Our 2022 AFL Indigenous Jumper
Fremantle’s 2022 Indigenous Jumper was designed by Michael Walters in collaboration with The Peter Farmer Design Team, with the final design developed and produced by Peter Farmer Junior.
The Feathers
The jumper has five distinct design features, highlighted by the prominent feathers that make up the chevrons from Fremantle’s home and away jumper designs. A proud family man, Walters chose feathers that represent his Totems to show that family is both his strength and close to his heart. The Totems include the feathers of the Maali (Black Swan) and Wardong (Black Crow) from his father’s South Australian language group of Ngadjuri from the Barossa Valley Regions. The bottom chevron features Wetj (Emu) feathers from his mother’s family ties with the South West from the Noongar language groups of the Minang, Wilman and Whadjuk clans. Fittingly, there are three different types of feathers, which ties in with Michael and Marni’s three daughters.
BUY NOWThe Noongar Realms
This section highlights The Dreaming (past), The Now (present) and The Spirit (future) of Noongar culture. Farmer said: “These three lines represent the past, present and the future. We put a bit more emphasis on making the present line thicker and more prominent, because that's where we are, where our life experiences are. From a Fremantle perspective, and being a really passionate Fremantle supporter, where we are right now is a really exciting position. There’s a lot of young footballers and coming up and it's exciting to watch. There’s a lot of linework inside the present, these lines are called Biddies and they represent your journey. Nothing travels in a straight line, it always changes and moves and you go in different directions. These Biddies are also at the bottom and on the shoulder of the jumper and they represent this journey, where we are now and where we’re going.”
BUY NOWThe Playing Group
The strength and ‘brotherhood’ of the Fremantle playing group is depicted using symbols of Noongar men united arm in arm with shields and spears. Farmer said: “We incorporated the players with the Noongar symbol for Man here, holding the shield and the spear. This displays the strength of the players, not going to battle, but showing their strength in working together and competing hard. “The spear is one of the Totems on Sonny's mother's side, as well as the Emu feather.”
BUY NOWThe Fremantle Community
During the design process, Walters reflected on how he has ties from all around Australia, and that is representative of the greater influence of the Fremantle Football Club, which is supported by people all around the world. The circles are Noongar symbols that depict communities, towns and cities, linking to how the Fremantle Dockers are loved and supported everywhere they go. Walters said: “This element symbolises the whole Freo family - supporters, members, staff, everyone who plays a big part in this Footy Club - I wanted to include everyone on the jumper as all their support doesn't go unnoticed. It's not just the people from the Fremantle and Cockburn area, it’s all of Australia. Whenever we go to games in Melbourne, South Australia, Queensland no matter where we are, we always have a strong support base.”
BUY NOWThe Biddies
Farmer said: "There’s a lot of linework inside the present, these lines are called Biddies and they represent your journey. Nothing travels in a straight line, it always changes and moves and you go in different directions. These Biddies are also at the bottom and on the shoulder of the jumper and they represent this journey, where we are now and where we’re going."
Buy nowTotems Explained
There are numerous ‘Totems’ from Walters’ family depicted on the jumper, including the Emu and Spear from his mother’s side and the Black Crow and Black Swan on his father’s side. Farmer explains: “English people have the coat of arms for their family. This is similar in Indigenous culture but there's small differences. They represent your family and your culture, but also yourself as an individual. This is important, because you take aspects from your totem and think, 'what can I take from this to help shape me as an individual?' “I feel my totems have helped shape me into the person I am today.”
BUY NOWThe Stolen Generation Flower
At the top of the jumper is a hibiscus flower, which is known as both the Stolen Generation and also the National Sorry Day Flower. It’s a symbol of strength, healing and resilience. The Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation have given Fremantle permission to use the flower in the Indigenous jumpers across Freo’s men’s and women’s teams.
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Our 2022 Indigenous jumper explained
Michael Walters and the artist Peter Farmer Jnr. explain the elements, beliefs and themes that drove the design of Fremantle's Indigenous jumper for the 2022 season.
