In commemoration of its Ganbu marnang n’uther boolong – the Boonwurrung translation of '150th year' – and those who have contributed to its yawa, St Kilda Football Club is proud to unveil this year’s Indigenous Guernsey.
Designed by Indigenous artist Jade Kennedy of the Noongar Nation (Wadjak, Willman, Kaartdijin & Bibulman), the guernsey represents the yawa – or journey – of the club and its First Nations players and their families.
The family totems of Bradley Hill, Jade Gresham, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager, Isaac Keeler, Jack Peris and J’Noemi Anderson encircle the names of all First Nations Saints who have played a senior game for the club, representing the collective past and present, along with the foundations they have laid towards a proud future.
These are accompanied by traditional gathering place and journey path symbols to further reference the club’s yawa.
For the first time, both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags feature on the front of the jumper, while the words Ganbu marnang n’uther boolong are printed into the hems.
Most notably, a splash of yellow has been reincorporated into the guernsey, mirroring the look worn by the Saints between 1915-1922.
Although a stark contrast compared to its traditional colour scheme, it isn’t the first time yellow has featured as part of St Kilda’s visual identity.
The Saints briefly abandoned their white strip in favour of yellow at the onset of World War I as a showing of solidarity for Allied force, Belgium, which had several players serving in the country.
By 1923 the classic look had been reinstated, but the yellow wasn’t gone forever, appearing on field again during the 2005 Heritage Round.
St Kilda will wear its 2023 Indigenous Guernsey in Rounds 10 and 11 against Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn respectively, with the latter a home game on Wurundjeri Country.
A clash version of this guernsey will also be worn by the Saints’ AFLW side this coming season.
