ON MONDAY, Melbourne Football Club took a step forward in its celebration and education of its rich Indigenous history, by unveiling the Narrm Football Club.

During the 2022 AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round and AFLW Indigenous Round celebrations, Melbourne Football Club will rebrand itself as Narrm Football Club, Narrm being the Aboriginal name for Melbourne, coming from Woi Wurrung, the language spoken by the traditional owners of the city and its surrounds.

Melbourne players Steven May and Jack Viney joined media at the MCG, on Wurundjeri Land, during the morning of the announcement, expressing their pride in the club’s initiative.

“It’s something I never really thought was going to happen,” May said.

“We get to wear our Indigenous Guernsey and now to be called an Indigenous name like Narrm for the couple weeks, I think it’s really special and a great initiative by the footy club.

“The awareness that it brings, changing the name and the guernseys…there’ll be little kids here watching us play, asking their parents what the name means, that will start conversations and the flow on affect from that is huge.

“The only way we can get better with education is through teaching and raising awareness and this is just another step along the way.”

As a non-Indigenous player, Viney emphasised how important the continued education and celebration of Indigenous culture was for both those within the club and the wider football and Australian community.  

“It’s a terrific initiative by the football club,” Viney said.

“Incredibly proud of our football club and the efforts it goes to continue to raise awareness for the Indigenous culture.

“It’s education for myself being part of this.”