A PARTICULARLY special guernsey.
For the first time in Jesse Motlop’s career, his tribe is represented on the Carlton Indigenous guernsey.
Motlop's first season at IKON Park in 2022, the year where the artwork had already been finalised which depicted Indigenous Carlton players of the past and present. Playing his second career game in Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Motlop was set on one day seeing his own totem on a Carlton guernsey.
That chance came in 2023, when Motlop - along with Zac Williams and Jack Martin - put their heads together for ideas for the 2024 Indigenous guernsey, designed by Stewart James.
With that, the opportunity to feature their three individual totems was born, with the Danggalaba (crocodile) representing Motlop’s home.
The 20-year-old will get the chance to wear the guernsey this weekend when he makes his return via the VFL with the Carlton Reserves to wear an Indigenous guernsey for the first time.
“I remember in my first year, it had all the past Indigenous players, AFL and AFLW. I was the only person not on there because it was my first year,” Motlop said.
“Seeing the crocodile represents my family and all of Darwin – I was jealous I didn’t get to wear it last week but this week I will. I’m pretty keen for it.”
No stranger to the design process, Motlop and a non-Indigenous classmate at Aquinas College in Western Australia decided to re-design the school's old Indigenous guernsey in 2020, with the school still using their design today.
Motlop couldn’t overstate the importance of storytelling in his culture, noting that the guernsey was just one of many ways that Indigenous people could share their story and where they're from.
“We had the four Indigenous learning symbols out the front gate of the school and we included the river which Aquinas College is on,” he explained.
“I think you feel so good about it because you get to see the design you’ve created but it tells a story as well.
“I think that’s the most important part of it. With our culture, telling stories is one of the main parts, to be able to tell where you’re from and the land you are on.
“I was raised in Perth but it’s not home, Darwin is, so acknowledging both is pretty special to me.”
Being a young player in the AFL system, Motlop is well aware of the troubles that young Indigenous Australians face, inside and outside of the AFL.
Acknowledging the progress that has been made, but also disheartened by what seems like a mountain of work to go, Motlop said the opportunity to share stories and culture is something that makes people feel like they belong.
“As long as we keep telling stories through the jumper, keep acknowledging the land for what it is and the players that have gone before us, are still playing, and the future ones as well.”
The small forward also acknowledged the hardship for all those living in Darwin - Indigenous and non-Indigenous - and hopes that there is a way forward for those who are in one of the most isolated communities in Australia.
Referencing a plan his uncle Steven (former Geelong, Port Adelaide) had always wanted to commence, Motlop admits there are a lot of problems that need to be addressed in the Northern Territory, hoping that Indigenous people can help lead the way to a better environment.
“I remember uncle Steven always mentioned wanting to have his own academy out of Darwin, but I guess a little bit more hands-on,” he admitted.
“Similar to what Eddie [Betts] does, but in Darwin whether it’s with Indigenous or non-Indigenous kids, kids that don’t traditionally make it out of Darwin.
“He wanted to make sure their nutrition was right and their training because realistically, not many do get drafted from there.
“I think it’s really good what Gold Coast have done with their academy, how they take the NT boys. There’s going to be not only a lot more Indigenous talent but NT talent just in general go into the system and get shown the way.”
