It has been such an exciting time for AFLW - and this week is no exception, with the Indigenous Round kicking off.
ICYMI: The 2024 NAB AFLW Indigenous Round, and its theme ‘Spirit Strong, Game On,' celebrates the significant contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, and their impact on the game. There is indeed so much to celebrate - and one of the highlights of this year's Indigenous Round is a special limited-edition T-shirt created in collaboration with AFLW star Courtney Hodder and Northern Territory fashion label House of Darwin.
A proud Badimia and Whadjuk woman, Courtney currently plays for the Brisbane Lions. She tells Missing Perspectives that she grew up playing sport from a young age - but it wasn't without its challenges.
"I think some of the challenges I faced growing up as a young footballer was being judged - one reason being that AFL wasn’t a female sport," she says. "I was always the only girl in every boys team that I had played for and it was quite an uncomfortable feeling."
As a young athlete, Courtney looked up to Cathy Freeman as a role model in the sporting world. "Cathy Freeman was someone I looked up to as a kid," she says. "I wanted to always be that 400m runner, she put Indigenous people on the map and it is something I’ll never forget."
Courtney says that growing up in Perth away from traditional Country was challenging - and that it was when she was drafted into AFLW that she set about learning more about her community, family, and culture. "I was always surrounded by mob so there was no denying that I was Aboriginal and I always knew how important our culture was," she says.
"But being so young I didn’t ask many questions until I was drafted, such as who’s my great great great grandparents and what’s my family totem, where does my family extend to, what’s my actual tribe name? But I guess as you get older you want to know more and start asking questions… I’m so grateful that AFLW brought me confidence to be able to go to my Elders and find out things that I just didn’t think to ask as a kid."
Through the T-shirt collaboration with Shaun Edwards, the founder of House of Darwin, Hodder has bee able to include personal details and elements of her personality in the design, including her totem. "I wanted to showcase a little bit of personal importance and personality," Hodder tells Missing Perspectives.
"Crown - for sass queen; feet - for leaving my mark everywhere I go and being a leader for my people; cups - represent my success at the Brisbane Lions; turtle - totem that was given to me when I was a baby; fish - for fishing and outdoor activities that I love; footy - for the AFLW competition and how much it has made an impact on me; flag - being proud to be a First Nations person who loves everything about the stories, the art and the traditional dance; WA - my home, born and raised; and family - my family play a big role in who I am today."
Courtney says that the AFLW Indigenous Round is a critical platform that highlights the achievements of Indigenous players - and has the potential to inspire the next generation of athletes.
"I think it’s important to show my people that First Nations people can achieve anything if they put their minds to it," she says. "I use my platform to promote healthy living and life balance but also I show people how proud I am to be Aboriginal. I think it’s important to love yourself and your culture."
It's also a Round of great personal importance to Courtney. "It’s the round that I feel most connected to, it’s my identity. It's a round that I feel that I wear my mob's name on my sleeve to make them proud," she says. "It’s a round of celebration of how far Indigenous people have come. It's a round where I can tell my story and share my experiences. It’s a round that is extremely important to me."