Essendon has revealed its 2023 Indigenous guernsey to be worn in the club’s Dreamtime at the ‘G clash against Richmond on May 20.

In the 19th year of the iconic match, the Bombers will wear a guernsey designed by two students from Thornbury Primary School.

Students Momo Willcox, a Yawuru girl born on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country, and Jackie Sinclair, worked with the club to create a guernsey featuring Waa the Crow. 

Waa is one of the moiety totems for the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Eastern Kulin nation and is the protector spirit. 

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti models the Bombers' 2023 Dreamtime guernsey. (Photo: Essendon FC)

ORDER THE 2023 UA DREAMTIME GUERNSEY

The crow’s open wings create the sash on the guernsey, with circles in the background representing the connection between teammates, coaches and staff. 

Along the bottom of the guernsey are people standing arm in arm, further representing how people from all different backgrounds have come together to make the Essendon Football Club what it is today.  

Through her design, Sinclair focused on the symbolism of team in her design, emphasising how important working as a team is.

“In my Dreamtime jumper design, I’ve tried to really focus on getting the theme of ‘team’ on there,” Sinclair said.

“Being with others and working together is really important to me. This is why I’ve got the figures holding hands in the design.

“I have included the Aboriginal art symbol for campsite and waterhole as it represents to me a meeting place where people would socialise and be together.

“I guess that this symbol could also represent the meeting places and football ovals where people gather to watch AFL games together.”

Alwyn Davey Jnr models the Bombers' 2023 Dreamtime guernsey. (Photo: Essendon FC)

 Willcox also says her design symbolises the AFL's journey to be more inclusive of First Nations peoples and cultures. 

“My school, Thornbury Primary, is built on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country,” Willcox said.

“I have chosen to include Waa the Crow into my design. Waa is the Protector Spirit and is one of the two main moiety totems for the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people.

“I have also used the Aboriginal art symbol for long journey within the design of Waa to represent the journey that the AFL is on to be inclusive of First Nations peoples and cultures in the game.”

The club is also proud to announce our continued partnership with 'Treaty for Victoria’ logo, with their logo represented on our guernsey.