Crows legend Andrew McLeod has designed an Indigenous guernsey to be worn by the Club in the historic first season of the AFL Women’s competition.

The guernsey, which will be worn by players at two away matches as well as at the team’s home game in Darwin, is intended to celebrate the Club’s unique partnership with the Northern Territory.

Of the inaugural squad’s 27 players, nine are based in Darwin with the remaining 18 located in Adelaide.

The Crows are the only Club in the 2017 AFL Women’s competition to have an Indigenous guernsey.

McLeod, who was born in Darwin, said he was proud to lead the guernsey design and be involved in the foundation season.

“It’s exciting that the Club is part of the first season of the AFL Women’s competition in 2017,” McLeod said.

“The young women who will wear the Crows colours are daughters, sisters, mums and aunts. They will forge a new path for future generations of aspiring young girls who will dream of following the footsteps of their new heroines.”

The team is supported by the NT Government and both the home and away guernseys feature an NT flag on the upper back.

Andrew McLeod explains the Indigenous guernsey design:

“At the centre of the guernsey is a sun – the sun mother is the giver of life, nurturer and educator, she give us strength and courage. The sun mother comforts and keeps us warm, she guides us and is someone we draw strength from.

The claws of the Crow wrapped around the sides of the guernsey represent a mother’s hug.

The design inside the blue claw is island matting, symbolising a meeting place, a location where we can come together and feel safe.

Inside the red claw represents the two moieties (moieties means half) of Yolngu culture, Dhuwa and Yirritja. Everything (people, plants, animals, winds) is connected and comes together through these two holistic world views and have for tens of thousands of years.

The yellow claw design is a dilly bag (made from pandanus leaves) intertwined like family. Dilly bags are used to transport food or other important tools to be used for hunting and gathering.

The crocodile and barramundi are synonymous with the Northern Territory.

The female crocodile is moving forward creating a path for others to follow. Female crocodiles can lay up to 50 eggs at a time, they can be very aggressive, protecting their nests and young from predators.

Saltwater barramundi are born males, when mature they transform into females. Female barramundi are protected and can produce over 30 million eggs in a year. They are a beautiful fish with their iridescent skin making them attractive to all.”

Andrew McLeod with Crows AFLW co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall