SIR DOUG NICHOLLS ROUND
The Sir Doug Nicholls Round celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and contributions to Australian Football, the celebration lasting across Round 10 and Round 11.
2025 marks the 19th year the AFL has had a dedicated Indigenous round, and the 10th year it has been known as the Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls was born in Yorta Yorta on Cummeragunja mission in New South Wales in 1906. He played football for Fitzroy before becoming a Pastor and pioneer for reconciliation in Australia.
Later, he became the first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individual to be knighted and hold the position of Governor of South Australia. Sir Doug's daughter, Aunty Pam Pedersen, continues to advocate for Sir Doug's work, and represents the Nicholls family with the AFL.
The Sir Doug Nicholls Round 2025 theme is 'Past legacies, future legends'. This year's theme identifies and honours the significance of the three anniversaries in 2025, while celebrating the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the game today and into the future.
DREAMTIME GUERNSEY
As part of The Long Walk School Programs and its strong ties with the community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Taylors Lakes Secondary College took part in Ganbu Gulin—which means “One Mob” in the Woi Wurrung language. This workshop focused on Dreamtime storytelling and the collaborative design of an Indigenous guernsey for 2025.
The design symbolises the unity of the people, animals and the land in accepting each other and celebrating their differences. This guernsey was designed by two year 8 students Lucas Waddleton, Tyerrernotepanner in Northern Tasmania and Lawson Richards, non-indigenous who came together to collaborate on ideas and artistic choices.
The gum tree represents a family tree where the circles are different groupings of people who become connected by the tree, at a gathering place of humans and animals. Gum trees or leaves are significant in Fist Nations Cultures as they are used in Ceremony and for medicinal purposes. A lot of gum trees grow in the Taylors Lakes area on Wurundjeri Country.
Additionally, the bird footprints symbolise both animals and nature being present, with ultimately all walks of life coming together.
