“IT’S BEEN a great journey — so far.”

Speaking at the launch of Carlton’s 2023 Indigenous guernsey, Jesse Motlop was just as excited to speak on continuing his tenure in Navy Blue as he was wearing the jumper design of Russellina Puruntatameri.

Motlop has endeared himself to the Carlton faithful since he arrived in the 2021 AFL Draft, providing energy and spark both on and off the field in his 18 months at the Club.

Officially committing to a further two more seasons last night, Motlop - speaking to Carlton Media - said it was always a case of when, not if, pen would be put to paper.

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"It's so special to be able to tell these stories": Motlop on guernsey design

Jesse Motlop spoke to Carlton Media about our 2023 Indigenous guernsey design and why he re-signed to the Blues.

“Two more! It’s pretty exciting,” Motlop said.

“I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. I’m loving my footy here at the Carlton Football Club.

“Two years has felt like it’s gone for a while, but there’s still hopefully plenty of years to come.”

As the Blues prepared for Round 9 action, it was in the corresponding round last year where Motlop made his debut in front of family against GWS.

The next week was a whirlwind. His second game, which marked Carlton opening Sir Doug Nicholls Round, saw him head to the coin toss alongside captain Patrick Cripps for the traditional gift exchange.

Standing on the other side of the centre circle? None other than Lance Franklin.

It’ a memory which Motlop holds dear 12 months on, and one he’s hoping to replicate in the coming weeks when the Blues - again - come up against the Pies and Swans across a special fortnight.

“It was weird, it was my second game and I was going to do the coin toss with Buddy,” he said.

“[Sir Doug Nicholls Round] is a great game to play in, you always get a packed crowd. To wear the design and have every team in the comp have a design of their own, it’s so special to be able to tell stories of everyone before and continuing on.”

The Blues launched their design from Puruntatameri yesterday afternoon, with Motlop joined by Jack Martin, Zac Williams and the team’s leadership group in a presentation prior to the launch.

“It’s so cool . . . it looks amazing,” he said.

“She filled us in own the design and the specifics of the men’s and the women’s with the armbands. There’s a lot that has gone into it.

“She’s taken her work from the Tiwi Islands where she’s learnt from her parents. It’s a privilege to have the design on the jumper.”