The players had some input into both RAP and the guernsey, which features artwork by Noongar artist Peter Farmer, including a wedge tailed eagle and tracks to six WA waterholes.
West Coast defender Jamie Bennell said the players, past and present, as well as the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities were proud of both commitments.
“Definitely a very proud day for me and the whole Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” Bennell said.
“It’s a big effort by the West Coast Eagles to bring the RAP program together and I’m proud of the jumper as well. It has come up really well; the Eagle looks great and the waterholes have come up nice as well.
“The club went through a process to find the best Aboriginal artist and it worked out well. It will be a bit different, but as long as the Eagle is on there, the boys should be pretty proud of that.
“At Melbourne, we had a strong connection with the Aboriginal players and staff over there and then coming here and having Phil Narkle actually working in the club brings the Aboriginal boys even closer together.
“He (Narkle) helps out with the staff as well just to get everyone on the same page. The respect and cultural stuff he explains pretty well. There is still work to do, but this is a big step in the right direction.
“We’re pretty happy to get this out there and into the community.”
Bennell has been one of the shining lights in the first eight rounds after spending his first 12 months at the club recovering from a knee reconstruction and playing the back half of last year with Swan Districts.
“I’m loving it right now,” Bennell enthused. “It’s good being out there and playing with the boys. I’m just enjoying my football.
“I always had a belief that I would be back to my full fitness, my capabilities and agility; as soon as you have doubts, that’s when things can go wrong. I had to stay pretty strong in my mindset.”
Jamie Bennell joins teammates Jack Darling, Josh Hill and Darren Glass in launching the club's inaugural Indigenous Round guernsey
