Local Indigenous artist Shane Cook has transformed the boots of a key group of Crows players ahead of Saturday night’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round match clash with Fremantle.
Leaders Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane as well as Eddie Betts, Charlie Cameron, Wayne Milera and Curtly Hampton had their boots hand-painted by Cook this week as part of Adelaide’s celebration of Indigenous culture.
The designs incorporate distinguishing tribal lines, dots and symbols that pay homage to Indigenous ancestry.
The boots will be worn by the players on Saturday night and then auctioned to raise funds for the Crows Children’s Foundation, which supports kids in need. Bid on the boots here
Cook said each pair had been specially-designed for the individual player.
“I’ve done a few boots for players in the SANFL in the past and one of those guys put me in touch with the Crows to design these boots especially for Indigenous Round,” he said.
“When I spoke to Eddie he was keen to have a story which involved his family, so I’ve painted him inside a meeting place which represents the footy field and then his family – his wife and two kids – around the outside supporting him while he’s playing.
“I don’t really have an idea of what I’m going to do until I see the boot. I have an idea of the story I want to tell and then I kind of design it intuitively.
“I paint one boot at a time so it does take a while to do them, with waiting for the paint to dry and also coming up with the idea – because I want to get it right with how I want to portray the story.
“The paint stays on generally really well, especially around the back and the sides.”
Walker said he would be honoured to wear the boots on Saturday night.
“The Indigenous boys decided they wanted to paint their boots and as captain and vice-captain Sloaney and myself decided we wanted to get on board and get behind them – and it’s all for a good cause,” Walker said.
“It’s going to be a great game on Saturday night. We were back on the winners list last week and Fremantle is in good form so it’s going to be a great contest.
“I can’t wait to pull these on and get out there.”
Taylor Walker, Charlie Cameron, Eddie Betts, Shane Cook, Wayne Milera Junior, Curtly Hampton and Rory Sloane with their boots
