Eastlake player and proud indigenous man Liam Lupton says this weekend will mark the proudest moment of his life when he runs on to the field wearing a jersey he designed.
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"It will give me a great deal of excitement when I pull that jersey on and it will just be a moment to be really proud of my culture," Lupton said.
"The first time seeing the jersey, I was just gobsmacked by the way they had turned out.
"To now say I designed the jersey on behalf of all indigenous people and to wear it, the feeling is just going to be second to none."
Lupton's design represents the land of the Ngunnawal people that his football club now shares, featuring the Molonglo River as the centre piece.
"The Molonglo River now known commonly as Lake Burley Griffin flowed through the land that our football club looks over," Lupton said.
"The yellow outlines the river flowing across the slash of the jersey. In clear red I have symbolised the native animals' tracks that would have been using the river as a source for food and water as well as the rocks that once would have featured in the river.
"Outside the river I incorporated small groups surrounding the river as a place where traditional elders may have come together."
The Eastlake jersey will follow the footsteps of the Tuggeranong Hawks' indigenous jersey, after the same match last season.
"It was last year after Tuggeranong had their indigenous jersey, and then I asked Jeff [Roberts] our football operation manager, if we could get an indigenous jersey for next year," Lupton said.
"Tom Hodge, who has designed the Tuggeranong indigenous jersey in previous years, provided me with the final motivation to do the Eastlake design.
"It is very fitting, we play the Tuggeranong Hawks [on Saturday], especially in indigenous round and coming into reconciliation week."
Eastlake football manager Jeff Roberts said he was excited about the design of the jersey and was more than happy to be playing against Tuggeranong.
"The jersey sends a great message of appreciation for all Indigenous and Torres Straight Islander people involved in our football club and across the ACT," Roberts said.
"It's great to form a partnership with the Tuggeranong Hawks during this round and occasion to pay respect to the indigenous community." Tuggeranong Hawks president Leo Lahey was pleased to see other AFL Canberra clubs celebrate indigenous culture.
"It is absolutely exciting to have another club come on board with an indigenous inspired jersey, It's more rewarding to see a lot more clubs getting involved," Lahey said.
"We are very proud of being able to lead these initiatives, it's especially great to see so much traction around the recognition of indigenous contribution to the game."
By designing the jersey, Lupton wishes to keep spreading the recognition of the contribution of indigenous people to the community and the game.
"I hope this game gathers people from the Tuggeranong and Eastlake areas and continues to grow the meaning of reconciliation between Indigenous people and by all Australians," Lupton said. "I believe the Ngunnawal people don't get recognised nearly enough in Canberra." The Hawks will be chasing their first win while Eastlake will be aiming to cement a top-four spot.
AFL CANBERRA
Round five: Belconnen Magpies v Gungahlin Jets at Kippax, 1.15pm; Ainslie v Queanbeyan Tigers at Alan Ray Oval, 1.15pm; Tuggeranong Hawks v Eastlake at Greenway Oval, 1.45pm.
