Hodder, the collaboration with House of Darwin and the NAB AFLW Indigenous Round is a chance to showcase her culture and inspire future generations
Courtney Hodder: The AFLW Star Embracing Her Culture and Inspiring Others
Courtney Hodder is not your average athlete. The dual-premiership winner and top player in the AFLW has always seen herself as more than just a footballer. She is a proud Badimia and Whadjuk woman from Perth, Western Australia, and her culture is a huge part of her identity.
For Hodder, being an Indigenous footballer means more than just playing the game. It’s an opportunity to be a role model for her community and future generations. “Being an Indigenous footballer uplifted me to be that big sister for not only my own mob but for the younger generations to come,” Hodder explains.
So when the chance came to collaborate with Shaun Edwards, founder of House of Darwin, for a limited-edition tee in celebration of the 2024 NAB AFLW Indigenous Round, Hodder jumped at the opportunity. The collaboration was a perfect combination of her two worlds – sport and culture.
Edwards, a proud Larrakia man, shares a similar passion for connecting people through sport, fashion, and culture. His brand, House of Darwin, is not just a fashion label but also a social enterprise that focuses on designing Northern Territory-inspired pieces and running social programs for remote Indigenous communities.
Together, Hodder and Edwards created a T-shirt for the 2024 NAB AFLW Indigenous Round that tells Hodder’s story. It features personal details such as her totem and the scrunchie she wears in every game. “It shows my personality, it’s my family, and it has a few quirky things like ‘Sass Queen’,” Hodder laughs. “It’s a story about me, but it’s also a story about our culture and our people.”
For Hodder, the NAB AFLW Indigenous Round is about more than just playing football. It’s a chance to honor her ancestors and make her family proud. “I’m able to showcase my talent, represent my culture, and make my family proud,” she says, discussing the Indigenous Round’s theme of ‘Spirit Strong, Game On’.
The collaboration with House of Darwin and the NAB AFLW Indigenous Round holds a special significance for Hodder. “I’m a little bit overwhelmed that I’ve been picked to do this collaboration,” she admits. “It just shows that the outside world can see how much my heritage actually means to me.”
Edwards also understands the importance of this moment. “Spirit Strong, Game On” reflects the incredible resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country,” he says. As a former AFL player himself, Edwards knows firsthand the significance of the NAB AFLW Indigenous Round. “It’s a moment to acknowledge the role that Indigenous players have had on the game, and we’re really proud to be a part of that.”
For Hodder, this collaboration is a chance to showcase her culture and inspire future generations. She hopes to continue making her community proud and leaving a positive impact both on and off the field.
