Adelaide, West Coast and St Kilda will change their name during the upcoming AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round and the AFLW's Indigenous Round later in the year.
Adelaide will go by Kuwarna (pronounced goo-wun-na) is the Kaurna translation for the word Crows and has been used in consultation with the Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi Language Corporation.
As well as the name change, the Crows will unveil a new logo designed by Aboriginal artist Harley Hall who was involved in helping star forward Izak Rankine design the guernsey Crows players will wear during the Round 10 (Collingwood) and 11 (West Coast) clashes.
"It represents how far we have come in this industry in recognising First Nations people and the contribution they have made to the game," Rankine said.
"To see the club's name change on TV is great exposure, particularly for young Indigenous kids who love their footy."
The rebranding – which has received cultural approval from the Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi Language Corporation – pays tribute to Adelaide's rich history of Aboriginal players while promoting a deeper understanding and respect for Indigenous knowledge systems through language, with club CEO Tim Silvers speaking on its significance.
“We believe this is a transformative moment in our Club's history and further strengthens our commitment to reconciliation by continuing an important conversation,” Silvers said.
“Rebranding the Club to Kuwarna adds to the celebration of Sir Doug Nicholls Round and AFLW Indigenous Round which is a highlight of the football calendar, and provides another chance to collaborate with Kaurna community groups in promoting cultural awareness.
“The name change has been made possible with the support of the Club's Aboriginal players and staff, Aboriginal Advisory Group, RAP working committee and leadership groups who are passionate about recognising our Indigenous heritage and strengthening relationships with the Indigenous community.”
West Coast will be joining the likes of Adelaide, announcing what they'll be referred to as during Rounds 10 and 11 of the season.
The Eagles will use the name Waalitj Marawar, which means 'Eagles of the West' in the local Noongar language.
The club's new Indigenous guernsey has been designed by Yamatji artist Loretta Egan, a lifelong Eagles fan and the niece of renowned actor Dingo.
Last year, Dingo claimed the club's recent run of defeats could be traced back to the unveiling of a previous Indigenous guernsey, used in 2019 and 2020, which featured the Noongar spirit Waugal. Dingo said the design included features "that you're not supposed to put on the jumper".
"If we look at it from a blackfella point of view, that it's a spiritual thing that is stopping our game at the moment," Dingo told Yokayi Footy.
"A young nephew of mine, he designed the jumper for 2019, he put the so-called Waugal on the front but when he put the Waugal on the front he went a little bit further and put feathers and stuff that you're not supposed to put on the jumper.
"Having the snake on there is fine but he had gone a little bit further and I think that's where it all stemmed from. They put a sacred object on the jumper without clearing it through the cultural side of it all."
For the first time in club history and in a landmark event in its yawa (journey), St Kilda Football Club will proudly go by the Boon Wurrung name of Euro-Yroke, marking the occasion with two separate guernseys as part of the celebrations.
The adoption and translation of Euro-Yroke (pronounced yoo-roe yoo-roe-ck) for Sir Doug Nicholls Round was made possible with the assistance of Boon Wurrung Senior Elder N'arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs and Boon Wurrung Elder and language specialist Aunty Fay Muir.
In changing their names during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, the Crows have followed the lead of Melbourne (Narrm), Port Adelaide (Yartapuulti) and Fremantle (Walyalup), who have changed their names in recent years.