Indigenous artist Patrick Ferguson spends countless hours picking out the perfect wood, before carefully crafting traditional red gum fluted shields.

The proud Adnyamathanha, Yawarrawarraka, Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte man enjoys taking the time to get it right, especially when he’s making the shields for Kuwarna and its Indigenous Round gift exchange.

Thanks to BHP, a shield was given to Collingwood before last weekend’s game at the MCG, and another set to be handed to Waalitj Marawar (West Coast), prior to the clash at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

“I go out and cut the wood - the wood is from Hawker in the Flinders Ranges from a fallen river red gum tree in a creek,” Ferguson said.

“It’s a pretty long process, it takes about four-and-a-half hours to get to Hawker, then I drive back, but once I start crafting it, it can take up to 15 hours to make each shield.

“A bit more work goes into these, I don’t attach the handles, it’s all one piece, so the handles are carved out as well.”

It marks the fourth season Ferguson has created a culturally significant piece for Kuwarna, helping the Club celebrate Indigenous Round, and follows the 2024 gift - a hooked boomerang (or a No. 7 boomerang) carved from a mulga tree root.

“I’m always proud to help out Kuwarna, the Club is like a family to me now, and has been for quite some time.” Ferguson said.

“It’s a great honour to see the boys walking out with a very important artefact.

“Shields are important, used by young  warriors going to war and when you walk into battle, you want to feel protected.

“The Round itself means a lot to me, there’s a lot of stories told within the clubs’ Indigenous guernseys designs and it's about the journeys of our people.”

The gift exchange tradition is an important Indigenous tradition to show respect to the receiver, as well as to their family and ancestors, according to Ferguson.

Kuwarna take on Waalitj Marawar at Adelaide Oval this Sunday at 12.40pm.

Tickets available here.