Giants Indigenous jumper all about unity

The GWS Giants have unveiled their 2025 Indigenous jumper, to be worn during this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds across round 10 and 11.

Designed last year by proud Gomeroi man Kayleb Waters, the jumper is called Maaluga Ngarriylanha, which means ‘sitting as one.’ The jumper tells a story of unity and the leadership the GIANTS take in reconciliation and moving forward as one.

The GIANTS wore a charcoal version of the special jumper for last year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round but have now launched a new white edition for this year’s occasion.

The jumper was designed to represent the opportunities that the GIANTS provide to communities from all backgrounds and religions, including First Nations people, and their efforts to maintain relationships and connections to culture.

A 26-year-old storyteller from the Aboriginal community of Walhallow, Waters is an artist, a cultural mentor with the Gomeroi Culture Academy, a member of the Gomeroi Dance Company, and also facilitates cultural workshops and cultural wellbeing programs across New South Wales.

Gomeroi Country extends broadly from the Queensland and NSW border region to Tamworth, Aberdeen, Muswellbrook, Coonabarabran, and Walgett. Walhallow is a village in the north-west slopes region of NSW, near Quirindi.

The GIANTS will wear the 2025 Indigenous jumper in both their round 10 clash with the Dockers at ENGIE Stadium and their round 11 clash with the Blues at Marvel Stadium.

The club will also look to wear the jumper during NAIDOC Week later in the year.

Featuring an artistic kangaroo/bandaar inside the trademark ‘G’ on the front of the jumper, the sacred animal symbolises the strength and patience we need as a nation to move forward as one.

The circular shapes and linework displayed on the jumper represent all of mother earth’s wisdom and knowledge and connection to country.

The AFL’s annual round, recognising and celebrating indigenous players and culture, was re-named in 2016 in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls.

Sir Doug, who epitomised the spirit of reconciliation, played 54 games for Fitzroy and was a brilliant all-round athlete. The first Aboriginal person to be knighted, he also served as Governor of South Australia and was devoted to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

All 18 clubs will wear Indigenous-themed jumpers across round 10 and 11.