If Southern Expansion wins the race for an A-League licence on December 12, Australian sport could have its first club representative of an Indigenous nation. The Dharawal country is set to heavily influence the identity of the football club and could even be included in the name of the franchise, should it be granted entry into the competition.

Based in the Sutherland Shire and drawing support from St George and Illawarra regions, the bid's catchment area is almost identical to the boundaries of the Dharawal nation. That hasn’t gone unnoticed by Southern Expansion’s directors who have already engaged a marketing firm to establish their colours, logo and brand in anticipation of being awarded an A-League licence.

Craig Foster is head of football for the Southern Expansion bid which could draw from the Dharawal nation for its identity. Credit:Robert Peet

Southern Expansion is only the working title of the bid and will be dropped in favour of a club name after consultation with the community. However, bid chairman Morris Iemma confirmed their proposal to be put forward to the community will heavily draw upon colours representing the region and influences from the Dharawal nation, which could be included in the club’s name.

“Obviously green in terms of parkland, blue in terms of water and the other being the third really defining characteristic - our boundaries almost entirely match the Dharawal nation’s boundaries,” he said.