Country Victorian team Jeparit-Rainbow has been boosted by an influx of Indigenous stars throughout the 2023 season.
The recruitment of a handful of highly-credentialed footballers from the Northern Territory Football League, plus the late-season signing of former Port Adelaide listed player Trent Burgoyne, has completely revitalised the club.
The Storm are fresh off a 157-point win over Taylors Lake after a best-on-ground performance from Burgoyne.
Crafty midfielder-forward Thomas Clarke has arguably been the pick of the bunch.
The vice-captain of NTFL club Darwin Buffaloes has relocated to Victoria and produced excellent form for the Storm.
He has featured in the club's best players on 12 occasions from 15 games, while also hitting the scoreboard with 28 goals.
Clarke said that he has 'really enjoyed' playing country footy this season.
"It's a different brand of footy, but I've enjoyed every minute of it," Clarke told National Indigenous Times.
"The Jeparit-Rainbow community and people have been so welcoming and brought me in as one of their own.
"On top of that, the coaches, leaders and players of the footy club have a really strong club culture that I'm lucky to be a part of."
The Storm have won seven consecutive games and are currently sitting second on the Horsham District Football League ladder with a 14–2 win-loss record.
The club has not won a senior premiership or made a senior grand final in over 25 years.
Clarke believes that the Storm have enough talent to win the premiership this season.
"I think we have the side to get the job done," Clarke said.
"We haven't done it yet, but I think once we out four quarters of footy together with the side we have we can go along way into finals."
A fortnight ago the club paid tribute to its Indigenous players, past and present, by hosting their first-ever Indigenous Round.
The Storm recorded a 30.20 (200) to 2.5 (17) win over opposition club Kaniva Leeor United, with recruits Clarke, Burgoyne, Nick Yarran and Antonio James all named among the team's best.
Clarke and Yarran finished with five goals each.
The club also donned an Indigenous jumper designed by proud Anmatyerre man Thomas Long.
The white on the front of the jumper represents the places of Yaapeet, Rainbow, Jeparit & Nhill (Wotjaboluk, Gromiluk, Jaadwa, Jadawaiali), which makes up most of the club.
The green lightning strike symbolises the football club, while the light and dark green represents men's gathering.
Gatim gatim (boomerang) with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island symbols and purra (kangaroo) footprints, as the known animal from the Wotjaboluk area also feature.
The back of the jumper includes the Jeparit natimuk (river) which flows behind the Jeparit-Rainbow clubrooms.
Wotjobaluk man Warren Nelson performed the smoking ceremony at the inaugural event.
