SIR Doug Nicholls Round is an important and special time on the AFL calendar where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is not only shared but celebrated.

On Wednesday, Narrm Football Club hosted a special lunch to kick off its celebrations over the next two-week period.

The Dees were joined by artist and comedian Kevin Kropinyeri, who is the talent behind this year’s Indigenous guernsey, and also Kysaiah Pickett’s dad.  

Kropinyeri described the various details of the artwork he created while also sharing his love and connection to his Ngarrindjeri culture.

The Narrm players and football department staff were then treated to a lunch that was thoughtfully planned, prepared and cooked by chef Angela Wiegard.

The menu consisted of meals that used various native Indigenous ingredients including salt bush, lemon myrtle, wattle seed, dried muntries, pepper leaf, aniseed myrtle and bush tomatoes.

In addition to the curated menu, people were also encouraged to taste three variations on meatballs using Emu, Kangaroo and Crocodile.  

While enjoying the meaningful food, banners across the room showcased the club’s four Indigenous players - Pickett, Steven May, Shane McAdam and Ricky Mentha Jnr. The banners highlighted where their family is from, the name of their mob/s and their totems.

Narrm’s opening game of Sir Doug Nicholls Round will be held on Sunday against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba and will be the first in which they wear Kropinyeri’s special design.

To learn more about the club’s Indigenous history, visit the Narrm Hub.