There’s been a considerable amount of change since the Saints first debuted its inaugural Indigenous Round guernsey in 2014.
Now, for the two weeks’ celebrations the Saints are known as Euro-Yroke, the Boon Wurrung translation of ‘St Kilda’, yellow has returned to the colour palette and the entire league is involved in the landmark fortnight now known as Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
In acknowledgement of 10 years of Indigenous Guernseys, take a look back on our designs from seasons past, the meaning behind each jumper and plenty more as the club’s yawa continues to make meaningful strides forward.
2014
Designed by: Aunty Carolyn Briggs, Boon Wurrung
First worn: Round 11, 2014 v Collingwood
Celebrating stories, place and connection, the Saints’ inaugural Indigenous guernsey both honours the past and looks ahead to a reconciled future.
At the centre of the design is a Boon Wurrung spearhead, which symbolically has the power to reconcile past differences and cease conflicts.
Featuring the club’s classic colour scheme punctuated with pops of yellow, the threads similarly reference Bunjil, the creator and spiritual leader of the Kulin Nation. In a time of historic tribal conflict and chaos, Bunjil was asked to stop the sea from rising, using his spear to bring the Boon Wurrung people together.
2015
Designed by: Marcus Lee, Boon Wurrung
First worn: Round 9, 2015 v Brisbane
A unified symbol of both harmony is at the heart of the club’s 2015 Indigenous guernsey, which features unique geometry in reference to both the land and the six Boon Wurrung clans: Yaluk-ut weelam, Ngurrak weelam, Mayune baluk, Boonwurrung baluk, Yawen djeera and Yaluk baluk.
The design features six concentric circles that symbolically refer to the geography of the Boon Wurrung bay region, which extends along the northern, eastern and southern shorelines of Port Phillip, the Mornington Peninsula, Western Port and its two main islands, and land to the south-east down to Wilsons Promontory.
This year also marked the first time the round was designated as Sir Doug Nicholls Round, named after the prominent Indigenous politician, South Australian governor and Fitzroy footballer.
2016
Designed by: Marcus Lee, Boon Wurrung
First worn: Round 10, 2016 v Fremantle
The striking circle designs of the previous year’s guernsey carried over to the following season via artist Marcus Lee, again in reference to the geographic layout of Boon Wurrung Country.
Influenced by traditional Aboriginal South Eastern artwork carving styles, the design features a more familiar Saints tricolour aesthetic, with the circles now far more prominent on the red and black panels.
2017
Designed by: Michelle Baksh and Jade Gresham, Yorta Yorta
First worn: Round 10, 2017 v Western Bulldogs
Representing the land and history of the Yorta Yorta people, former Saint Jade Gresham and his mother, Michelle, told their family’s story for the club’s 2017 Indigenous threads.
Featuring shorter and far more detailed red and black panels, the intricate line-work depicts patterns reminiscent of a turtle’s shel to form an abstract representation of the Yorta Yorta lands.
Most prominently is the depiction of the Murray River flowing through the middle of the Guernsey, featuring two long-neck turtles — the totem of the Yorta Yorta mob — to further represent the family’s heritage.
2018
Designed by: Michelle Baksh and Jade Gresham, Yorta Yorta
First worn: Round 11, 2018 v West Coast
Very similar to the preceding season’s jumper, the story of the Yorta Yorta people was featured in as part of the 2018 Indigenous Round.
The turtle-shell patterns within the red panel in particular was made more prominent, while the panels, with the long-necked turtles made slightly larger within the depiction of the Murray River.
2019
Designed by: Emily Long, Anmatyere
First worn: Round 10, 2019 v Carlton
A plethora of stories significant to the Long family are presented within the club’s 2019 Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey.
The front of the guernsey represents the Long family’s paternal grandfather’s ancestors, the Anmatyere people, who come from Ti Tree, Northern Territory. The three eggs and footprints symbolise the emu, totem of the Anmatyere people, while the two watering holes represent the land that the emus frequent, connected by Twenty Mile Creek.
Meanwhile, the shark represents the protector of the Tiwi Islands, where Jack Long was adopted by the Kerinaiua family, where they were born and still live to this day.
The back of the guernsey represents the Long family’s paternal grandmother’s ancestors, the Maranunggu people, who hail from Daly River, Northern Territory, while the the feathers represent the White-Tailed Sea Eagle; the protector, hunter and all-seeing totem of the Maranunggu people.
A version of this guernsey featuring a wider middle panel was used for the 2021 AFLW Indigenous Round.
2020
Designed by: Matty Parker, Noongar
First worn: Round 13, 2020 v Brisbane
Designed by former Saint Matty Parker with important contributions from partner Shardah and son Matty Jr., the 2020 Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey represents his family, his ancestors and his heritage as a Noongar/Yuet man from the Ballardong region, signifying how they are always protecting him through his journey in life.
While the iconic red, white and black panels remain, the new jumper is full of intricate details that reflect his unique story; most notably a goanna that serves as Parker’s family totem and represents his heritage.
The three symbols that sit at the back of the jumper signify family (with one each for Parker, Shardah and Matty Jr.), two spears represent strength and protection, while the red panel is etched with symbols that signify life’s journey – which for Parker has been long and winding road.
2021
Designed by: Nicky Winmar, Noongar
First worn: Round 11, 2021 v North Melbourne
Created by one of the greatest Indigenous footballers of all-time, club great Nicky Winmar was inspired by his family, his history and his love of the Saints when putting together the eye-catching kit of 2021.
Two Willy Wagtails, Winmar’s family totem, feature on the front of the jumper to represent both of his parents, alongside a silhouette of his iconic “I’m Black and I’m Proud” pose from his stand against racism at Victoria Park in 1993.
The stencils seen on the back of the guernsey are inspired by Indigenous splatter techniques and feature Nicky’s very own hands, representing teamwork and demonstrate his eternal connection to the club and its current group of players: he will always have their back.
2022
Designed by: Nicky Winmar, Noongar
First worn: Round 10, 2022 v Adelaide
The Saints retained Winmar’s design from the previous year come 2022, retaining all the same elements but instead placing the artwork on a predominantly white backdrop as opposed to the black of 2021.
Most notably, this guernsey was worn by the club’s AFLW side in its match against Collingwood at Victoria Park, seeing Winmar return to the scene of his generation-defining act for the first time in 29 years.
2022 (AFLW Season 7)
Designed by: Bailey Mifsud, Kirrae/Peek Wurrong
First worn: Round 3, 2022 (Season 7) v Narrm
The Saints’ AFLW side utilised a special standalone Indigenous guernsey for the fast-tracked Season 7 held across August, coinciding with the arrival of the club’s first Indigenous women’s player, J’Noemi Anderson.
A pattern of a gumtree takes up the space usually reserved for the white panel of the club’s strip, while a series of yellow dots are also incorporated in representation of the Aboriginal Flag.
In the centre of the design is a traditional gathering circle, with eight symbols showcasing each of the club’s Indigenous male players from the season just gone. The outer circle represents the club’s past playing group, who are looking over the current crop of Indigenous players to symbolise guidance, unity and support.
2023
Designed by: Jade Kennedy, Noongar
First worn: Round 10, 2023 v GWS
In commemoration of its Ganbu marnang n’uther boolong – the Boonwurrung translation of '150th year' – and those who have contributed to its yawa, the Saints unveiled a particularly special guernsey for the 2023 Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Featuring a striking yellow strip which both pays homage to the club’s past and mirrors the colours of the Aboriginal flag, the guernsey features the family totems of the year’s Indigenous Saints players, surrounding the list of all First Nations Saints to have represented the club at senior level.
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.
A white-based version of the guernsey was adopted by the AFLW side later in the year, with the added kangaroo totem of Natalie Plane one of the additional distinctions.
2024
Designed by: Nathan Patterson, Wagiman
First worn: Round 10, 2024 v Walyalup
In a momentous moment in the club’s yawa, the Saints’ two Indigenous guernseys for 2024 coincided with the historic name change to ‘Euro-Yroke’ — the Boon Wurrung translation for ‘St Kilda’ — for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Natural elements of Euro-Yroke are reflected across each tri-colour design, beginning with the water and waves of Nairm (Port Phillip Bay), moving to the sandy shorelines and through to the coastal vegetation further in-land; all meeting as one earth under the stripes of Euro-Yroke.
The story continues at the back of the guernsey through the silhouette of Narrm’s (Melbourne’s) hills, with an additional artwork featuring a symbol of mobs journeying to a central gathering point, in this case, the club.
Yellow again features front and centre in Euro-Yroke’s home variant, with the names of the 33 Indigenous players to have represented the Saints at AFL/AFLW level - up until the end of last season - printed onto the jumper.
