ADELAIDE will channel the Crow warrior spirit when it takes to the field in Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round.
The Crows' indigenous players have launched the special guernsey the club will wear when it hosts Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on May 27.
Designed by South Australian indigenous artist Allan Sumner, the guernsey tells the story of the Kaurna people and their relationship with the land.
The Kaurna are the original people of Adelaide and the Adelaide Plains.
Sumner consulted the Crows' six indigenous players – Eddie Betts, Charlie Cameron, Curtly Hampton, Wayne Milera, Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Ben Davis – before settling on the final design.
"The guernsey title is 'Kuwa Irrapina Tuwila nakurri-apinga', which means, 'Awaken the Crow warrior spirit'," Sumner told AFL.com.au.
"When I started thinking of developing the artwork, I started to look at the significance between the Kaurna people and significant places here on Kaurna land, but being able to tie the guernsey and some of those designs and elements in with the Crows' journey.
"We went on a bit of a journey, but we managed to get the final guernsey, which was great."
The guernsey has a blue background and features the prominent Kaurna shield, spears and boomerang that represent strength and form the collection of arms that were used by the ancient warriors.
Three inter-connecting circles at the bottom of the guernsey represent the north, central and southern Kaurna communities.
"The Kaurna shield is significant to the Kaurna people," Sumner said.
"It's a warrior shield, it's used for battle and also for intimidation.
"When I envisage the players putting on their guernsey, they are putting on their arms and they are ready for battle on the field."
Hampton is excited at the prospect of playing his first game in Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round since 2014 when he was at Greater Western Sydney.
The 24-year-old joined the Crows last season, but didn't play a match through injury.
"I haven't been part of an Indigenous Round for a few years, so I'm hoping I get the chance to wear the guernsey this year," Hampton said.
"It's a really special time for all the indigenous players, but I know all the non-indigenous players really look forward to indigenous round, too.
"Allan showed us a few different designs of the guernsey and he wanted us to have a big part in it.
"We picked the ones we thought looked the best, but at the end of the day, we told Allan it's his design so we're happy with whatever he picks.
"He's a gun elder in South Australia, so it's really exciting and we all can't wait to wear it."
Sumner spent six months coming up with the guernsey's design to best represent the Kaurna people.
"The journey lines make sure everybody is connected together," Sumner said.
"The red and yellow lines represent the land, and the dots represent the waterways because we have a lot of rivers.
"I wanted to pick the whole landscape of the Adelaide Plains."
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