The Gold Coast SUNS are proud to unveil its 2026 Indigenous Guernsey to be worn in the second fixture of Sir Doug Nicholls Round against North Melbourne.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round celebrates and highlights the contributions of First Nations peoples to the game of football and to our country, through showcasing the moments, connections and stories that have shaped and strengthened our game.
Indigenous All Stars Joel Jeffrey (Kukatj; Wulwulam) and Ben Long (Anmatjerre) along with SUNS defender Daniel Rioli (Tiwi) and forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Djap Wurrung; Gunditjmara Peek Whurrong; Noongar) will be eyeing an opportunity to don the exclusive guernsey next Saturday, 23 May at Marvel Stadium.
Having worked with the Gold Coast SUNS on a number of projects and events including creating audio book Yalgun Sun, proud Kombumerri artist Lann Levinge was delighted to share culture through designing the special edition guernsey.
“It's a bit surreal. It's great to be involved and I can't wait to see the team run out in this,” Levinge told SUNS media.
“It’s important that we share our culture. We get to share our culture through our art. We get to tell our story through this (guernsey). It's a simple way to do it but it’s the best way to do it.
“We didn't write things down. We spoke through storytelling. We spoke through song and dance. And that's what most of us are out there doing every day, sharing those stories.”
The culturally rich artwork depicts the Kombumerri Dreamtime Story of creation in Jellurgal (Burleigh Heads) a central place for the Kombumerri people and the same lands several SUNS talents grew up playing junior football and currently reside on.
“Jabreen rests at Jellurgal, his rocky fingers focused skyward, overseeing the creatures, land, ocean and waterways of our chagun (country), the place we now know as the Gold Coast,” Levinge described.
“The Kombumerri people, the saltwater people, the oyster people, especially the Levinge family are represented by the series of coloured oval shapes layered and placed central to the hand of Jabreen, our creation being. The energy of the sun at its centre. To the west the celestial fire sits high surrounded by fearless GC Suns warriors who are showered by the light and love of our sun and spirit of place.
“The sand goanna slowly meanders across the shifting sands of beautiful Currigee on South Stradbroke Island, leaving a clear and distinct trail as he moves from place to place alongside the pathways and journeys of many who now call the Gold Coast home.”
Names of past and present GC SUNS Indigenous AFL players feature on the design including Jy Farrar (Jaru; Kija), Jeffrey, Long, Rioli and Ugle-Hagan in addition to inaugural SUN and Indigenous Programs Lead Jarrod Harbrow.
This year, the AFL, with support of the Nicholl’s family, recognised Michael “Magic” McLean as the 2026 Sir Doug Nicholls Honouree.
A proud Wuthathi man, born and raised on Larrakia Country in Darwin, McLean is a distinguished former Australian Rules footballer and coach whose contributions to the sport and broader community are both significant and enduring.
The Gold Coast will honour McLean at TIO Stadium when the SUNS take on Yartapuulti in the club’s first match of Sir Doug Nicholls Round this Friday, 15 May.
Kukatj; Wulwulam SUN Joel Jeffrey highlighted the impact Magic has had on the Northern Territory football community and what the round means to him.
“I looked up to Magic as a young Indigenous lad. He has been a great role model for young Indigenous kids to inspire them to get drafted,” Jeffrey reflected.
“Being a little boy and watching Indigenous players like Cyril Rioli play in Sir Doug Nicholls Round inspired me and other young Indigenous boys from Darwin to try be there (playing AFL) one day.
“Pulling on that jumper every year means so much for me to represent our culture and all our mobs back home and mobs all around Australia."
Secure the SUNS 2026 Indigenous Guernsey from the SUNS shop.
