AFL 2024: Collingwood president Jeff Browne defends Craig Kelly

Collingwood president Jeff Browne has strongly defended the club’s embattled chief executive from serious allegations of racism.

Collingwood president Jeff Browne has fiercely denied that the Magpies are a racist club and says “we’re backing Craig Kelly in” following serious allegations levelled at the chief executive.

Following crisis talks with Collingwood board members including vice-president Jodie Sizer on Wednesday, Browne told reporters the club would stand by Kelly.

It follows a Herald Sun report detailing allegations of highly offensive racial slurs towards Indigenous players and staff along with a Jewish colleague.

Browne urged people to wait for court proceedings to unfold before making a judgment on Kelly’s character.

Former Collingwood head of First Nations strategy Mark Cleaver outlined the claims against Kelly in documents filed to the Federal Court.

“I’d ask you to just wait to see the outcome of the proceedings before you finally make a judgment on that,” Browne said.

“We’re backing Craig Kelly in on this, and we intend to fight these proceedings and see them through to a judgment.

“I’m not prepared to compromise the proceedings by paying any amount of money to make it go away.”

Collingwood president Jeff Browne (right) has launched a strong defence of chief executive Craig Kelly (left) against serious allegations of racism. Picture: Michael Klein

Browne said Collingwood had improved on racial issues and denied the club was culturally unsafe in the wake of implementations from the 2021 Do Better report.

“Now, racism and discrimination is a fight that goes on day by day, it never ends, it’s something we’re very conscious of here,” he said.

“But the culture in this place as a result of adopting the recommendations of the Do Better report is vastly improved.

“It’s a culture where people feel safe, people of diverse backgrounds feel safe, and they feel safe to make complaints if they choose, and they will be dealt with according to the whistleblower policy.”

The Magpies president again said Mr Cleaver’s termination had been due to incidents unrelated to his allegations.

He refused to say whether Kelly had made the comments alleged by Mr Cleaver in the court documents but was adamant the chief executive had not breached any laws.

“You’ll have to ask him (what he said) … from my experience, he’s doing an outstanding job as the CEO of this football club – he has the full support of the board and my full support,” Browne said.

“I don’t think he’s the sort of person that would disrespect any other person. He’s an excellent leader, he loves his staff, he loves his football club, and this football club has taken huge strides since he’s been in the role of CEO.

“Whatever conversations I’ve had with him will remain between him and I. You will see our response to the allegations when we file our defence in the proceedings and as those proceedings unfold.”