The Geelong Cats will celebrate their eighth annual Djilang Round when they take on the Swans at GMHBA Stadium this weekend. 

Djilang is the Wadawurrung word for Geelong. 

During Djilang Round, the club will recognise the impact of our nation’s first people on our great game of Australian Rules Football. 

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Match day highlights this weekend will include a formal Welcome to Country, pre-game performance by the Deadly Dancers, and a gift exchange between the Cats and Swans at the coin toss. The Cats will also wear their Indigenous guernsey designed by Quinton Narkle for the second consecutive week.

At half-time, Auskick matches and grid games will again be played by Aboriginal children from across the Barwon South West region including participants of the club’s Next Generation Academy.



Djilang Round provides a platform to celebrate the culmination of the club’s Djilang Program which provides connection, exploration and celebration of Aboriginal culture for young people of the Wathaurong community and the Stronger Brother Stronger Sister program where young people come together with Cats players to connect and create art with a focus on Wadawurrung language.

Through the Djilang Program, the club’s seven Indigenous players connected with young people in the region through a cultural connection program delivered by a Traditional Land Owner.

Barwon Water is the proud partner of the club’s Djilang program, and the match day sponsor this Saturday.

“The Djilang program is an important way we can support the local community and connect with the traditional custodians of the land in which we operate and source water for our region,” Barwon Water General Manager Customers and Community Jo Murdoch said. 

“We’re excited to be match day sponsors for Saturday’s Djilang round – fans are encouraged to look out for us before the game to pick up a free, limited-edition Djilang water bottle featuring a beautiful design by local Aboriginal artist Nathan Patterson.