The Hawks will honour a four-time premiership great in Sir Doug Nicholls Round at UTAS Stadium this weekend, as they wear the Indigenous guernsey inspired by Cyril Rioli and his homeland.

Hawthorn’s guernsey was designed by Rioli’s aunty, Jennifer ‘Lulu’ Coombes, and is a representation of life on the Tiwi Islands. 

The design features pukumani poles on the front (cultural poles that are placed around the graves of the deceased in order to protect the passed from evil spirits) and circular depictions of a Kulama Yam Ceremony on the back.

“I chose the designs of the Kulama because, for me, it’s a means for celebration of life past, present and future,” Coombes said when describing her artwork last year.

“I wanted to use it as a meaning to celebrate the life of all the Indigenous players past, present and future, that have walked the path in their footy careers with Hawthorn and in footy in general.” 

For more information about the meaning behind the guernsey, see here.

This year, the guernseys of Hawthorn’s current Indigenous players will include a unique touch from their own culture, with the name of their tribe emblazoned on their backs. 

Jarman Impey and Mathew Walker will don the name of Yorta Yorta tribe, Shaun Burgoyne the Kokatha and Warai tribes and Chad Wingard the Ngarrindjeri tribe. 

The Hawks will also wear their Indigenous guernseys at the Gabba when they take on Brisbane in Round 11.