Coronavirus forces Aboriginal football club Mallee Park to suspend competition
Fears over Aboriginal people’s vulnerability to coronavirus will keep one of Australia’s most successful indigenous football clubs off the park this season.
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One of Australia’s most successful indigenous football clubs, Port Lincoln’s Mallee Park, will not compete this season because of concerns about Aboriginal people’s vulnerability to COVID-19.
The club, whose legion of AFL products include Eddie Betts, Graham Johncock and Shaun Burgoyne, says it has withdrawn this season “with many heavy hearts” to keep safe players, families and elders.
Club president Jack Johncock told the Sunday Mail the decision had been based on medical advice and was in the community’s best interests.
He pointed to a club Facebook post, which says: “We know that First Nations people are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, due to higher incidence of chronic health conditions, including diabetes, renal disease & respiratory issues.
“Additionally, the living conditions and social connectedness of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples can make transmission more likely.”
The Facebook post says the decision followed extensive discussions with the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service, senior players and the club board.
“It has been decided that due to the current pandemic situation, we have chosen to keep our players safe, and in keeping our players safe, we keep our families safe, our elders safe and our community safe,” the club statement says.
Founded in 1981, Mallee Park’s remarkable AFL links include Johncock, Betts, Burgoyne, his brother Peter, Byron Pickett, Harry Miller Junior, Daniel Wells, Aaron Davey and Gavin Wanganeen. All have ties either to the club or indigenous football on Eyre Peninsula.
Port Lincoln Football League football operations manager Quinn Dutschke said Mallee Park players who wanted to keep competing would be absorbed into the other five clubs, particularly those seeking numbers.
Mallee Park says juniors will participate with other clubs, emphasising “the importance of keeping our young ones active and positively involved within our community”.
The arrangements for juniors and other players are expected to be decided this week with the League.
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“We respect and understand their decision. These decisions aren’t taken lightly. Obviously we look forward to seeing them back in 2021,” Mr Dutschke said.
Federal Health Department advice says “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people living in remote communities are at greater risk from COVID-19”.
The advice says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at greater risk if they are aged 50 years or over with chronic medical conditions, have a weakened immune system or are aged 70 years or over.
According to the 2016 census, Port Lincoln has 724 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, or 5.1 per cent of the city’s population of 14,064 – a higher proportion than South Australia’s two per cent.