Collaboration and creativity were core focuses for Lucas Waddleton (a Tyerrernotepanner student from Northern Tasmania) and Lawson Richards (a non-Indigenous student) when creating Essendon’s 2025 Dreamtime guernsey.
The duo’s powerful design came to life through Ganbu Gulin (‘One Mob’ in Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language), a The Long Walk school program delivered at Taylors Lakes Secondary College. A key focus of the program is to bring First Nation students together, connect students to community and culture and raise awareness across the broader school community.
2025’s design represents the unity of indigenous and non-indigenous people coming together. Further to that, the gum tree signifies a family tree where the circles represent different groups of people who become connected at a gathering place of humans and animals.
Gum trees and leaves are integral in First Nations Cultures as they are used in Ceremony and for medicinal purposes, also a connection point to the Taylors Lakes area where several gum trees grow on Wurundjeri Country.
Additionally, the bird footprints symbolise the presence of both animals and nature, ultimately showing all walks of life coming together.
The guernsey will be showcased during Indigenous Round of the 2025 NAB AFLW Premiership Season, which spans across Rounds 3-4 (August 29 - 7 September). For the second year running, the Dons will be taking on the Tigers for Dreamtime in Larrakia/Darwin at TIO Stadium.
Get your very own Dreamtime guernsey here.
