The Sir Doug Nicholls Round is a cherished fixture in the AFL calendar. Rounds 10 and 11 are dedicated to celebrating and paying tribute to First Nations people including Sir Doug Nicholls, who made a significant impact to the game.

This year’s theme “Past Legacies, Future Legends” celebrates the following anniversaries:

• 10 years of Sir Doug Nicholls Round
• 20 years since the Indigenous Team of the Century
• 30 years since the introduction of the Peek Rule (Rule 35, the AFL’s anti-vilification and discrimination rule)

This week, Ladder participants learned more about Sir Doug Nicholls and his legacy to the game. He is an inspiration for all players today and inspires the legends of tomorrow. 

"It was great talking about Indigenous players and how they’ve changed the game. You don’t always hear those stories, but they matter." – Lilly, 18

In line with the iconic club guernseys that highlight team’s connections to Indigenous cultures, our young people participated in their own storytelling by designing their own Ladder guernsey.

 "Designing the jersey was the best part—I got to include symbols that mean something to me and represent where I’m from." – AJ, 19

Below are the guernseys designed by program participants.