Indigenous All Stars Game

This year marks the return of the AFL’s Indigenous All Stars team, who will play an exhibition game against the Fremantle Dockers on Saturday 15 February at Optus Stadium in Perth.

As part of the exhibition game, Sherrin has produced a unique game ball in conjunction with First Nations artist Jade Dolman (@JDPenangke). Jade is a a Whadjuk, Ballardong, Arrernte artist specialising in murals and public art in Boorloo / Perth. Jade’s work focuses on the cultural significance of the waterways as well as the environmental and cultural impact of losing the ancient wetlands of Whadjuk boodjar. Through her art she tends to depict a snapshot of Country prior to colonisation, mapping movements of Noongar people and local flora and fauna through symbolism and colour. She has been painting murals for 8 years and considers her artwork a contemporary continuation of traditional culture.

Jade has chosen brighter colours to represent the energy and joy the Indigenous All Stars game brings to the players and communities, while remaining respectful of the colours that traditionally represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands people. This unique colour palette distinguishes the Indigenous All Stars event from the traditional Sir Doug Nicholls Round creative and the moodier look and feel of other similar events, like the NRL All Stars. The primary colour is yellow to align with the primary team colour (as featured on the guernsey), and the secondary colours include green, blue, and pink. This is featured on the river artwork used on the Sherrin and across the marketing creative.

The game ball itself features the river symbol, while the word Miidj replaces the Sherrin wordmark on one panel, with Miidj translating to ‘ball’ in Noongar language. The other panels represent the boodjar (land) and kelp (water). The boodjar panel features native animal tracks and bush foods as circles. The kelp panel features symbols ofriver, special places and rain. The ball is also stamped with the Sportable symbol to allow for smartball techlogoy to be used if desired.

Sherrin are proud to partner with the AFL and artist Jade in bringing to life this special ball, and can’t wait to see it in use during the Indigenous All Stars game. The official Indigenous All Stars Game Ball can be purchased here.