AFL Magpies Jersey

Brother Braden Saggers came to me in 2021 to commission this piece for the Port Macquarie Magpies AFL team’s new jersey. His intention was to create a design that everyone of all nations and backgrounds could feel proud to wear on the field, as well as celebrating our Aboriginal people and culture. While this alone made it a very special project, it also became quite a personal one.
During the creation of this artwork I discovered my Family Totem from the banks of the Galari (Lachlan) River is Magpie! On reflection I also realised that the first word I ever learned in Wiradjuri from my Dad was ‘Garru’ - Magpie.
It was my absolute pleasure and privilege to create this piece for the Port Macquarie Magpies. It feels like this project was meant to be. The story is as follows:
GARRU - MAGPIE
The journey lines in the background are representative of the places we have come from and where we are heading. People come from all walks of life and all backgrounds and sport can be a great way of bringing people together, regardless of differences.
The yarning circles are symbolic of meeting and working together, supporting one another. There are ‘U’ shaped people in each circle, representative of a team. The circles from the centre are growth/knowledge rings- reaching toward the edges, learning, growing and guiding as they ripple outward.
Magpie is central, wings out, ready for anything. We have much to learn from Magpie, and can be guided by its spirit. Magpie is strong, courageous, strategic, competitive and fiercely protective of its mob, much like the qualities of a good team.