NFL 2021: Racial vilification claim rocks Northern league

A Northern footy league senior player has expressed his hurt, anger and frustration after he says he was racially vilified during a match.

NFL Football: Kain Proctor (middle) in action. Picture: Steve Tanner

A leading Northern Football Netball League senior player has expressed his hurt, anger and frustration after he says he was racially vilified on the eve of NAIDOC Week.

Bundoora’s Kain Proctor, the son of former Richmond player Lionel Proctor, spoke out after an opponent from Heidelberg was found not guilty at the tribunal last week.

Proctor took to social media about the case, saying it was an important issue that needed to be addressed.

“This whole situation deeply frustrates and saddens me that this is still happening in not only our local leagues but society and should be dealt with very seriously,’’ Proctor, who captained the Fitzroy Stars in 2019, said in a Facebook post on July 15.

“There has been no support or anything from the league and I feel this major issue isn’t taken serious enough and someone needs to take a stand on it.

“So my point of this is to take a stand against racism and make sure the next person doesn’t have to deal with the weight of these types of issues, and the right people are held accountable. This has been a difficult thing to deal with and carry through what was supposed to be a celebration of NAIDOC Week.’’

Media personality Shelley Ware has spoken out in support of Proctor, who held an interview with the community organisation Dardi Munwurro after the tribunal hearing.

(L-R) Kain Proctor, Kain’s father Lionel Proctor and Jai Burns (nephew of Lionel), pictured in 2013 for the Fitzroy Stars.

Proctor said he made contact with another player and he was then racially abused in the July 3 game.

He said he was “more surprised than anything’’.

“It’s a bit confronting when it happens to your face like that, especially doing something you love. Then an overwhelming feeling of anger, yeah, deeply hurt,’’ he said.

Proctor said his opponent denied racially vilifying him.

“But I heard what I heard and I carried on with it a little bit,’’ he said. “That’s understanding, I guess.’’

Proctor said he reported the incident to the umpire soon after and then to the league after the match.

He said the umpire didn’t hear what was said but told him he needed to make a report after the game.

Proctor said teammate Bailey Thompson did hear the comment.

“He probably reacted a bit quicker than me actually … it made me sure what I heard.’’

Proctor said his team supported him after the Round 12 clash. He was named best-afield in a 44-point victory.

“The leadership group and the coaches decided we weren’t going to go in and spend our money at the club, and take a stand on it as a club. We went somewhere else afterwards,’’ he said.

I know of 3 racial vilification incidents in 3 weeks from the @northernfnl. 2 went to mediation and tribunal - no resolve for the victims. 1 didn’t even bother. The @AFL need to get the review to second tier and community football systems happening NOW! https://t.co/YsfpCqybqI

— Shelley Ware (@ShelleyWare) July 18, 2021

“The footy club and the boys have been huge….that’s what pretty much backed me in to go on with it the way I did. The amount of support that you see from the boys is unreal. It puts an extra leg next to you and makes you walk a bit taller.’’

Proctor said there was mediation with the Heidelberg player nine days after he made the complaint and “I had to carry through NAIDOC Week with the burden on top of my head’’.

He said the mediation process “seemed like I was just going in circles’’.

“He denied that he said it, and I heard what I heard … they wanted it dealt with then and there and shake hands and come to an agreement.

“I wasn’t happy with that.

“My thing was an education thing and something needed to be made clear of it … it ended up going down the road of tribunal anyway.’’

Proctor said he and his witness gave evidence at the tribunal hearing, left the room and were told to go home.

He received a text message after the case that the player had been found not guilty.

“I was kind of in shock, just majorly disappointed…I felt I’ve had no support from the league, like the issue hasn’t been dealt with, like it’s kind of, ‘Let’s put it to the side and move on’.

“Very frustrating… I’m made out to feel like I was the issue and now I’m made out to be a liar and I’ve got to go about my business with no justice to it.’’

Under the Northern league’s vilification and discrimination policy, an inter-club complaint must be made by an umpire, spectator or participant of a club, and must be lodged by 5pm the next working day.

The matter is then referred to the league complaints officer, who “may allow the matter to be resolved informally by both clubs, initiate conciliation, or refer to the league investigation officer to clarify facts”.

If an informal resolution cannot be reached, the policy states the matter may be referred directly to the tribunal, “where the complaint is deemed as lacking in substance”.

The matter may also be referred to conciliation if an informal resolution cannot be met. Conciliation is conducted by an independent conciliator, and the complaint is heard in confidence. If conciliation fails, the matter may progress to an investigation, which may be referred to the tribunal.

The Northern Football Netball League declined to comment on the matter. The policy states that all parties to a complaint “must all agree to the maintenance of confidentiality”.

Ware backed Proctor on social media on Sunday night and slammed the existing policies in place.

Ware, a Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman, called for an urgent AFL review of the community football systems for dealing with racial vilification.

The former Marngrook Footy Show member alleged a series of incidents had taken place at community level recently but weren’t “being taken seriously”.

“I know of 3 racial vilification incidents in 3 weeks from the @northernfnl. 2 went to mediation and tribunal - no resolve for the victims. 1 didn’t even bother.”, Ware wrote on Twitter.

“The Racial Vilification Rule 35 is not being followed or embraced in the second tier or community leagues.

“I’ve looked at the 5 on field racism cases I know of in 3 different leagues in 3 weeks and their bylaws are unsupportive. Racism isn’t being taken seriously.”

Ware said it was time those at community level had their voices heard.

“Full respect for the @AFL supporting and looking out for AFL players who are racially vilified. Now it’s time for the everyday people, especially our children who don’t seem (to) have a voice or a newsworthy one anyway!,” she said.

“So proud of you Kain Proctor for standing up for yourself and these young kids who need you.”