Netball Panel Umpires show support for Indigenous Round

For the first time in AFL Barwon history, all panel netball umpires for the upcoming AFL Barwon Indigenous Round will be wearing specially designed umpire tops. Designed and created by proud Noongar Wandandi Boodja first nations man Joshua James, the tops have been designed to encompass the entirety of the Barwon Region. 

The full story and meaning of the artwork and the artist, Joshua James can be found below.

Artwork Design

The artwork is called Moorditj Boodja which means “Strong Country” in Noongar language. There are two narratives within the artwork design. One being the story behind the design which is based on the waterways located around Geelong, Bellarine, Surf Coast, Colac and Otway’s including Hovells Creek, Corio Bay, Port Philip Bay, Bass Strait and the Barwon River.

The second story covers the netball fraternity, showcasing the leagues that operate within AFL Barwon and the connection these leagues have. Netball is more than a sport. It is a sport that unites family’s friends and children. Netball has an environment that is extremely passionate and inclusive and supportive. This is very evident with venues where netball is played having a very positive environment for all grades including women’s, men, children and all abilities.

Artwork Design in detail

From a far – The artwork outline is a view from above of the land and sea in the region through the eyes of Bunjil, the eagle who is the spirit and creator of these local lands. The land covers the Bellarine, Surf coast, Otway’s, Bay, Inland and Djilang. The landscape and sea scape also covers Hovells’ Creek coming through Lara and the Barwon River that crosses the land and enters the sea at Barwon Heads.

Inside the land – There are 4 yarning circles, these are the different leagues and match divisions/grades throughout AFL Barwon in the region. The top right represents the GFNL while the top left represents the BFNL, both of which have 5 senior grades. The bottom left represents the CDFNL which has 4 senior grades. The yarning circle in the centre represents junior girls, men's/boys, all -abilities and midweek games that are played across the region.

Inside the waterways – There are 4 gathering circles, these represent all grades and matches that are played throughout the region. They are connected because this continues to show the strength of the netball family and community and how powerful unity is. The 4 gathering circles are connected by a final piece which is the two symbols around a yarning circle. This symbol represents the two referees that are required to referee a netball match. They are connected to all the leagues as netball needs a referee to ensure the game runs smoothly, the laws are applied withing the spirt of the game and provides a safe and duty of care to the players involved. There are approximately 300 netball referees required each week in the AFL Barwon region. Referees are from a wide range of backgrounds, some do it professionally, some are players filling in, some do it for a hobby to keep fit and early some casual money on the weekends, some do it semi-professional and others are parents and siblings filling in because the game cannot continue without a referee. 

To the bottom right there are 5 people dancing, this group of people dancing represent people from all walks of life and celebrating people coming together, supporting each other in unity and inclusion regardless of age, culture, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, disabilities or the colour of their skin.

Artwork Outcome

Joshua hopes that this artwork unites and connects people over the next three years as this is worn by AFL Barwon referees across the region in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Referee’s will wear this design while refereeing in all senior grade games across all divisions and leagues in AFL Barwon.  Josh ask’s that each refereeing panel wear’s this design to take just a brief moment pre-game to acknowledge what the artwork represents and how they can impact the aboriginal community in a positive manner.

Artist Background

Joshua James is a Proud Aboriginal man from Noongar Boodja in the Southwest of Western Australia. Josh has been involved heavily in umpiring for 20 years, including the last 7 years here in AFL Barwon. During this time, Josh has some fantastic achievements including, umpiring all around the nation which includes umpiring Senior State league football and umpiring over 370 Senior matches and 9 Senior Grand finals. Josh originally started umpiring in the Southwest Football League in Bunbury, Western Australia in 2003. Since moving to Victoria in 2015 Josh has been involved with AFL Barwon and the Geelong Umpires. During this time Josh umpired 3 Senior Grand Finals and has been a field umpires coach for the past 6 seasons, with season 2023 being one of his biggest as he takes on the Senior Coaching role in Geelong for the first time. In doing so he becomes the first ever Senior Aboriginal Coach in the region.

One of Josh’s proudest moments was in 2022 when he was selected as a matchday coach for AFLW Season 7 making him the first Aboriginal umpiring coach in the history of AFLW.

Along with umpiring and coaching Josh is the Umpire AFL Aboriginal Ambassador which is a Nation-wide role which looks at assisting Aboriginal umpires and coaches in further development. Josh has implemented several programs to help in umpire recruitment and retention which he is extremely proud of. Josh is driven and committed to increase Aboriginal participation in umpiring and to see more Aboriginal people involved in umpiring, coaching and achieve a higher representation of first nations people at state league level and the AFL.