CARLTON has unveiled a special new training and warm-up top, featuring Indigenous art designed by proud Yankunyjatjara and Wirangu woman, Shelley Ware.

Ware has been part of the Carlton fabric for a long time, designing an Indigenous guernsey for both the AFL and AFLW programs, as well as being an important part of the Club’s education in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters. 

For Ware, it was an honour to design the art that would be featured on every single training and warm-up top at the Club, with Ware detailing how proud and pleased she is to see the art being viewed more than just Indigenous Round. 

“I’m really proud to see my artwork on the warm-up top and the training jumper,” Ware said.  

“So many times we just see our artwork in Indigenous Round and it’s just that once a year – to see the Carlton Football Club really embrace that Aboriginal culture and really celebrate it every day training in it and before games, it’s really special to me.” 

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A story of unity: Ware explains new design

Proud Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman Shelley Ware explains the meaning behind her design for 2023 AFL PUMA Training Top.

So what does the design represent? 

Ware was keen on highlighting the unity of the Club as well as the land surrounding them. 

Representing both the AFL and AFLW programs, Ware shows the Club as a meeting place where people of all kinds can come together and not be judged or discriminated against. 

“The design is pretty simple: we’ve got two teams here at Carlton and I wanted to represent both of those,” she said. 

“The middle circle is them coming together and making sure that the Club is united and strong. 

“A yarning circle is a meeting place, it’s all about sitting down together and listening and learning from each other – I really wanted to represent that everyone is equal, no one is bigger or better than anyone else.”

With IKON Park residing on Wurundjeri land, Ware wanted to also acknowledge the original custodians of the land on which football is played, as well as the animals that have roamed the country for thousands of years. 

“We’ve also got the animals that walk here in Wurundjeri country –  they’ve walked freely on this country beforehand and these players are really lucky to play here.

“I wanted to represent the local people and the custodians of this land and also the beautiful Yarra River to represent the strength and life and culture that it represents for Wurundjeri people: it’s just that unity of the Carlton Football Club being one and strong.”