Artist: Darryl Bellotti
Artist’s community: Yamatji and Noongar
Artist’s connection to the West Coast Eagles: Darryl is a relative of former West Coast Eagle, Laurie Bellotti, who played 24 games for the club across two season (1999-2000).
Story behind the guernsey: The strip is entitled ‘Wings of an Eagle’ and is inspired by traditional ceremonial practice.
“Song, dance and ceremony are an essential part of Aboriginal culture,” according to artist Darryl Bellotti.
“It’s how we pay tribute to the land and spirit of our ancestors.
“Ceremonial dress features ochre and feathers, sometimes with a feathered headdress, on the dancer’s body.
“On the guernsey, feathered wings wrap around the player like a booka, a traditional kangaroo skin cloak.
“The white lines are song lines to the sacred ceremonial area. The three circles located in the ‘heart’ of the guernsey.
“The circles depict the coaching and playing group in the centre, support staff surrounding them, and the supporters around the outside.
“Patterns like this were drawn in the sand during ceremonies, similar to the white lines of a football field.”
Round five of the AFLW is Indigenous round, where West Coast Eagles will take on Gold Coast Suns at home.
Tickets to our round five clash with Gold Coast at Mineral Resources Park this Sunday go on sale tomorrow at 1pm. Remember to join as a 2021 AFLW member to receive free entry to home matches!
Tickets --> http://bit.ly/AFLW-Rd5
Memberships --> http://bit.ly/2021-AFLW
