FORMER North Ballarat footballer Richelle "Rocky" Cranston says Geelong's first AFLW pride jumper is an important step in promoting inclusion and diversity.
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Cranston has played a key role in designing the Cats' guernsey for AFLW's inaugural pride round this week.
She said getting the right look and message was important to both the LGBTIQA+ community and the broader football community to celebrate and promote greater acceptance.
"I think it's really important to see it. Being part of the community and part of the AFL community as well, it's really special," Cranston said. "The AFL's been really supportive."
I think it's really important to see it. Being part of the community and part of the AFL community as well, it's really special. AFL's been really supportive.
- Richelle "Rocky" Cranston
Cranston, who hails from Maryborough, followed a chance to play football in Ballarat with the then-Eagles and later moved to North Geelong.
The attacking midfielder became a foundation player in AFLW, playing two seasons with Melbourne and moving to Geelong when the Cats' joined the competition three years ago.
Geelong was the first club to develop a public position on marriage equality ahead of the Australian government's 2017 plebiscite on same-sex marriage.
Cats chief Brian Cook this week reiterated the club's position on marriage equality and respective diversity remained strong.
As a tilt to the Cats' stance, the AFLW pride jumper will feature the word yes repeated in rainbow colours top and centre on the back.
Cranston said there had been a bit of "back and forth" in the consultation group of player ambassadors and allies, including Greater Western Victoria Rebels' export Sophie van de Heuval, before sticking to a traditional hoops look.
While some clubs have made big statements, such as Western Bulldogs featuring all LGBTIQA+ individual flags, the Cats have aimed to be simple but effective. Cranston said this would allow the Cats to build and adapt to community needs.
The Cats' jumper will feature the well-known, encompassing rainbow flag as a central hoop. On the shoulders sits the transgender flag, which Cranston said was based on feedback from the transgender community to help promote greater awareness and inclusion.
"Geelong is a really diverse club and really inclusive," Cranston said. "I feel really lucky to be part of the culture here."
The transgender flag flew in Ballarat for the first time in November atop the Child and Family Services' building to signal this city as a welcoming place and to encourage awareness for gender diversity.
Pride matches are staring to be played in grassroots football, such as Daylesford and Newlyn's inaugural pride cup in 2019.
Meanwhile, the Cats will face Collingwood at the Magpies' spiritual home ground Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon. This match comes after the league was forced to shuffle fixtures in line with changing COVID-19 restrictions this week.
Cranston, as an AFLW foundation player, said the playing standard was improving greatly last year - despite the Cats' 62-point trouncing from North Melbourne last week.
"It's awesome [how the league has grown]," Cranston said. "I can't wait until all AFL clubs has teams involved."
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