Yartapuulti* has unveiled its 2024 AFLW First Nations guernsey, designed by midfielder Jasmin Stewart. 

A proud Jaru woman, Stewart’s design is blended with art created by her grandfather, or her ‘Jaja’, who passed when Stewart was young.

The layout was inspired by Yartapuulti’s 2004 AFL premiership guernsey, with the snake splitting the teal and black sections, similar to the pattern on the retro men’s strip. 

The centrepiece is an intricately detailed snake, which was her Jaja’s totem, with the snake also included because of its constant presence within Dreamtime stories. 

Meaning rebirth, nourishment and new life, the snake is also the creator of land, and shaper of the earth, and fills waterholes, gorges and rivers.  

The markings within the snake are pulled from Stewart’s grandfather’s art, as is his signature, placed alongside a small sketch of a turkey, located in the bottom corner. 

The Kimberley landscape was incorporated into many of his paintings, which has similarities to Kaurna land, on which Stewart now lives and plays football. 

“I love how the Kimberley reminds me of Kaurna country, and how it shows the two places that mean so much to me,” Stewart said. 

“Adelaide is surrounded by hills, which is shown on the black background. It was important to me to have both cultures included on the guernsey.” 

The teal top section represents Caroline Pool in northern Western Australia, while the tree across the shoulder panels is the tree under which Stewart’s great-grandmother was born. 

The bottom corner is a meeting place taken from Stewart’s Jaja’s artwork, and the symbols across the back are his brothers and sisters – six boys and five girls. 

“We go back to Caroline Pool quite often,” Stewart said. 

“We love to spend time there as it’s such a significant place to me and my family.  

“I’ve placed Jaja’s siblings close to the tail of the snake, showing they are always close to him. So much of my connection to him is through my aunties and uncles.” 

Now in her second year at the Power, Stewart speaks fondly on the privilege of designing this year’s First Nations guernsey. 

“I just felt super grateful…I remember being asked to design it and just feeling very honoured,” Stewart said. 

“It means so much to represent my culture and my family and me in this jersey. It’s really special and not everyone gets this opportunity, so I took a lot of care with how I designed it and it’s come out better than I ever expected. 

“It’s just really cool to be able to acknowledge my grandfather in this and I think that’s the most meaningful part of it.” 

Inside the collar, the words ‘Ngadlu Yartapuulti’ are written, meaning ‘We are Port Adelaide’ in Kaurna language – a phrase close to the hearts of the AFLW group. 

Yartapuulti’s AFLW guernsey (in a range of sizes), along with a scarf and can-cooler, are now available for purchase at the Port Store at Alberton and online. A special edition t-shirt will also be available for purchase closer to Round 11. 

*Port Adelaide Football Club will be known as Yartapuulti throughout AFLW Indigenous Round, which takes place in Weeks 9 and 10.