‘It’s our last shot’: One opportunity to get the Voice vote right say AFL greats

Next week’s referendum is considered a do-or-die moment for Australia according to three AFL greats, who are supporting a Yes outcome.

Unlike the AFL Grand Final — there will be only one opportunity to win and get the Voice vote right, says AFL legend and Brownlow medallist Gavin Wanganeen.

“This is an opportunity that will probably never come around again in your lifetime,” he said.

Wanganeen was joined by two other AFL greats, Michael Long and Andrew McLeod, at the Woodville West Torrens Football Club on Saturday, encouraging undecided voters to make an informed decision.

“To the people who are undecided, I think it’s important that they find out as much as they can about what this Voice is all about and what it actually means,” he said.

“So let‘s support First Nations people and help them have a Voice.”

Dale Agius, Gavin Wanganeen, Michael Long, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, Dean Parkin, Andrew McLeod and Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler at a doorstep in support of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament at Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville/ Kaurna Yarta on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

Off the bat, in the case of a successful Yes vote on October 14, Wanganeen listed a few areas the Voice should focus on immediately.

“The first things that come to mind, obviously, education, health, employment, economic empowerment, they‘re the things that are gonna help break the cycle,” he said.

Also joining the AFL greats was lead Yes23 campaigner Dean Parkin who seconded Wanaganeen’s comments but went a step further.

Mr Parkin referred to his beloved Brisbane Lions who lost to Collingwood at the MCG at last weekend’s AFL Grand Final.

He said his team could try again next year but that there was only one chance to vote right on the Voice.

“We’re not going to get another go at this. There’s not going to be another season for us to come back and vote next year, or in four years or five years time,” Mr Parkin said.

“Next week is the only time that this generation and potentially the generations to come will get to answer this question.

AFL Legends Michael Long, Gavin Wanganeen and Andrew McLeod at a doorstep in support of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament at Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville/ Kaurna Yarta on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

“It‘s our last shot at achieving that real recognition and that real change for our communities real Voice, so I’d ask people to take this opportunity very seriously.”

Michael Long, who played 190 games with Essendon for more than a decade, said the referendum was too important to get the vote wrong because the Voice was about “human rights”.

Long called on all Australian rules football supporters to join team Australia.

“We‘re calling on all Australians, we’re calling on all football supporters, no matter what club you come from, we’re all on one team, and that’s the Australian team,” he said.

“This is about human rights, this is about closing the gap – this gives us that Voice and opportunity to have a vote on issues affecting us.

“We come into this world, we need to leave it in a better place for our children.”

With just seven days to go until Australians head to the polls to vote at the Voice referendum, pre-polling across the country is showing support for the Voice is slipping.

Long said football had for many years been a vehicle for change for Indigenous rights and hoped his, McLeod’s and Wanganeen’s Yes vote would inspire those who were still undecided to join them.