ROUND SEVEN of the AFLW season signals the start of a two-week period of education and celebration of Indigenous culture amongst the football community and Blues' forward Darcy Vescio is taking in everything they can.

In a conversation with Tyrone Winder of Yokayi Footy, Vescio is thankful that the AFL have incorporated an Indigenous Round into the AFLW season, giving players of all backgrounds to learn about the deep history of the sport and the chance to celebrate Indigenous culture.

Vescio has always been welcoming of learning about and embracing Indigenous culture, connecting with the communities surrounding Carlton and hopes their teammates make the most of these opportunities.

“Whenever we get an opportunity to celebrate and honour Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander culture, I think it’s awesome. The game itself is an Indigenous game, coming from Marngrook” Vescio said.

“I think you can seek these experiences for yourself but it's so wonderful to be in a space where we’re afforded these opportunities and have people come in and offer us their experiences”.

Winder, a Noongar man, has used football as his way to connect between his Elders and current-day communities, welcoming the education that has been put in place from grassroots to national level football in recent years.

He and Vescio both see that football has become a place for connecting cultures and with the inclusions of the AFLW, football has now become a game for everyone.

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Foam Printing with Tyrone Winder and Darcy Vescio

Join Tyrone Winder and Darcy Vescio as they discuss the significance of Indigenous Round, culture and community, all while learning the art of foam printing.

“It makes you feel like you’re a part of it, sometimes with football you feel like you’re a part of the game but you do feel a little outcast sometimes," Winder said. 

"But when this comes down to community levels like your community club or whoever puts in the effort to invest in [Indigenous rounds and guernseys], it's such a good thing to have.

“I always like to say, football is the great equaliser, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, it's that coming togetherness that’s so beautiful."

This season is the first time both Carlton's AFL and AFLW sides will wear the same Indigenous guernsey design in the same year. 

The artwork - designed by proud Tiwi artist Russy Puruntatameri - showcases the strength and resilience of the Tiwi women, with the circular shapes on the guernsey representing the ceremonial dancing ground.

“I like the idea and that the jumper itself incorporates all of us, the 'W' and the 'M', and then the idea of ceremony and coming together," Vescio said.

“I think there is a lot of ceremony in footy naturally and what we do with rituals as well, I like that concept that Russy has brought to life.

“I saw the men wearing this earlier in the year and I thought ‘that is an amazing jumper, when do we get to pull that on?’"

Darcy Vescio holds the canvas painted by Russy Puruntatameri and Russy holds Vescio's Indigenous guernsey.

Winder has noticed that more people in football are embracing the chance to educate themselves on the Indigenous culture, helping a lot of Indigenous people connect to the broader community.

The continual support of the communities is something that Vescio has noticed at the Club - and the league - using their chance to wear the Indigenous guernsey as a way to embrace and support culture.

“There’s a lot of people out there - even within the AFL - who feel homesick, whether you’re on a men’s or women’s playing list or working in the AFL. So to see [Indigenous culture] being embraced is so good and helps so much,” Winder said.

“I certainly feel like it has been embraced and every time we’ve had the opportunity to pull on a jumper and have the ability to learn about Aboriginal culture," Vescio said. 

Connecting to culture is something that Vescio can relate to, with their interest and support of the Indigenous community helping them express and connect with their own cultural background. 

Seeing the importance of family and expressing pride in their own culture is one thing that Vescio respects and takes from the Indigenous communities.

“I really respect the connection to culture," Vescio said. 

"It’s such a strong element of what we are as people and I feel like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are amazing at expressing and valuing that and they’re so proud of that. I love that aspect that they express it so well".