As part of the 2023 AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round and AFLW Indigenous Round celebrations, the ‘Melbourne Football Club’ will take on the name ‘Narrm Football Club’. 

This initiative is designed to acknowledge and educate on Australia’s Indigenous history, while encouraging productive conversations within Melbourne Football Club’s member and supporter base, as well as the wider football community. 

The club has consulted with Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation who have provided invaluable knowledge and permission for the club to use the Woiwurrung word and bring the initiative to life.   

The club will also release a limited edition Narrm merchandise range, with all profits going towards the club’s various Indigenous programs. 

Narrm Football Club will be visible during both AFL and AFLW Indigenous Rounds to ensure awareness and education is ongoing, helping in the journey towards the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan vision of a fully reconciled and equitable Australia. 

Why Narrm?

Narrm is the traditional Aboriginal name for Melbourne. 

It encompasses the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation, which consists of a collective of five Aboriginal nations; the Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung, Wadawurrung, Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung. 

Melbourne Football Club’s spiritual home of the MCG is on traditional Wurundjeri land, and is within the broader area traditionally known as Narrm. 

‘Narrm’ comes from Woiwurrung – the language spoken by the traditional owners of Melbourne and its surrounds.  

As the name ‘Narrm’ is being translated from oral language, there are several variations of the spelling. Narrm, Naarm and Nairm are all commonly used and accepted. 

Our home, the MCG, is located on Wurundjeri land, home of the Wurundjeri people.

Throughout the AFL and AFLW seasons, the Dees visit many different traditional lands, including but not limited to Kaurna (Adelaide Oval), Wajuk (Optus Stadium), Yugambeh (Metricon Stadium), Gadigal (SCG), Arrernte (TIO Traeger Park), Wadawurrung (GMHBA Stadium) and Bunurong (Casey Fields).

Find out the name of the traditional owners of the country on which you live, work and play.

Access the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia here.

In Australia there are more than 250 Indigenous languages including 800 dialects. Each language is specific to a particular place and people.

In some areas like Arnhem Land, many different languages are spoken over a small area. In other areas, like the huge Western Desert, dialects of one language are spoken.
Language is more than just a means to communicate, it is what makes Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander culture unique. It plays a central role in identity.
Language also carries meaning beyond words themselves. It is a platform which allows cultural knowledge and heritage to be passed on.
Speaking and learning first languages provides a sense of belonging and empowerment.

Learn more about the importance of Language here.

Learn more about Aboriginal languages, culture and history by clicking on the below titles to visit a range of fantastic educational resources.

About Australia's 250+ Indigenous languages
(AIATSIS)

First Nations place names for major Australian cities
(Commonground.org.au)

Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of country; what's the difference?(indigenous.gov.au)

Education for pre-schoolers sharing sounds of country, language and little yarns
(Little Yarns podcast)

Wurundjeri history, culture and council services
(wurundjeri.com.au)

Stories about Victoria's Indigenous culture
(Culture Victoria)

Melbourne Football Club is proud to have worked and collaborated with a vast range of Indigenous businesses and people.

From artists, to caterers, to cultural awareness training professionals, check out some of the unique services below.