MORE than 100 elite AFL and AFLW players from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Island and Multicultural backgrounds gathered in Geelong for the  2022 AFL/AFLPA Indigenous and Multicultural Player Summit.

Representing the Carlton Football Club was Dom Akuei, Jack Martin, Jesse Motlop, Adam Saad and Zac Williams from the men's program, while Mua Laloifi, Nat Plane and Darcy Vescio represented the women's program.

2022 Indigenous and Multicultural Players Summit

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Senior Coach Michael Voss and CEO Brian Cook contributed to several activities and information sessions, while Carlton's Indigenous Liaison Lead Jethro Calma-Holt and Indigenous Player Development Manager Dean Duncan attended the full program. 

The 2022 Player Summit marks the first time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural players from both AFL and AFLW have been invited to participate in the three-day program that focuses on celebrating and strengthening cultural identity.

In addition, the Summit offers a platform for players to discuss matters of importance to them and how the AFL and the AFLPA can work collaboratively to best support change across the industry that will impact positively on their experiences in the game, on and off the field.

One of the group activities was to tell stories of our culture and background through artwork on a possum skin. Each person contributed to the skin by writing and/or drawing art, and then the markings were burnt onto the skin using a modern-day burning tool.

The symbols represent our people, our footprints on a journey together and how we are all connected as one.

Words on the skin: 

Bari and Dinka - Dom's mum and dad's people (South Sudan)

Kungarakan - Jethro's Aboriginal tribe (NT)

Yawuru and Yamatji - Jack's mum and dad's people (WA)

Larrakia - Jesse's Aboriginal tribe (NT)

Taishan and Conflenti - Darcy's mum and dad's people (China and Italy)

Wiradjuri - Zac's Aboriginal tribe (NSW)

Dunbo - Adam's family home town (Lebanon)

Siumu - Mua's family home town (Samoa)

Gunai-Kurnai & Meeanjin - Vossy's home town (Orbost VIC) and football career location (Brisbane)

Kamilaroi - Dean and Nat's Aboriginal tribe (NSW)