SANFL player Marlon Motlop’s new song, Lean on Me, a response to Crow Taylor Walker’s racism scandal

SANFL star Marlon Motlop has responded to the Taylor Walker racism scandal in a totally different way to most.

The plight of Indigenous footballers struggling with racial abuse has been given a musical voice by SANFL star Marlon Motlop.

The emerging singer-songwriter has teamed with fellow Indigenous artist Jimblah to write Lean on Me, a moving track in support of fellow First Nations players.

Motlop said he was compelled to pen the lyrics following former Crows captain Taylor Walker’s racism scandal involving North Adelaide’s Robbie Young.

“I feel like among the whole Tex Walker video and the interview, there was a lot of noise around Tex and his way through to redemption,” said Motlop, a 2019 Glenelg premiership player.

Marlon Motlop is spreading the anti-racism message through music. Picture: Morgan Sette

Taylor Walker’s apology to Robbie Young.

“The First Nations’ voice was lost amongst that noise, when we should hear solely from the people affected and the First Nations people in the community.

“I felt once that happened in the (SANFL) competition I was a part of, I had a responsibility to make sure that situation was being appropriately unpacked.”

A victim of on-field racism early in his career, Motlop shares the pain of such incidents in the emotive lyrics, singing: “I don’t want to play, the rules aren’t fair and my back is about to break.

“Lean on me, I’m here for your sake. I bite my tongue, just how you like, I do what you say.”

The 31-year-old, who will take to the field for Glenelg in Saturday’s semi-final against Woodville-West Torrens at Adelaide Oval, said the mental toll of racial vilification weighed heavily on Indigenous footballers.

“You’re hit with this feeling of isolation and you feel like the world’s against you and you feel like you’re alone,” said Motlop, the cousin of AFL players Steven, Daniel and Shannon Motlop.

Marlon Motlop playing for Glenelg in the SANFL. Picture: Ross Starkey.

“I’ve been lucky nothing has happened later in my career but it happened when I was very young and I didn’t know how to navigate my way through it.

“The song is about counteracting that, showing that you’re not alone, we’re in this together and you’ve got the support of the people.”

Lean On Me has already received support from fellow players, with music an important part of the “healing process”, according to Motlop, who played five matches for Port Adelaide in the AFL.

“We’ve had some footballers from the highest levels reach out, they love it,” he said.

“Music has really given me an avenue to express things through lyrics and through sound. And from there it’s easier to have a conversation afterwards.”

The song comes just days after Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly released his new track, Every Step of the Way, in honour of AFL champion Eddie Betts’s fight against discrimination.

In his final SANFL season, Motlop has enjoyed early success as a musician, joining fellow player-turned-singer Rulla Kelly-Mansell as the opening act for Midnight Oil at this year’s WOMADelaide music festival.

The duo also performed privately for Indigenous music icon Archie Roach, before appearing on his new YouTube series Kitchen Table Yarns this week.

“Uncle Archie’s sound has been consistent with my musical journey and my childhood, right up until now,” Motlop said.

Marlon Motlop with fellow singer-songwriter Rulla Kelly-Mansell. Picture: Supplied.

“There’s a real shift happening in the Australian music industry in terms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice and sound, having a bigger platform and a broader reach.

“I think that’s off the back of pure hard work and pioneering from people like Uncle Archie and Christine Anu. They’ve fought the fight to make it a lot easier for young emerging artists like myself.”