Melbourne Storm drops regular Welcome to Country ceremonies before matches
One of Australia’s most respected sporting clubs will no longer hold regular Welcome to Country ceremonies, with the Melbourne Storm ditching the “divisive” tradition.
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One of Australia’s most respected sporting clubs in Melbourne Storm will no longer hold regular Welcome to Country ceremonies.
Melbourne Storm has long held fruitful partnerships with First Nations organisations and is aware the decision has the potential to inflame what has become a sensitive issue since Welcome to Country ceremonies became common place at Australian sporting events.
The club, which was unavailable for comment but privately confirmed its decision, said “we’re really keen to let our actions (rather than words) reflect what we stand for as a club in the community”.
The club will continue with Welcome to Country for the NRL’s Indigenous round, and highlight a culture that seeks to unite its people in a common goal.
Melbourne Storm actually dropped Welcome to Country late in the 2024 season, a decision that received no fanfare at the time but one that has now become an official club call. Storm typically has boasted a number of Indigenous players, in its history, including Josh Addo-Carr, Greg Inglis, Will Chambers, Peter Robinson, Dane Nielsen and Reimes Smith.
Welcome to Country ceremonies have drawn some negative reactions in recent times, most notably that delivered by Aboriginal elder Uncle Brendan Kerin prior to the GWS v Brisbane semi-final at Olympic Park in Sydney on Saturday September 14.
“A Welcome to Country is not a welcome to Australia (but) a welcome to the lands you’ve gathered on. It is not a ceremony we’ve invented to cater for white people. It’s a ceremony we’ve been doing for 250,000 years – plus BC. And the BC stands for Before Cook,” said Kerin.
Kerin’s words drew varied responses, including this from two-time Geelong premiership player Mathew Stokes: “Welcome to Country should be a beautiful, respectful ceremony that unites us all as we reflect on Australia’s extraordinary history which stretches long before white settlement,” said Stokes.
“Instead, it’s becoming divisive and, to be honest, I can understand why many people are confused by its purpose, as the AFL finals coverage broadcasts the ceremonies to millions of football fans.”
Melbourne Storm recently introduced a new community strategy with First Nations communities as a priority in its planning and programs, alongside the Pasifika and All Abilities communities.
And Storm will host the annual Men’s Gathering this year at AAMI Park, which will host Aboriginal men from across Australia, and also support a full-time resource in its office to deliver the School to Work program, helping First Nations students in their transition from school to work.
In 2008, Welcome to Country was incorporated into the ceremonial opening of the parliament of Australia, which occurs after each Federal election.
Originally published as Melbourne Storm drops regular Welcome to Country ceremonies before matches
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