The Victorian Netball League celebrated its annual First Nations Round this week, recognising and celebrating the significant contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to sport, with a focus on netball in Victoria. Six clubs wore either a dress or bib to acknowledge the traditional custodians on the land. Hawks Netball also debuted their First Nations dress in collaboration with their AFL counterpart, Hawthorn Football Club.
Bendigo Strikers
Bib artist: Stephen Korp (Wamba Wemba/Lake Boga)
Story: The design on the bib pays tribute to Dja Dja Wurrung Country, where the Strikers are based, and reflects the club’s journey, values and deepening connection to community and culture. Key elements of the bib include a central meeting circle representing the Bendigo Strikers community, surrounded by seven women symbolising a team. Two smaller meeting circles connected by river lines represent the club’s two teams and their unity. Kangaroo tracks on the outside of the bib represent the obstacles, leaps and resilience of the Bendigo community in bringing the club to life.
Significance of the bib: “This speaks to our great game, our fantastic region and most of all our history. We are proud to have such a meaningful connection to Country and honoured to share that through this beautiful design. The Bendigo Strikers thank Stephen Korp for his generous contribution and look forward to showcasing this special bib in a round that celebrates First Nations culture, stories and the role of sport in connection and community.” Melinda Keighran, President
Casey Demons
Dress artist: Krstel Petrovski (Mutti Mutti/Wemba Wemba)
Story: At the heart of Krstel’s design is the theme of ‘support’ - the people who uplift, inspire and shape netballers both on and off the court. Whether it’s family, coaches, teammates, Elders or mentors, the artwork acknowledges that no journey is walked alone. The flowing lines and symbols woven into the dress represent these connections and the shared knowledge, encouragement and strength passed from one person to another. A powerful feature of the dress is the presence of Bunjil, the wedge-tailed eagle and creator spirit in many Aboriginal cultures across Victoria, including the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation, on whose land the Casey Demons play and train. Bunjil is a protector and guide, a figure of strength, wisdom and leadership. For the Casey Demons, wearing Bunjil is an act of reverence, and a reminder to play with spirit, to honour the past, and to carry the values of respect and responsibility.
Significance of the dress: “The design is not just a reflection of us as individuals, but as members of a wider community who contribute to success and resilience. It is a visual story of unity and respect, where every symbol carries purpose and meaning. For us to wear the First Nations dress, it is a moment of pride to represent not only the club, but to carry a powerful narrative of support, guidance and connection to land. It opens meaningful conversations, encourages learning and invites all involved in the game to walk a path of greater cultural understanding. We are proud to wear this dress each year during First Nations Round. Through art and sport, the club continues its journey of reconciliation, guided by the spirit of Bunjil and grounded in the strength of community. Krstel’s artwork brings together story, culture and identity in a way that resonates with every player, supporter and community member. The colours, patterns and symbols serve not only as a striking visual but as a bridge between sport and culture.” Ashlee Hyde, 23&Under player
Hawks Netball
Story: For the first time in the club’s history, Hawks Netball will wear a specially designed First Nations dress. Reflecting the ‘one for all, all for one’ spirit that connects their community, the dress incorporates elements of the Hawthorn Football Club’s AFL First Nations guernsey. The dress features a Tarrakukk (hawk) as part of Hawthorn's Reconciliation Action Plan as this particular Tarrakukk signifies 'present' in Hawthorn's reconciliation journey, gaining knowledge and wisdom.
Significance of the dress: “This means a lot for us because it is our first year with a First Nations dress. We have got beautiful artwork of a Hawk that is on the Hawthorn Football Club’s warm up tops. We are all very excited to wear the dress.” Sienna Green, Championship player
Melbourne University Lightning
Dress artist: Merindah-Gunya (Peek Whurrong)
Story: The artwork depicts a central meeting place where 12 individuals are acknowledged as the athletes in the team. The lines entering the meeting place shows the different journeys and experiences that got them to where they are today, as individuals, with the lines exiting the meeting place depicting where they aspire to go in the future as a team. The unity around the meeting place highlights that the team will be fearless and strong to achieve their goals.
Significance of the dress: “Playing in our First Nations dress is a great opportunity to start conversations around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and recognise First Nations women in netball before us. The incredible design by Merindah-Gunya signifies the meeting place where we come together as a team, the journey we go on together as athletes and the bond we share in our sport.” Claudia Mawson, Championship captain
Southern Saints
Dress artist: Merindah-Gunya (Peek Whurrong)
Story: The artwork pays deep respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the Southern Saints train and play, the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. This is shown through the gum tree pattern through the design, which is significant to their people and history. The two major meeting places in different red, black and white colours are symbolic of two teams which make up a game of netball. The ‘U’ shapes around the meeting places are the players and people that make up a team, those being players, coaches, club members and family. There are also 12 people around, representing the squad of 12 players in a team. The team in a circular form shows the collective unity and teamwork required to be a great club.
Significance of the dress: “We love our club and our cultural connections. The journey lines are guided by the meeting place's shape, which highlights all the different paths our athletes have taken which have led them to the Saints, making it the club it is today.” Madeleine Kelly, wellbeing co-ordinator
Western Warriors
Dress artist: Kiz Costelloe (Mandandanji/Noonuccal people)
Story: The design is focused on powerful women, both in sport and the community, depicted by a symbol on top and around them. This represents each team, each athlete and each woman who is a part of the club. They each have lines reaching out, either attached to another circle, or branching out to the edges, symbolising the connection each person may have with each other and where they have come from. Whether that is from the western suburbs that they are representing, or if anyone has travelled to be there, each story and journey is represented within those lines. The top section with the lines and peeking circles tells a story about growth learning curves, adjusting and improving skills. The ups and downs of the game and season are all worth it to become stronger.
Significance of the dress: “The footprints symbolise the Warriors as a club. Each team has their own goals, but the club as a whole is walking and growing together. Our First Nations dress tells such a beautiful story and I love how it showcases strength and our versatility as a club.” Kim Borger, Championship player
