Statement: WNBL Indigenous Round

Bendigo Spirit is greatly looking forward to partaking in the WNBL’s Indigenous Round during Round 4, and feels privileged to have been allocated a home match during this celebration of culture and Indigenous contributions to basketball.

All clubs were required to submit their Indigenous Round jersey designs to the League for approval, however, it was noted the similarity of the colours of Spirit and Southside’s Indigenous jerseys, and the fact that both teams are scheduled to face each other in Round 4.

For the integrity of the game and to ensure the high level of basketball the League is known for, it is not possible for both teams to wear their Indigenous jerseys at today’s match in Ballarat.  Due to the similarity in both teams’ colours, normally the away team would be required to wear their clash jersey.

Despite this weekend’s match being a Spirit home game, it has been decided between both clubs that Southside will wear their Indigenous jersey on court on Sunday.  As the Flyers will be delivering their annual Lifeline Round at their next home game on December 1, they would not have the opportunity to wear their Indigenous jersey until later in the season, well removed from the WNBL’s Indigenous Round.

The Spirit will deliver and partake in all other aspects of Indigenous Round in today’s Round 4 match against Southside, including wearing Indigenous warm-up tops, the use of Indigenous Round basketballs, and a Welcome to Country ceremony.

They will then debut their blue Indigenous jersey next week at their Round 5 home game, where they’ll replicate the Indigenous Round in front of a Bendigo home crowd.