The 2016 Western Bulldogs Indigenous jumper.

A group of Aboriginal artists who designed the Western Bulldogs’ Indigenous jumper have taken aim at the AFL, claiming they have not been paid for their contribution to an AFL video game.

The Ballarat-based Pitcha Makin’ Fellas have fired off letters to the AFL, including to Tanya Hosch, the general manager of inclusion and social policy, declaring the league is guilty of an unauthorised use of intellectual property.

This only came to light after one member of the group noticed the Bulldogs’ indigenous jumper was on the video game AFL Evolution, with the jumper one option for gamers to have their team wear. The group has been backed in its fight by Catherine King, the member for Ballarat, Sharon Knight, the member for Wendouree, and Lidia Thorpe, the member for Northcote.

It’s understood the Pitcha Makin’ Fellas had hoped for payment of about $30,000, but the AFL, under its general jumper agreement, had offered only about $6000. The issue has been at a stalemate since January 31, when the AFL responded by insisting the group had only 14 days to decide whether to accept the offer.