Two-time Kuwarna AFLW Premiership forward Danielle Ponter says having all three of the Club’s teams wear the one Indigenous guernsey builds connection and creates a special bond.
Kuwarna AFLW team will don this year’s Indigenous guernsey for its Week Nine clash against North Melbourne at Norwood Oval on Friday night.
It follows on from the Club’s AFL team wearing the design during Sir Doug Nicholls Round earlier this year and the SANFL team donning it on multiple occasions throughout its 2024 campaign.
This year marks the third time that all teams have worn the same guernsey design, embracing a three teams, one club mantra.
Speaking to the media at the launch of the AFLW’s Indigenous Round on Monday, Ponter said she was looking forward to wearing the guernsey, which was designed by forward Izak Rankine and his cousin Harley Hall.
“I think it’s awesome the Club has a guernsey that all three teams wear - our AFL, us and our SANFL team,” Ponter said.
“It’s really special that we look as one coming into rounds like this.
“For Izak to have an opportunity to do this is really special.
“This guernsey tells the story of his connection to Adelaide and coming back home from where he was in Gold Coast.”
A proud Anmatyerre, Marranunggu and Tiwi woman, Ponter said Indigenous Round was a chance to embrace the culture, as well as the current and past players.
“It’s very special for us as Indigenous players to be able to play in this round and to celebrate the contribution of past Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players to (help us) be in this position,” Ponter said.
“It’s just a really proud moment for all of us to be able to go out there and celebrate who we are with the girls around us and the team.”
Kuwarna will enter the game against the ladder-leading Kangaroos after a 43-point win against Collingwood on Sunday afternoon.
Ponter was looking forward to the match and believed the side had what it took to match it with the best in the competition.
“It’s going to be a really tough challenge,” Ponter said.
“They’ve been playing some really good footy, but so have we.
“We will look at their play and how they go about it and we’ll see how we can counteract that.
“I back in the way we play every week, it will be a good challenge and I’m hoping we get a good crowd out there on Friday night.”
Kuwarna will continue the AFLW Indigenous Round tradition of exchanging gifts with the opposition captain and Indigenous players during Friday night’s match against North Melbourne.
Thanks to BHP, Kuwarna will be exchanging a hooked boomerang (or No.7 Boomerang) carved from a mulga tree root by local Indigenous artist Patrick Ferguson from Punu Carvings, which is traditionally used in battles.
Kuwarna plays North Melbourne at Norwood Oval on Friday at 7.15pm.
Tickets available here.
