The Collingwood Football Club is pleased to unveil its 2024 Sir Doug Nicholls Round (SDNR) guernsey.
Designed by Uncle Trevor Davis, father of former Collingwood player and the Club’s Cultural Development Manager Leon Davis, the inspiration for the SDNR guernsey design stems from a piece of art by Uncle Trevor called “Healing.”
Uncle Trevor, who is a proud Wadjuk, Ballardong, Wilman, Wongi and Noongar man, created the painting that depicts a healing process which the Club has embarked on over the past few years. The use of rain in the artwork is to represent the Club being cleansed.
Design elements and their meanings from Uncle Trevor’s art have been transferred onto the Club’s black and white striped guernsey.
Uncle Trevor spoke to his initial reaction when seeing the final guernsey.
“I reckon it’s a good job, I’ve got to tell the artist when I see him!” Uncle Trevor joked.
“I talked about (my dreaming) on the jumper and it turned out exactly in the style I imagined. When you tell people I painted this jumper, I don’t think people will know what to believe but it’s hitting home now.
“I’m overwhelmed with it. When I see, I can feel it in my heart. It’s beautiful. You do this painting and end up with a product like that, it’s wicked. I give it two thumbs up.”
Trevor’s wife, Nancy Davis explained the importance that this design has within the Club.
“It represents the whole of our First Nations people,” Nancy said.
“We really want the Club to understand that this is a journey we would like to be a part of, to see change and embrace it. Hence why Wirin is on here, the good spirit, and the representation of water, and cleansing. It’s the cleansing of a club for a new start, we’ve had our own journey with the club, our own struggles, but it’s a new beginning.”
The centerpiece of the guernsey represents the Collingwood Football Club. The Club is a meeting place for all people across the land to come together to share their experiences. The footprints represent the people travelling to the Club.
The figure in the centre of the jumper represents the protection spirit – protecting everyone from bad spirits is a connector between the now and the dreamtime.
Collingwood’s AFL team will wear the guernsey for their Sir Doug Nicholls Round matches, which will be held across Round 10 against Adeliade at the MCG and Round 11 against Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Leon Davis reflected on the impact this journey had on this family.
“This has been a process for both myself and my family,” Leon said.
“It has been so special to see Dad’s artwork transformed into a guernsey and the story it tells is so important to the Club’s journey and continuing growth in this space.
“To return to country with Dad, Mum and my son over the course of this journey has been very special in this process and for our family.”
