Adelaide has launched its 2024 Indigenous guernsey crafted by forward Izak Rankine who has worked alongside his cousin, artist Harley Hall, in a celebration of their shared Ngarrindjeri heritage.

Together, the pair have created a powerful and unique guernsey which not only highlights key elements of their culture but also displays Rankine’s journey from growing up in South Australia and moving to the Gold Coast, before returning to Adelaide Oval as a Crow.

Unveiled on the eve of the 2024 Toyota AFL Season, the design will be worn by all three of Adelaide’s teams including AFLW and SANFL on multiple occasions across the year.

It will debut on Saturday, April 27 as an alternate strip for the Crows’ SANFL game against North Adelaide, before the AFL team wears it for Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds in May and then the AFLW team next season.

The overarching theme of the guernsey is connection and the artwork includes the names of all of Adelaide’s past and present Indigenous players, celebrating their contributions to the Club, the game, and the wider community.

Rankine said he was honoured to be part of creating the guernsey.

“I always look forward to Sir Doug Nicholls Round and to be able to pull on something that I’ve worked on alongside Harley is going to be pretty special,” Rankine said.

“Especially to my people and to my family, they’re going to be super proud, and I just can’t wait for that moment to run out in it.

“As a young kid I always wanted to get the guernseys designed specifically for Sir Doug Nicholls Round. So now, to be able to design a guernsey and see other young kids wearing it, it’s going to inspire me, and I hope it will inspire them.”

Rankine grew up with Hall and his family and said they both valued the chance to come together to reflect on their journey.

“My dad is a Ngarrindjeri man from Murray Bridge and along the Coorong and Goolwa area, and the guernsey has a strong connection to my mob on my dad’s side,” Rankine said.

“Harley’s from the same mob and we tried to incorporate that and it’s super cool to see our people represented in the guernsey.

“Early days I remember being on the mission with him and jumping on the back of his motorbike, so to be able to reconnect with him again and work on something like this with him means a lot.

“A lot of work went into it, but we’re really happy with how it has turned out.”

The guernsey design depicts the 23-year-old Rankine coming home to South Australia last year, driven by his boyhood dream to play for the Crows and a desire to be closer to his family.

“I’ve got a big family and I always wanted to come home and be a role model, a leader for young kids growing up in the same position as I was as a young kid,” Rankine said.

“So, to be able to do something like this, I hope my nieces and nephews see it and think they can do it as well, they can strive to be successful, even if it’s not related to football.

“I just want to make sure my community and my people know and understand anything is possible.”

A replica of the AFL version of the guernsey is available to purchase now online at CROWmania, in store at West Lakes or from venue at home match days. Additional merchandise featuring the design will be available to purchase ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Both Rankine and Hall, whose business is Aboriginal Art Designs, say the Kalawindjeri (Milky Way) on the chest of the guernsey, which represents their First Nations ancestors, is their favourite part of the design.

“I don’t think words can express how proud I am to be part of this Indigenous guernsey with Izak,” Hall said.

“For me it’s bigger than a painting or art or design, it’s about keeping our culture alive, keeping each other strong and being positive role models in the community.

“Growing up, culture is something that helped me through tough times. I’m very proud to be part of the oldest living culture in the world, and we’re storytellers, so I feel like it’s my time to share stories through my artwork to keep our culture alive.

“I’m very proud to be able to do what my ancestors have been doing for thousands of years.

“Izak and I just talked about what we wanted to share through this design, what’s significant and important to us, and it all flowed together. We’ve been able to tell a bit of our story about where we’ve come from and our creative spirit.

“I love every bit of it.”