This weekend’s round 11 clash between the Geelong Cats and GWS Giants is the club’s Close the Gap Round.

Aboriginal Australians live on average 10-17 years less than non-Aboriginal Australians, due to this alarming health gap, the Geelong Cats developed their first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2013 and since then have been committed to contributing to ‘Closing the Gap’ through the club’s local Close the Gap program.

The Close the Gap program aims to promote healthier lifestyle choices and empower young Aboriginal people from the Barwon South West and is supported by a group of dedicated local Aboriginal community members and player ambassadors Steven Motlop, Nakia Cockatoo, Zac Bates and Darcy Lang.

As part of the Close the Gap program, the club hosted the Gathering Camp earlier this year for local Aboriginal young people. The Gathering Camp focused on embracing cultural identity and encouraging good health and participation in sports.

This Saturday the Geelong Cats’ banner will feature the artwork of local Geelong teen Piper Knox who has been participating in an after school art program for young Aboriginal people over the past four weeks.

Lead by mentor and traditional Wadda Wurrung woman, Corrina Eccles, the students have been lucky enough to have talented artist, Nathan Patterson from Illuka Designs teaching them how to shape their ideas into dreamtime artwork. The Target Design team has also been on hand to assist the kids transfer their designs to guernsey concepts, which they will proudly carry around Simonds Stadium before this Saturday’s game.

A pre-game Welcome to Country will be performed by Corrina Eccles, Norm Stanley and deadly dancers on Saturday and Indigenous musicians Scott Darlow and Shane Howard will also provide entertainment for the crowd before the bounce.

As part of the Close the Gap round, Geelong Cats players will again proudly wear their Indigenous guernsey.

The Close the Gap program and round is proudly sponsored by Target.