Hawks stand proud
Indigenous Round brings on special celebration
THE University Hawks will embrace their proud indigenous links today as they commemorate the AFL’s annual Indigenous Round.
The Hawks will wear special jerseys that were designed by students from Shalom Christian College, which provides education and support to indigenous kids predominantly from remote communities.
The club has a long- standing relationship with the school and the under- 15 and under- 17 Hawks teams feature a strong representation of Shalom players. Today’s celebrations at Harold Phillips Oval start from 9am with the juniors in action and there will be a Welcome to Country performed before the senior game at 3pm.
Hawks co- captain Ben Deguara said the players always looked forward to the Indigenous Round.
“It’s a great concept and it’s good to acknowledge all the indigenous kids in the game,” Deguara said.
“We’ve got an affiliation with Shalom so it’s a great idea and we look forward to it every year.”
The unbeaten Hawks are preparing for a hard- fought contest in the senior game as they come up against perennial grand finalists the Hermit Park Tigers.
University have been the bench- mark this season, but the Tigers have been nipping at their heels and Deguara said the Hawks were determined to keep their perfect record intact.
“Everyone’s up for this one, everyone wants to win this one,” he said.
“We’ve lost a couple of players with injuries and a couple away, but it’s a near full- strength squad so we’ll see how we go.
“We want to make our stand and be known as the hunted and not the hunters so to speak.
“We’ve had such a great start to the year, but a loss this weekend and we go straight to second just with one loss because the Tigers have got a better percentage than us.
“Confidence is a big thing too so we don’t want to put a dent in that by losing to the Tigers this week, that’s for sure.”
Deguara expected a bruising contest against the Tigers, but he was confident that would play to his side’s strengths this season.
“We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing, just being hard at the ball,” Deguara said.
“Our game style just seems to be working this year and guys are clicking and playing good footy.
“The key to beating the Tigers is being as hard at the ball as they are, which has been our strength, so hopefully at the end of the day we’re in front.”
In today’s other game, the Northern Beaches Suns and Curra Swans will battle it out at the North Shore Cyclone Shelter.