ADCA 2025-26: Shirts designed by Carlton Godfrey are a hit for Sharks as sides celebrate Reconciliation Round

Albany Sharks celebrated the Albany and District Cricket Association’s Reconciliation Round by wearing shirts designed by all-rounder Carlton Godfrey on Saturday. Despite the new attire and WACA Indigenous stumps, they could not commemorate the day with a C-grade victory over Denmark, for a spectacular collapse as they closed in on victory saw them lose out by five runs. Godfrey, who contributed 11 runs with the bat after taking 3-17 with the ball, designed the vibrant teal uniforms to reflect the Albany landscape. And he said he thought the ADCA had done a good job around recognising the heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players. “I wanted to design something that resembled Albany’s three main water sources, and the circles represent the Princess Royal Harbour, Oyster Harbour and King George Sound,” he said. “I think the association did a good job with Reconciliation Round; we had a good welcome to country, and I hope making it a focus will get other Aboriginal players to play the game.” It was his first attempt at designing shirts. “It was a first-time thing, and I picked the brains of some family members before I put pen to paper,” Godfrey said. In the match itself, Sharks restricted Denmark to 143 all out, with Godfrey clinching the wicket of top scorer Shane Kirkwood, who went lbw for 59. Their reply was going well, anchored by Rodney Wood, who scored 49, and Rohan Tabell, who contributed 22. They reached 6-127 but Peter Greenaway, Godfrey, Steven Alexander, Nathen Jonsson and Shaun Smith were all out without a run being added and they finally threw in the towel, all out for 138. The contest was umpired by “uncle” Harley Coyne. Godfrey said it was hard to recruit Aboriginal players to club cricket. “I think it’s that feeling about the unknown,” he said. “We used to play cricket at Christmas in the back yard but it is hard to go from that to playing in a team. “We need more players at grassroots level so they can see it is good to do something when there’s no footy.” As for his performance, he was happy with his bowling but admitted he got impetuous with the bat. “I’m not one to hang around and I thought I was set,” he said. “I had a really good feeling and tried to hit the gap, but the fielder read it before I’d even hit the ball.” Wood, who kept wicket and fell just a run short of a half century, was named Sharks’ man of the match.