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AFL clubs have made bold statements declaring Australia Day is not a day to celebrate

AFL clubs have made bold statements declaring Australia Day is not a day to celebrate for everyone.

 
2 min read
January 26, 2022 - 2:06PM
NCA NewsWire
Sydney Stack of the Tigers leads a war dance before the Dreeamtime at the MCG game in 2019. (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
Sydney Stack of the Tigers leads a war dance before the Dreeamtime at the MCG game in 2019. (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)

AFL clubs have made their thoughts on January 26 celebrations clear through social media posts which don’t mention the phrase Australia Day and instead call for inclusion, education and support for all peoples.

Clubs including powerhouses Essendon and Richmond posted messages preaching equity for all and acknowledging January 26 is a day “of pain and sadness for many”.

The bold messaging references the multitude of past and present First Nations peoples and the contribution they have made to the competition.

Brisbane Lions Indigenous star Nakia Cockatoo said it was important for people to “recognise what happened on January 26 is a very big part of our culture.”

Teammate Callum Ah Chee said all Indigenous people “want to celebrate this great country” but added his voice to the campaign to change the date of any national celebrations.

Port Adelaide;s Indigenous midfielder Karl Amon addressed his teammate son Tuesday describing why the the push to change the date of Australia Day was so important.

“We want to have a strong stance because what we do off the field with our programs and our past with Indigenous players – it’s such a strong history – and this is a movement we as a club want to (be part of),” Amon explained to his teammates and coaches.

“Australia Day is something that our people mark as a genocide day. It’s the day the British came into Sydney and raised their flag for the first time.

“It is a sad day in our history and it’s something we want to change.”

“What we want Australia Day to be is a celebration of the world’s longest living culture and what Australia has become today. It’s such a diverse country that is inclusive of everyone, wherever you come from, whether you were born here or in a different country.

“That’s what we want Australia Day to be known as in the future. The fact we’re having this conversation today is a start in the right direction.”

The messaging comes a day after AFL clubs celebrated the an agreement transferring copyright for the Aboriginal flag to the Commonwealth, making it free to use for all, having backed the free the flag campaign. .

Collingwood, which was forced to confront historical issues of racism when the “Do Better” report was released last year, gather players and staff to pose with the Aboriginal flag after a training session on Tuesday as the club voiced it’s support for a country which is “inclusive of all”.

Originally published as AFL clubs have made bold statements declaring Australia Day is not a day to celebrate

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/afl/afl-clubs-have-made-bold-statements-declaring-australia-day-is-not-a-day-to-celebrate/news-story/22b163a00f9023191c4b49fba72c9fde