St Kilda Football Club will once again proudly go by the Boon Wurrung name Euro-Yroke during this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round, commemorated through a striking guernsey designed by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
The artwork tells the story of Wanganeen-Milera’s upbringing and football journey in South Australia, surrounded by family, friends, and his yawa (journey) to Euro-Yroke.
“It was a huge honour to design the guernsey - it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Wanganeen-Milera said.
“I grew up watching my Pop paint in the backyard. I used to wake up early in the morning and he’d be out in the shed working on big artworks.
“He passed away last year, so I wanted to pick up painting. I really looked up to him, so it was pretty special to paint this.”
The design’s three central elements feature large gathering symbols representing the defender’s two cultural groups - the Narungga and Kokatha peoples - surrounded by the community and family who have supported his journey. The third, positioned at the heart of the guernsey, symbolises Moorabbin, with surrounding motifs signifying the club’s current First Nations players.
Other key elements include Nasiah’s family totems - the wedge-tailed eagle and the kangaroo - with the footprints representing Nasiah's journey to the Saints and dot art forming the backdrop of the piece, embodying fans and others woven into his story.
As with last year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey, the names of all First Nations players to have represented the club at AFL/AFLW level (up to the end of last season) are printed on the jumper, sitting beneath artwork depicting the three major gathering places.
Euro-Yroke will wear Wanganeen-Milera’s design against Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) in Perth in Round 10, Gold Coast at home in Round 11, and in Round 17 against Hawthorn to celebrate NAIDOC Week.
Additionally, the team will run out in an alternate away colourway of the design to face Naarm (Melbourne) in Alice Springs in Round 12.
Euro-Yroke’s AFLW side will also don the guernsey during this year’s AFLW Indigenous Round, with the date yet to be confirmed.
