Richmond has launched its AFLW Pride guernsey for 2023 ahead of its Round 9 home game against Geelong and the Pride Round clash against Collingwood at Victoria Park in Round 10.
The jumper, which is Richmond's third AFLW Pride guernsey, was developed by defenders Rebecca Miller and Libby Graham, in conjunction with artist Matthew Chan.
This year's Pride guernsey is comprised of three main elements, one of which is a rainbow sash, representing the path of self-acceptance and growth for people within the LTBTIQ+ community.
Also featuring on the design are fireworks, made up of important words and phrases used regularly within the team, in a nod to celebration, an important value for the side.
This wording includes 'hungry to improve', 'respect', 'turn up', 'proud to be', 'storytime', 'living the dream' - which is one of Miller's favourite sayings - as well as 'mum', recognising mother and Tigers' wing Kate Dempsey.
Lastly, the jumper contains mountains, capturing the peaks and valleys of life.
Representation and visibility were two key message that Graham and Miller wanted to portray within the guernsey.
"For a lot of people within the community, you don't start being the most comfortable with yourself, it's really a journey," Graham said.
"And for people outside of the community too, that's what it represents as well. That understanding of the LGBTIQ+ community.
"That representation and visibility, it's something that five, six or seven years ago wasn't there that much in media, and it's improving so much now. The fact that we can be that, and we can do that, is so important to me.
"I would have loved to have had that when I was younger, and people being proud and vocal about who they are is really important to me."
Graham said Pride Round, and the opportunity to design this year's guernsey, "meant a lot to (her) personally".
"It's a really big honour to be in Richmond history, to know that this guernsey has been designed by Bec and myself and it will link us together forever... We have a very strong bond on and off the field," she said.
"Matthew was really great to work with and receptive to us as well... we're really stoked with how it turned out."
While it was important for Graham and Miller that the jumper represented themselves and the Richmond Women's program as a whole, they hope people could take their own meaning out of it too.
"The players can attach their own meaning to the guernsey, the Tiger Army can attach their own meaning... There's different symbols which mean a lot internally, but the fireworks, mountains and path can all mean something different to each individual, which is cool," Miller said.
As an inaugural Tiger who has proudly run out in both of the Tigers' previous Pride jumpers, Miller said she was thrilled to have developed the 2023 design.
"Representation is so important, you can't be what you can't see. I know Libby and I are super pumped to play in this guernsey, and the girls will get behind it too," she said.
"Playing at Collingwood will be huge, and then Pride Round on top of that, and then playing in this guernsey is even bigger. I'm really excited to run out."
Fans can purchase their 2023 AFLW Pride Guernsey from the Roar Store here, with proceeds from the sales of the guernsey to go towards supporting Midsumma projects and initiatives.
