St Kilda’s AFLW side will proudly debut its first Indigenous guernsey this Sunday afternoon against Adelaide at Norwood Oval.

Originally designed by Emily Long – sister of Saints defender Ben Long – in 2019, the guernsey represents the history of the Long family and the totems of their people.

The AFLW is set to celebrate its inaugural Indigenous Round this coming weekend.

“It’s pretty special for our family to see the culture, history and heritage of our people represented in the AFLW this year,” Ben Long told saints.com.au.

Footy means so much to boys and girls back home in Tiwi, so for the artwork of our people to be worn by the Saints’ women will be really inspiring.

- Ben Long

“It may seem small, but something like this can inspire something big for players of the future, and I can’t wait for our first Indigenous AFLW Saint to come through the door.

“Emily and my Aunty Jennifer are amazing artists, and it’s incredible for their artwork to be seen at what will be a really special round in the AFLW.”

The front of the guernsey represents the Long family’s paternal grandfather’s ancestors, the Anmatyere people, who come from Ti Tree, Northern Territory.

The three eggs and footprints symbolise the emu, totem of the Anmatyere people. Two watering holes represent the land that the emus frequent, connected by Twenty Mile Creek.

The shark represents the protector of the Tiwi Islands, where Jack Long was adopted by the Kerinaiua family, where they were born and still live to this day, while the back of the guernsey represents the Long family’s paternal grandmother’s ancestors, the Maranunggu people, who hail from Daly River, Northern Territory.

Six feathers represent the White-Tailed Sea Eagle: the protector, hunter and all-seeing totem of the Maranunggu people.

All matches of the AFLW's inaugural Indigenous Round will have the names of the traditional lands proudly displayed on the playing surface.