St Kilda wanted to pay tribute this year to Bradley Hill's enduring AFL career with the design of the club's Indigenous guernsey.

The Noongar man was given carte blanche on creating the canvas ahead of the 2026 Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous rounds but instead of grabbing a brush and palette for the club's Euro-Yroke design, he called on a young emerging artist that has previously kickstarted Hill's ideas into reality.

"I was lucky enough that the club came to me at the back end of last year if I wanted to do the jumper for 2026, but the first person that popped in my head was Jed Bennell," Hill told his club in a video interview.

"You might remember him from a couple of years ago where he did my boots and I just thought what an opportunity for him to be able to put his artwork on the AFL stage - he's done another amazing job."

The 11-year-old Bennell has now become the youngest artist to design an Indigenous AFL guernsey, according to AFL records, in the concept's decade-long span across all 18 clubs.

The novice has left nothing behind in the detail of the three-club veteran's football journey that appears will ultimately end at the Saints.

Bennell described the distinct kangaroo footprints that appear stand for each of the Indigenous players - including not only Hill, but Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager, Liam Henry, Isaac Keeler, Lance Collard and Liam Ryan - currently on the club's list while the black circles represent "where they have come from".

Other symbols on the guernsey include white circles for the club, its community and supporters while Hill's three AFL clubs - Hawthorn, Fremantle and St Kilda - played over 286 appearances prior to Euro-Yroke's match on Sunday against Richmond, are similarly represented in the artwork along with Hill's immediate family and their prolonged association with Boonwurrong country.

An upside down, V-shape flying boomerang appears appropriately at the top of the guernsey to represent the Saints fighting for victory.

"He's done an awesome job...and I love the design and what he's also done with having the players down here including (St Kilda's AFLW player) J'Noemi Anderson," Hill says, pointing to the designs on the guernsey.

The Noongar-Yamatji son of former Melbourne player Jamie Bennell has developed a tight bond as also a distant cousin of Hill's, sharing their mob's culture from the south-west region of Western Australia while living on the land of the people of the Kulin nation.

Bennell said the experience to work with Hill, something of an Indigenous the spiritual and cultural Elder at the club, has been "amazing and so awesome".

It included being paraded out the front with Indigenous representatives of 13 AFL clubs in a separate Sir Doug Nicholls rounds media launch on Monday.

"Just the opportunity, like I can't even imagine that with the crowd and the players wearing my jumper," Bennell said.

But the increased cultural awareness has also instigated a friendly clash with AFL rival Collingwood - and another Hill.

The Saints midfielder's cousin, Bobby Hill, also had the same idea and commissioned Bennell to design another innovative guernsey for the Magpies, further testing out his artistic allegiances.

Bennell inspired the Hills with his profound creative ingenuity.

The Indigenous design of Bennell's reflects the unique journey of Whadjuk-Ballardong Noongar man Bobby Hill.

Bennell spoke further about the intricate design process that brought the Indigenous guernseys design to life.

"I first started painting three years ago after watching the Sir Doug Nicholls rounds at home," he told the Collingwood website.

"Seeing all the guernsey designs made me want to create my own artwork on canvas, inspired by them."

The centre of the Magpies guernsey includes two native grass trees, representing Hill's own two sons that originate from his tattoos, signifying strength, resilience and connection to country.

Surrounding the trees are layered, ring patterns that reflect the support of Hill's immediate family but also the community and supporters of Collingwood's own broader family.

The two stars placed on the guernsey represent two of Hill's greatest career achievements - his AFL premiership with Collingwood and his Norm Smith Medal for a best-on-ground performance in the 2023 grand final win.

The circles of the design mark Hill's route from Western Australia onto New South Wales before arriving in Victoria.

Bennell also replicated other elements of Hill's tattoos that include a traditional gathering, a kangaroo, an emu, a goanna and a boomerang.

Bobby Hill shared his thoughts about working alongside the child prodigy.

"I'm very fortunate to have Jed design (for) this year's Sir Doug Nicholls guernsey - and I'm so proud of him for creating such an amazing piece," he said.

"He is incredibly talented, and it's a credit to him, especially at such a young age to be able to design our jumper.

"Seeing the guernsey in person is really powerful, and it means a lot to me that it has come from Jed, who is family.

"Sir Doug Nicholls holds deep significance, and it will make me proud to see the team and our supporters wearing it."