Stanhope footballers Tyson McKenzie, Daniel Flynn, Rhys Smith and Tom Rennie, with their boots which were painted for the Kyabram district league’s Indigenous Round.
Rhys Smith proudly shows off his Indigenous round boots before the Stanhope and Murchison-Toolamba game on Saturday.
Stanhope goalsneak and proud Yorta Yorta man Rhys Smith inspired a handful of his teammates to take the Kyabram District League’s Indigenous Round to the next level on Saturday.
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Smith, who is the step-son of former Stanhope coach Mark Adamson and has Indigenous connections through his mother Kate, made the decision to expand the Lions recognition of Indigenous Round during the pre-season.
Seven sets of boots were painted in a variety of designs by the mother and daughter team of Georgina Riseley and Paige Charles-Morgan.
Paige Charles-Morgan with the boots that she designed and painted for Stanhope Indigenous footballer Rhys Smith.
“I worked with Paige and Georgina in Bendigo. When I asked them if they would consider painting the boots they were only too happy,” Smith said.
“Like me, both Paige has connections to Yorta Yorta land,, while Georgina is a Palawa woman.”
Both women run indigenous art businesses and were commissioned to complete the designs by the Stanhope players well before the first ball of the 2024 season was bounced.
Smith, ruckman Daniel Flynn, gun recruit Tyson McKenzie, goalkicker Tom Rennie, veteran Craig Emmett and Daryl Harrison all wore boots with Indigenous designs on them in the game against top of the ladder Murchison-Toolamba.
“We gave them our boots months ago, most of the boys who were involved had two pairs, so it meant their routines weren’t affected too much,” Smith said.
He said the project was a salute to his own heritage and his teammates were excited that they could be involved in honouring that connection.
Smith’s boots carry the Yorta Yorta totem, the Bayadherra (or Broad Shelled Turtle), and the Indigenous flag.
"All the boys got to contribute ideas toward their designs, Tyson also has a long neck turtle to recognise an Indigenous mate he has who plays for Murchison,“ Smith said.
An acrylic paint pen was used by the artists to complete the design, then a special adherent spray was used to protect the work
“Both Paige and her mum have done this before for other clubs and we hope to extend the amount of footballers, and netballers, that are involved next year,” Smith said.
It was the first time that Smith had worn the boots with Indigenous colours, but a stop-start season had him questioning whether he would even get to play in the game.
"I’ve only played half the games after I tore my syndesmosis. I was beyond excited when I got the all clear to go ahead and play,“ he said.
Smith’s father, Adamson, was also in the crowd for the game - one of the few times he had been available to see his step-son play this year.
Georgina Riseley with one of the seven sets of boots that were painted with Indigenous designs for the Stanhope footballers.
“He goes to a lot of my younger siblings games and is often called on to umpire or help out in some way,” Smith said.
Tom Rennie, who was a highly successful Murchison junior footballer, said his former club had always had a proud connection to Indigenous players.
“That was one of the reasons I was keen to be involved. I have played with and know a lot of Indigenous footballers,” he said.
Ruckman Daniel Flynn said it was lucky he had two pairs of boots, with most of the blokes surrendering their boots from last year for the project.
“If I didn’t have another pair I wouldn’t have been able to be involved,” he said.
Stanhope’s footballers all wore their Indigenous guernseys on Saturday, as did the club’s A and B grade netballers - who have worn their indigenous dresses for the last four seasons.
Stanhope A and B grade netballers wore their Indigenous dresses for the game against Murchison-Toolamba on Saturday.
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