again wear the guernsey they unveiled last year, designed by GO Foundation scholar and artist Lua Pellegrini. The artwork on the guernsey is titled ‘Duguwaybul Yindyamangidyal’ which means altogether respectfully: respect, gentleness, politeness, honour, carefulness, altogether as one.

West Coast Eagles

Designed by AFLW player and proud Kija and Jaru woman Krstel Petrevski, the guernsey is inspired by cultural features which symbolise the unity of the football club. The circles represent the club’s programs and their connection while the feathers are a symbol of past players and officials who have contributed to West Coast.

Western Bulldogs

The Bulldogs’ design, by proud Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta man Jason Walker, represents Mirring (country) on Gunditjmara, the area with which the Bulldogs are affiliated in south-west Victoria, and is inspired by the Lake Condah possum skin cloak. The kooyang’s inclusion in the design also acknowledges the West-Vic Eels Aboriginal Football Club.