Family bloodlines represented in Walyalup’s inspiring Indigenous round jumper
For the upcoming Sir Doug Nicholls Round fixtures, the Walyalup Football Club will wear a special new jumper inspired by a club legend.
The guernsey was designed by Indigenous artist Daniel McHenry in collaboration with celebrated Dockers backman Michael Johnson.
The pair have paid respect to their family bloodlines in the design, which will be worn during games against Euro–Yroke (St Kilda) in Melbourne this weekend, and Collingwood at Optus Stadium on Friday 24 May.
During the Sir Doug Nicholls Round games, Fremantle Dockers will once again be known as Walyalup Football Club.
Walyalup is the Noongar country in and around Fremantle and has always been a significant place for the Whadjuk people, the traditional owners of the land.
With 244 appearances for Walyalup, Johnson is the record holder for games for the club by an Indigenous player, and said the jumper is all about paying respects to the bloodlines both he and McHenry share.
“It is about the bloodlines, where we come from, and who has paved the path for us young Aboriginal men and women in our families,” said Johnson, pictured with McHenry (L) below:
The colours on the design (Red, Green, Purple and White) are all callbacks to the first Fremantle jumper Johnson wore, but also represent his and McHenry’s family origins.
On the back of the guernsey is the Kooyar (frog) which is the family totem for Johnson and McHenry and beside that is a list of past and present Indigenous names who have represented Fremantle.
“We have all our past and present players with our totem there in the frog which is a big part of our life as well and our culture,” said McHenry.
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Johnson finished by reinforcing the message of respect for the Elders in the community who have guided younger generations:
“All along I wanted to bring along the Elders and show that we respect what they’ve done in the paving of the path for a lot of us younger generations of Ballardong Noongars…
“I just can’t wait to see the boys run out with the jumper on and represent the club.”
Find out more via fremantlefc.com.au.
Image Credit: Walyalup Football Club