The West Coast Eagles are excited to reveal their 2023 AFLW Pride Round guernsey that will be worn against Adelaide in round 10 at Mineral Resources Park.
Pride Round is an annual celebration of diversity and inclusiveness within the sport, raising awareness for the importance of what Pride represents within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Eagles vice-captain Bella Lewis said Pride Round is a special opportunity for everyone to come together to embrace a great cause.
“It’s really special, it’s a really exciting week that we get to embrace,” Lewis said.
“For everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, and everyone not, for us to be able to come together and be able to represent the wide and diverse community, not just for us a group, but our fans and members and everyone who can come down and watch us, it’s really special.”
Lewis said Pride Round is not only a time to embrace who you are, but it’s also about education.
“We’re always supportive of each other no matter what and especially when it comes to this week, we can talk a little bit more about it and have lots of honest and open conversations,” Lewis said.
“A lot of people may not understand so it’s all about education for us and to be able to be in that safe environment is a really lucky tool that we have at the club.
“It’s really special for you to be able to completely embrace who you are, I know I do that either way, and lots of people do, but I feel like for it to be represented and outwardly shown and represented in a jumper is awesome.”
Experienced Eagles defender Belinda Smith said the team is excited to wear such an inclusive jumper design for Pride Round.
“We’ve got the trans flag, and then the people of colour, and then we’ve got the original Pride flag,” Smith said.
“I love the design, I think it’s really inclusive, which is what we’re all about for this week.
“It’s really exciting to be able to wear these colours, and we want to represent the jumper, and the club, with pride.”
West Coast will face Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park for Pride Round in round 10, bouncedown at 2:05pm. Tickets available here.