Flags, footy & First Nations pride: Blackwater Crushers go all out for Indigenous round

Have you heard what they did to the field out at Blackwater?

Article photography credit: Caitlin Byrne

As part of their fourth annual Indigenous Round, presented by BMD, the Blackwater Crushers spray-painted their field with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, a bold and beautiful tribute to First Nations culture. And the whole community got around it.

“Last weekend marked the fourth year of hosting our Indigenous Round, an event that has truly become part of our club and community,” the club shared.

“In partnership with the Central Highlands Regional Council NAIDOC celebrations, the Crushers created a weekend full of meaning, culture, and connection.

“Thanks to the ongoing support of Mining Pro and their sister companies Black Rock and AtraX, players proudly wore special Indigenous jerseys telling a unique story of the land and its people.

“A huge shoutout to club president Andrew and parent volunteers Aaron Siggins and Tee Sakaio, who spent around nine hours carefully marking flags across the fields for the occasion.”

“The weekend was grounded in deep respect and tradition, with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Aboriginal Elder Aunty Pat and Lee Bob. A big thank you to Thiess for sponsoring the Welcome to Country services.

“This is more than just a round,” the club community said. “It’s a celebration of culture, history, and unity. We’re proud to keep this tradition going and look forward to many more years of recognising and celebrating our First Nations people.”

This story came through as part of our new Statewide Spotlight community footy content piece, where we’re calling on fans to send in their pics from the weekend. We’ll be sharing a gallery on socials each week.

Photography provided by: Blackwater Crushers