The Gold Coast SUNS will run out onto TIO Stadium in a special edition Darwin/Larrakia Indigenous Guernsey for this month’s two matches in the Top End.

The SUNS return to Darwin for a fourth consecutive season this week, hosting the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn throughout a week-long stay in the Territory.

Several of the club’s Darwin products, including the likes of Daniel Rioli, Ben Long and Joel Jeffrey will be eyeing the opportunity to don the jumpers in front of family and friends at TIO Stadium in the second edition of the club’s Darwin/Larrakia guernsey.

The guernsey is designed by Larrakia artist Keelan Fejo and inspired by the Nightcliff Jetty, one of Darwin’s most scenic viewing locations where locals, visitors and Larrakia people gather to watch sunset.

Centred around the Sun and featuring elements representing strength and guidance, the design features a unique cross-hatching technique passed down to Fejo by his predecessors.

“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to design the Gold Coast SUNS’ Darwin/Larrakia guernsey,” Fejo said.

“The main focus for this design is the Sun. The way I have designed the Sun is a form of cross-hatching technique called Raark/Rarrkbun, which is from my Mayali culture taught to me by my father, which was previously taught to him by his father-in-law and my grandfather. The Sun in our culture represents the giver of life and way of light to the land.

“Everyone has a special spot around the cliffs of Nightcliff Jetty which is what I wanted to capture in the design.

“The boomerangs inside the Sun represent strength and guidance within the club. The #7 boomerang is one of the strongest weapons and instruments of the Aboriginal people across Australia and is used in many cultural ceremonies.”

“The dots and rays are the heat that surrounds the Sun, representing what players bring and give towards each game they play, and the pressure other teams feel when up against the Gold Coast SUNS.”

Gold Coast SUNS defender Daniel Rioli, who is one of seven SUNS players with connections to the Northern Territory, says it will be a special moment to play in the Darwin/Larrakia guernsey in the Top End.

“I love the design and what tops it off is that we get to run out on TIO Stadium in it, in my hometown,” Rioli said.

“It’s going to be incredible having the chance to play on the stadium where I played a lot of junior footy. If you had told me that one day I’d be able to pull on an AFL jumper at TIO Stadium in front of my people, my family and friends, I wouldn’t have believed you.

“I’m really looking forward to the occasion, being able to put this jumper on and represent both the Gold Coast and Darwin communities.”

The SUNS will host the Western Bulldogs under Saturday night lights on May 10 before launching the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round in a primetime Thursday night blockbuster against the Hawks on May 15.

The guernsey is one of two Indigenous designs to be worn throughout Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds in 2024. The SUNS will also wear its Indigenous guernsey, designed by Yugambeh and Bundjalung artists Christine Slabb and Kyle Slabb and first worn in 2024, for the Round 11 meeting against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium. 

The Indigenous Guernsey is inspired by Garrara, the language name of a long lagoon that ran south to north along what is today known as the Gold Coast. Represented by the feather motifs are Bilin-Bilin (rainbow lorikeet), Dun-Dun (swamp pheasant) and Mibin (eagle) while the circular symbols represent the sacred and cultural camps that localAboriginal people inhabit and maintain.

It’s the second time the SUNS will have a unified Indigenous design with the club’s AFLW squad to also wear the jumper during the 2025 AFLW season.

Limited stock of both the Darwin/Larrakia and Indigenous guernseys are available now through the SUNS Shop.