2025 BFNL Indigenous Round
Round 7 of our 2025 season is our annual Indigenous Round where all our senior football and A-Grade netball teams will once again be dressed in their respective custom designed Indigenous uniforms which players and fans have become familiar with.
We are grateful and honoured to continue our partnership with Djaara, highlighted by the annual Indigenous themed round played on Dja Dja Wurrung Country which has been developed through ongoing partnerships between members of Djaara, the Bendigo FNL and AFL Central Victoria.
The round is being held during National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June), this year featuring the Eaglehawk and Sandhurst Football Netball Clubs at Canterbury Park as the feature match. This match brings together Central Victorian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members to provide an opportunity for continual learning, whilst paying recognition to the living Aboriginal culture of the traditional owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung.
BFNL Indigenous Round is a much anticipated and ever-developing marquee event for the BFNL, bringing the community together and using local football and netball as a platform to initiate continued conversation and further promote a deeper education surrounding respective local Indigenous history, highlighted by all BFNL clubs competing in the custom designed football and netball uniforms.
The custom Indigenous designs were first created by local artists back in 2014, each telling the story specific to the historic region of each BFNL club.
In 2025, we welcome the addition of custom Indigenous themed umpire tops which will be worn by all officiating umpires at the senior match Eaglehawk and Sandhurst match
Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung People) have lived on our traditional lands and cared for djandak (Country) over many thousands of years.
Today, we will take part in a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony on djandak. We thank Djaara for sharing Cultural knowledge through language, presentations, on Country talks.
The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2025, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.
Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.
As customary for the annual BFNL Indigenous Round feature matches, Eaglehawk and Sandhurst senior teams will be playing for the Wirama Shield in both football and netball, with individual awards presented to those players judged best afield for their respective teams.
Under 18 and Reserve’s football matches will commence 30 minutes ahead of the regular schedule today to allow us to involve all football and netball playing groups, along with officiating umpires, BFNL, and Djaara, in our customary on-field acknowledgement of country smoking ceremony.
