Cats reveal Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernseys

GEELONG’s home and away guernseys for Sir Doug Nicholls Round were recently released by the club, designed by Keerray Woorroong and Yorta Yorta woman Sherry Johnstone.

The Cats released the designs last week ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which will highlight the impact First Nations cultures have on the sport of Australian Rules Football over Rounds 10 and 11.

The guernseys, titled “Layers of the Land”, outline the significance of looking after the environment and celebrating the unique elements of the Australian landscape First Nations people have called home for more than 60,000 years.

Geelong Cats midfielder Brandan Parfitt, a Larrakia, Waramungu and Yawuru man, said the Cats were excited to wear the guernseys over two weeks.

“It’s an honour to wear Sherry Johnstone’s design, which holds such deep significance.

“Celebrating First Nations cultures in Sir Doug Nicholls Round is something we look forward to as a team and a Club each year, and, having grown up in the Northern Territory, for the Cats to be heading to Darwin to play in the round opener against Gold Coast is something that is very special to me.”

The Cats will wear the predominantly blue design in their match with Gold Coast tonight in Darwin.

The squad will wear the predominantly white design in their Round 11 home match against GWS Giants at GMHBA Stadium on May 25.

“I wanted this guernsey design to create thoughts and conversations about looking after Country and how important it is to appreciate, protect and fight for what we have whilst restoring what is struggling to survive,” Ms Johnstone said.

“So the key messages are for us all to be aware of the impact we are having on our environment and animals and working together on creating timely solutions.

“All things have a place, purpose, spirit, and connection. If we can all take the time to respect, listen, observe, connect, learn, and grow from what surrounds us, we can learn to live in harmony with it and care enough to contribute to creating a more sustainable future for our children and generations to come.”

Both the Cats’ VFL and VFLW teams are wearing the guernsey in their respective Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds clashes, and the Cats’ AFLW team will wear the guernsey in the AFLW Indigenous Round later this year.