Super Netball unveils First Nations round dresses

Suncorp Super Netball clubs have unveiled their First Nations Round dresses for 2026, highlighting Indigenous artists and the cultural stories embedded in each design.

While the artwork is visually striking, clubs emphasise that the meaning behind each piece makes the dresses a privilege to wear.

Key Points

One of the most significant elements of Suncorp Super Netball’s First Nations Round is each club’s dress reveal, where designs and their stories are brought to the fore. The artworks reflect community, connection to Country, journeys across time and place, and the shared love of the game. This year’s dresses feature contributions from artists representing diverse Nations and communities, with designs that balance tradition and contemporary expression.

The 2026 releases span themes of leadership, identity, collective strength, and perseverance. Clubs have foregrounded artists and narratives that speak to players’ roots and their pathways to elite netball, underscoring that the journey is as important as the destination. Several designs build on multi-year collaborations, reaffirming ongoing relationships with artists and communities.

Club designs and artists

• Tarntanya Karntu (Adelaide Thunderbirds): Designed by Kaurna, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri, and Wirangu woman Gabriel Stengle, the artwork represents the players past, present and future who are connected through community and their love of the game. The pink and black elements on the back of the dress represent the players having each other’s backs as they take to the court and life. Waterholes on the front symbolise players’ communities, places, and homes, linked by journey lines to reflect unique paths to Suncorp Super Netball from around the world. Pink waterholes represent the Pink Army, surrounded by kangaroo tracks to signify always moving forward.

• GIANTS: The GIANTS 2026 First Nations dress has been created by proud Gamilaroi woman Krystal Dallinger-Simpson. The design tells the story of the many walks of life — knowing there’s never a straight road to your goals — and embraces the organised chaos that is life. With complete avoidance of straight lines, the design shows that nothing in the world is ever straightforward. It reflects the hard work and navigation required through life’s twists and turns.

• Melbourne Mavericks: The Mavericks have collaborated with Aboriginal artist Bayley Mifsud, known by her Aboriginal name, Merindah-Gunya, meaning ‘Beautiful Spirit’ in Peek Whurrong language, for the third year. This year’s design builds on her work over the past few seasons, developing further as the club evolves. The ongoing partnership underscores continuity and growth as the visual identity progresses alongside the team’s trajectory.

• Melbourne Vixens: Proud Djab Wurrung, Kirrae Wurrung and Peek Wurrung woman Tarni Jarvis has designed the Vixens’ First Nations Round dress for 2026. The dress centres on the theme of leadership transfer, the journey of the club following its 2025 premiership success, and its ongoing connection to Country. Key elements include the Birrarung River running along the side of the design and a journey symbol reflecting the club’s recent path and the direction ahead.

• NSW Swifts: The NSW Swifts have unveiled a powerful new design for First Nations Round created by proud Yuin woman Rheanna Lotter. This year’s design, entitled ‘Belonging’, is a reflection on the collective strength of community, identity and connection. The artwork centres on the players themselves, each surrounded by their own story; their families, communities, and cultures. Lotter has previously worked with the club on First Nations initiatives, and her designs have become integral to how the Swifts honour and celebrate First Nations culture.

• Queensland Firebirds: The Firebirds’ dress was designed by the late Leah Cummins. Her piece ‘The Dreams of the Future’ was initially launched in 2024 alongside Netball Queensland’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan. A proud Mayi-Kulan and Kalkadoon woman, Cummins’ artwork depicts the organisation’s cultural journey, the importance of reflection and the efforts of those who have paved the way to build a culturally safe environment. Firebirds players will be wearing black armbands in the side’s match against West Coast Fever in honour of Leah. The club acknowledges and honours her contribution and legacy through her work with the Queensland Firebirds and Netball Queensland.

• Sunshine Coast Lightning: The Lightning’s 2026 First Nations Round dress has been designed by Keetz Fitzpatrick, a proud Wuthati Darumbal woman, born on Gurang Gurnang country with bloodlines that connect to Darnly Island, TI and Tanner Island, South Sea. Her artwork ‘Lighting up the Coast’ represents all the beautiful things on the Sunshine Coast. Fitzpatrick aimed to blend the old and the new to reflect diversity along with strong ties to the Country where they live and create.

• West Coast Fever: West Coast Fever’s First Nations Round dress incorporates elements from the Club’s Indigenous artwork, ‘Spirit of the Fever’, created in 2024 by Contemporary Aboriginal Artist Jilalga Murray of Jilalga Designs. ‘Spirit of the Fever’ tells the club’s story, capturing the energy of its journey: weaving across the court with purpose, overcoming every obstacle, and chasing greatness with the Green Army by their side. The dress embeds these motifs to connect the team’s identity with its competitive drive.