THE CARLTON Football Club is proud to launch its 2024 AFL Indigenous guernsey which will be worn by the AFL team during the Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds. 

With a whole club focus, the AFLW, VFL and VFLW will also wear the guernsey during their Indigenous Rounds.

It comes in a year the Club has launched the Loorende-gat Business and Entrepreneur program, with sessions aimed at creating and fostering a thriving community of First Nations people and businesses.

Carlton’s 2024 Indigenous guernsey was designed by Wiradjuri man of the Narrandera Murrumbidgee River People Stewart James, who is also the cousin of defender Zac Williams.

The artwork name Ngiyanhi [nee-ya-nee], comes from a Wiradjuri word meaning ‘we all’.

The name encompasses the deep connection and sense of belonging and purpose that ‘we all’, as Carlton family, feel.

“This artwork represents the significant relationships of players, past and present,” James explained.

“It is important to honour the relationships we all have with land and water, particularly for our Indigenous people who represent their communities and continually contribute to this great game, both on and off the field.

“It connects to the people who stand with those players, who are proud to share in the stories of their journeys and be part of something truly unique and special.”

With his personal connection to the playing group, through Williams, James felt it was important to recognise each current Indigenous player at Carlton on the guernsey.

“The current players are represented in this artwork, through their unique totems and symbols,” James said.

“The spiralling patterns that surround these totems and symbols represent the rivers and/or waterways that flow past the communities they come from.

“The swirling lines throughout the artwork connects everything and everyone. Players, families, fans, and club ‘Ngiyanhi’.”

Carlton defender Zac Williams explained how special it was to have a such a close connection to this year’s guernsey.

“Family means the world to me, and knowing one of my own Mob designed the guernsey makes it even more special,” Williams said.

“To have myself, Jesse [Motlop], and Jack [Martin], each represented with a symbol on the guernsey is a real heartwarming touch, and one I know we will all treasure. It helps put it in perspective what Sir Doug Nicholls Round truly represents for us.

"It is never lost on the players, the privilege it is to run out in the Indigenous guernsey and celebrate, acknowledge and pay our respects to Indigenous culture and people.”

Carlton will wear the Indigenous guernsey across two games, against the Sydney Swans and the Gold Coast Suns in Rounds 10 and 11.