Former Magpie Shae McNamara calls out players, staff over Heritier Lumumba ‘silence’

An ex-Collingwood player has singled out former teammates for their alleged silence about racist treatment of Heritier Lumumba.

A former Collingwood player has singled out key Magpie figures and accused them of remaining silent on 2010 premiership player Heritier Lumumba’s experience with racism.

American Shae McNamara — who spent three years on the Magpies’ rookie list from 2010 until 2013 — said he could “no longer stay silent” on the issue.

In a social media post, McNamara singled out Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and former president Eddie McGuire, as well as former premiership skipper Nick Maxwell and premiership player Luke Ball.

He said he wanted all of them to validate Lumumba’s experience.

He also called on captain Scott Pendlebury to reset the club culture.

“I have bitten my tongue for far too long and I can no longer stay silent in what has really bothered me,” McNamara tweeted.

“The interpersonal racism happened (i.e. racist jokes, nicknames, stereotypes etc.

“(Lumumba’s) not bitter because he was traded — he was traded because he wouldn’t stop addressing the toxicity in the club.

“You need to honour the effects of trauma — he felt racism his entire life, in the club, against opponents and through media/social media — everyone has their breaking points.

“This isn’t about destroying the club — this is about making sure this is the last time anyone at CFC experiences what he did.”

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Heritier Lumumba with Luke Ball at a Collingwood training session.

McNamara claimed McGuire accused of him of a lack of loyalty following the Adam Goodes saga in 2013, in which the ex-president made an on-air reference to the Sydney Swans great and the King Kong musical. 

“In ’13, I made a social media statement on Ed’s comments about Adam Goodes.

“I then got a text from Ed saying ‘Side by Side?’ and asking me to take it down,” he tweeted.

“I told him that I’d take it down — choosing to support him cuz we all make mistakes, but he knew I was disappointed.

“Truly standing ‘Side by Side’ with someone, is acknowledging and holding one accountable to BE better. I’ve never outed anyone and always chose to have the focus be on the bigger picture.”

McNamara also took aim at Buckley for “hiding”.

“You tried to publicly deny this for several years ... Why are you hiding now? Are you still being all that you can be?,” he tweeted.

Shae McNamara (right) in action for the Magpies.

He said he was also let down by Ball, who is a former AFLPA president and a premiership Magpie after joining the club from St Kilda.

“I know you (Ball) were very close with Heritier in and outside of the club,” he tweeted.

“You knew what he went through.”

He also called on Pendlebury to reset the culture at Collingwood going forward.

“Scott Pendlebury, this is your moment to lead, brother,” McNamara tweeted.

“The last time I saw you, I gave you two leadership books.

“After your 400+ games, you will be the next CFC coach. In my eyes, your culture starts now — let’s go!”

The entire Collingwood playing group — 150 female and male athletes — released a statement earlier this month to apologise to anyone who had been “hurt or discriminated against due to their race” through their association with the club.

The leaked release of the Do Better report, which detailed a culture of systemic racism at the club, led to McGuire eventually stepping down from the Collingwood presidency after 22 years.

McNamara said the Magpies had two options ahead of them.

“1. Continue to metaphorically put yourself into the jail cell those bars represent,” he tweeted.” “OR 2. Be the trailblazers for all of Aussie culture to take your lead by witnessing your ownership of the wrong and doing the right thing poetically, Side by Side!”

Originally published as Former Magpie Shae McNamara calls out players, staff over Heritier Lumumba ‘silence’