The Western Bulldogs ability to wear their Indigenous Guernsey as part of Sir Doug Nicholls round this weekend has been thrown into jeopardy, following a dispute between the AFL and the designers.
Ballarat based Pitcha Makin’ Fellas have refused to sign a licensing contract presented to them by the AFL.
It’s believed the contract does not provide any financial compensation to the group, with the creators wanting a small percentage of sales from the specially designed guernsey.
Bulldogs CEO Peter Gordon told Melbourne radio station SEN the creators had concerns over how their creative rights are presented in the contract.
Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon leaves AFL House in Melbourne. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) Source: AAP
“They (Pitcha Makin’ Fellas) sought the licensing agreement yesterday from the AFL and were unhappy with various aspects of it.
“We’re really keen that they feel they’ve been treated fairly and will be treated fairly, so we’ll be working on it today to make sure we get to that outcome and I’m confident that we will, said Gordon.”
The Bulldogs plan to wear their Indigenous Guernsey for the weekend’s clash with Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as well as their Round 11 trip to Perth to take on the West Coast.
Negotiations between the two parties are expected to continue on Thursday and the club is hopeful of sorting out the dispute before this week’s Indigenous round.
Western Bulldogs players react after Jake Stringer (second from left) kicks a goal. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) Source: AAP
“It’s magnificent Aboriginal art, they deserve to be appropriately awarded and feel like they’ve been treated well in the process,” said Gordon.
“It’s nothing that can’t be sorted out, and I’m sure it will”.
