Mark Robinson: Does the AFL have different rules on racism?

The AFL was happy to backslap about its stance against racist fans, but it has failed previously when it comes to racism from some of its highest office holders, writes Mark Robinson.

Chris Fagan and Alastair Clarkson during their round 5 clash. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The AFL should be applauded for banning fans for life for racially abusing players, but has it set a precedent that could soon apply to Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan?

If – and it’s a major if – they are found guilty of systemic racism when at Hawthorn, which is the core focus in a complex investigation that has dragged on for seven months, the AFL will need to consider what penalty should be applied to the coaching pair.

We repeat if, because Clarkson and Fagan have categorically denied any wrong-doing.

It is hoped mediation between all parties – the coaches, Hawthorn and the Indigenous players and their partners – can find a solution, although hopes of mediation have hit a wall over demands put in place by lawyer Leon Zwier.

Those demands by Zwier, who represents four of the five Indigenous families who have made claims about their treatment at Hawthorn, have to be dropped for mediation talks to at least begin.

Clarkson and Fagan say they are innocent, but what if they are found guilty of racism, or casual racism, or racial insensitivity? What will be the outcome?

The focus will turn to AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.

Alastair Clarkson. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

He’s staying to fix the “Hawthorn thing that was lobbed on us”, to quote commission chairman Richard Goyder.

There’s no doubt McLachlan will be seeking a resolution behind closed doors, much in the same vein as how he helped resolve the Essendon drugs saga that embroiled James Hird and the Melbourne tanking affair which saw Dean Bailey take the rap for the club’s conduct

That’s not to say Clarkson and Fagan are guilty of anything, but Hird and Bailey – amid fierce speculation – thought the same thing. But they were forced to take a punishment.

The AFL was happy to backslap in Saturday’s Herald Sun about its stance against racist fans, but it has failed previously when it comes to racism from some of its highest office holders.

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was not penalised for his King Kong joke about Sydney’s Adam Goodes in 2013. In fact, McGuire in 2015 was appointed chef de mission for the international series, an appointment which stunned some senior Indigenous players at the time.

McGuire is haunted by his lack of judgement, but the fact is the AFL was weak in its handling of the situation.

Eddie McGuire back in 2013 after his racist comment about Adam Goodes. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

It was also lame when, in 2019, former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett suggested “behavioural awareness officers” at Marvel Stadium were not equipped to make a judgement on crowd behaviour because they were “new arrivals to Australia” and hadn’t grown up with the game.

McLachlan chastised Kennett and Kennett apologised for his comments.

He was not punished, though.

In 2021, Adelaide’s former captain Taylor Walker racially abused a player at SANFL level when he was a spectator and received a six-week suspension.

It was hefty, but why are fans banned for life and not players who are guilty of making the same abhorrent racist comments?

Once again, the AFL is holding to account unruly fans more than it does its unruly industry people.

That’s not right.

The AFL stands accused of having rules for some and rules for others.

The league, meanwhile, has another racist storm gathering after the booing of Lance Franklin on Sunday by Collingwood fans.

Lance Franklin was booed by Collingwood fans. Picture: Michael Klein

One of Collingwood’s greatest players, Nathan Buckley, put bigotry on the agenda on SEN on Monday morning. “At best, it was a begrudging acknowledgment of the sustained brilliance Franklin has brought against Collingwood and at worst, it’s ignorance and bigotry,’’ Buckley said.

Collingwood fans will dispute the bigotry narrative, and let’s hope it’s not the start of a Goodes-like situation which saw the Sydney Swans champion booed out of the game.

“If we get another chance, I hope Collingwood fans that aren’t ignorant and aren’t bigots, because there will be some booing, stand up and applaud every time he gets a touch and try and drown that (booing) out,’’ Buckley said.

The problem is mob mentality lacks intelligence and decency and that will have AFL officials on edge.

And for Buckley not to have faith in Collingwood fans, well, why should the rest of us?

If it was at all racist, the Magpies hierarchy would be mortified.

A couple weeks back, Collingwood captain Darcy Moore and president Jeff Browne attended the healing ceremony for Nicky Winmar at Victoria Park, which was an occasion of tremendous significance 30 years after he was abused.

Gilbert McAdam, who also suffered racist taunts from Magpies supporters on that fateful day when Winmar lifted his jumper, was said to be thrilled that Moore and Browne were there.

Their presence emphasised how far Collingwood and the football industry had come in the fight against racism.

But now the AFL has two storms on the horizon and if it is racism in any form, how it handles both of them will be telling.

Originally published as Mark Robinson: Does the AFL have different rules on racism?