Kievit kicks off AFLW Indigenous Round in decorated boots

Young SUN Annabel Kievit will kick off the Gold Coast’s first game of the AFLW Indigenous Round in style this Saturday evening, when the SUNS take on Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide).

Young SUN Annabel Kievit will kick off the Gold Coast’s first game of the AFLW Indigenous Round in style this Saturday evening, when the SUNS take on Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide).

The speedy forward is set to run onto Alberton Oval in boots painted by Kuku Yalanji Artist and Cultural Facilitator at Paperbark Cultural Consultancy, Lalania Fa’aaefili. 

Inspired by the 19-year-old’s journey from the Top End to Kombumerri Country on the Gold Coast, that artwork features bird tracks to symbolise Kievit’s direction in life – where she’s come from and where she’s going – while dots represent the ancestor spirits guiding her along her way, as well as her teammates, the trainers, the managers, the coaches and the players that walk alongside her on her journey.

“I feel really blessed that someone like Annabel, who is not Indigenous, has really wanted to have her boots, have the lines, the markings and the dots and the story represented for her to play with her fellow Indigenous players as well as non-Indigenous players,” Fa’aaefili expressed.

“I truly wish her all the best and I really hope that these boots are able to inspire her to carry on her journey of sports and her love of community and giving back to the community once she’s done with her career in sport.”

The Darwin product was honoured to receive the boots at the SUNS Jarjums deck on Wednesday night ahead of the AFL Finals decider.

“I’m really honoured to wear these boots, and I can’t wait to run out in them,” Kievit shared.

“I believe Indigenous Round is more than just a game of footy. I think it’s a time where we can acknowledge the culture, history and the strength of the First Nations peoples.

“Growing up in Darwin, I got to see firsthand how important culture is, both on and off the field, and through mentors I learned the importance of connection between land and culture and how to stay connected with each other and continue learning.”

The SUNS will also proudly don its Indigenous Guernsey designed by Yugambeh and Bundjalung artists Christine Slabb and Kyle Slabb, which first featured in the AFLW in 2024, for the Round 9 meeting against Yartapuulti at People First Stadium, Yugambeh.

The Indigenous Guernsey is inspired by Garrara, the language name of a long lagoon that ran south to north along what is today known as the Gold Coast. Represented by the feather motifs are Bilin-Bilin (rainbow lorikeet), Dun-Dun (swamp pheasant) and Mibin (eagle) while the circular symbols represent the sacred and cultural camps that local Aboriginal people inhabit and maintain.

AFLW Indigenous Round premieres this Friday night in Darwin, with TIO Stadium hosting the second annual Dreamtime match between Essendon and Richmond. 

Gold Coast will launch its first game of the dedicated round against Yartapuulti this Saturday in Kaurna (Adelaide) at 4.35pm local/ 5:05pm AEST and will continue to celebrate the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the game, particularly past legacies and future legends who have paved the way for women’s football, in Round 4 when the SUNS take on the Giants.

The SUNS will host a cultural gift exchange, coin toss and Welcome to Country performances at People First Stadium, Yugambeh next Saturday September 6, with fans encouraged to celebrate and participate in workshops facilitated by Fa’aaefili.

“I’m really excited to see Annabell run out on the field with her boots as a non-Indigenous player and for other players to get on board as well to support reconciliation within Australia,” the Paperbark Cultural Consultancy Cultural Facilitator shared. 

“Gold Coast SUNS do that really well. One of the ways that they do it, of course, is with the cultural activations at every home game, having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practices for anyone and everyone to come and enjoy.

“I believe that’s really important for us to remember that it takes all of us to come together and to respect one another in the way of our cultures and our differences.”