Richmond will wear its 2026 Dreamtime guernsey for this Sunday's clash with Melbourne to recognise and celebrate NAIDOC Week.
For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — steady, unapologetic, and proud. This year's theme, Fifty Years of Deadly, marks a milestone. It’s a tribute to the people who built this movement, the Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year.
The Tigers' 2026 Dreamtime guernsey was designed by Club legend Michael Mitchell, alongside his daughters Meghan and Sam.
The guernsey tells the story of Mitchell’s family and his ‘extended family’ being the Claremont and Richmond Football Clubs. The story and colours also tie back to Mitchell’s homes of Carnarvon, Shark Bay and Western Australia.
The three circles on the guernsey represent the Club’s Mitchell had a significant impact at - Warriors FC, Claremont, and Richmond. Two circles can be found on the front sash, with the other on the back sash.
The red-tailed cockatoo, which is represented on the back of the guernsey, is of great significance to the Mitchell family. The cockatoo represents Mitchell's parents, symbolising their love, guidance and protection.
The dugong and turtle on the front sash represent Mitchell’s home, Shark Bay, which is roughly 800km north of Perth. The marine life of dugongs and turtles are prominent features of Shark Bay and as such, are showcased on the guernsey.
The deep colours on the guernsey are also strongly linked to Western Australia, Carnarvon, and Mitchell’s playing days.
The reds and blues highlight the desert and the ocean that surrounds the Carnarvon area, and the gold yellow represents the shade that was worn during Mitchell’s time at Richmond.
Mitchell played 81 games and kicked 103 goals for the Tigers from 1987-1991 and was one of the competition’s most exciting players during that time.
Mitchell’s x-factor and capacity to generate sheer excitement was off the charts during the 1990 season, when the silky-skilled, speedy, small forward won both Mark of the Year and Goal of the Year.
Mitchell, renowned for his high-flying exploits, despite being just 173cm tall and weighing only 66kg, took Mark of the Year in the Tigers’ 79-point Round 5 victory over Fitzroy on Anzac Day at the MCG.
He propelled himself skywards, balanced on the shoulders of Lions defender Brett Stephens, before juggling the ball in one hand and then completing the mark as he fell to the ground.
In Richmond’s final home-and-away round match of 1990 against Sydney at the SCG, Mitchell clinched the Goal of the Year.
After gathering the ball deep in defence, Mitchell decided to take the game on in typically bold, dashing style.
He took a bounce, then another, followed by five more (a grand total of seven), before calmly slotting it through for a breathtaking goal.
Richmond faces Melbourne this Sunday at the MCG from 3:15pm.
