Family and culture: NAIDOC Week to feature at Lions’ Den

THE annual Geelong & District Football Netball League NAIDOC Week fixture returns to Winter Reserve this week for a standalone Sunday clash with women’s football to feature as part of the day’s proceedings for the first time.

The Belmont Lions NAIDOC Family Day remains one of the biggest days on the GDFNL calendar, highlighting the significance First Nations culture brings to local sport in the Geelong region.

Senior footballer Mikali Harrison, a Wotjobaluk Kurnai man, said he feels a little taller each year ahead of the NAIDOC Week game and this Sunday’s clash against Geelong West will be no different.

“The whole of NAIDOC Week has been quite exciting, attending a few of the events, seeing everyone so proud and up and about; it was a good week,” Harrison said.

“It flows into this game quite well and seeing more clubs buying into the weeks, buying into the new uniforms, joining us and wanting to be a part of it.

“I feel the love a lot more from everyone at this time of the year.”

Other clubs to welcome the invitation to be part of the NAIDOC Week game include East Geelong, Bannockburn, Corio and most recently Anakie.

This will be the first time Geelong West will participate in the clash, wearing newly designed Indigenous uniforms created by Geelong Football League player Ethan Little.

Belmont’s uniforms were unveiled last year, designed by Wemba Wemba man David Flagg.

The schedule for this Sunday, July 21 at Winter Reserve begins at 9am with Belmont facing off with Lara in the Under 14s, followed by the reserves at 11am, the seniors at 1.15pm, and the senior women at 3.30pm.

A regular schedule of netball games will take place throughout the afternoon.

Female footballer Bri Pengarte Apma Hayes, an Arrernte woman, has grown up a member of Belmont Sports Club and can’t wait to be part of Sunday’s activities.

Hayes previously played netball for most of her junior years, taking an extended break from organised sport shortly before returning to the club in 2024 to be part of the Lions’ inaugural senior women’s side.

“It’s been a very exciting time for the club as a whole with this new women’s side coming in for the first time, which my cousin Yalanda Neal and I are the co-captains of,” Hayes said.

“To have two young Indigenous women lead the team this season has been really awesome and for the club to include us in the NAIDOC Week proceedings is also huge for us a group.

“Each year, NAIDOC Week is an important time for our communities and families to get together, celebrate, and support the Indigenous players here at the Lions.”

An official Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony will take place before the senior football match.