Geelong backed to choose as fans hit back about being the only club to no address January 26

Some Geelong fans have been left “disappointed” after the Cats were the only AFL club that did not acknowledge the pain January 26 causes for many First Nations people. TAKE OUR POLL

Geelong has come under fire for being the sole AFL club not to address Australia Day but the Cats have been backed to choose whether to join the conversation by the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.

Geelong was the only one of 18 clubs in the league to not to release a statement or acknowledge the day on social media on Wednesday, as the rest of the league addressed the pain January 26 can cause Indigenous people.

Geelong Indigenous players Quinton Narkle, Steph Williams (AFLW), Nathan Kreuger and Brandan Parfitt wearing the Cats indigenous jumper last year. Picture: Alan Barber

Collingwood was praised for bringing its playing group together for a photo under the Aboriginal flag a year after the club’s scathing Do Better report highlighted historical problems with racism.

Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation represents traditional owners in the Geelong region and chief executive Paul Davis said while statements from leading organisations about January 26 can help start a conversation, there is no pressure on clubs or businesses to act.

“We certainly weren’t expecting them to make any statement,” he said.

“The corporation has a good relationship with the club and they have been making good strides forward over a number of years now.

“I think (posts from AFL clubs) contributes to the conversation people are having at the moment which is overall constructive and positive. I don’t think there is any obligation for people to react in a certain way at the moment.”

Collingwood players pose with the Indigenous flag on Australia Day. Source: Twitter/Collingwood FC

The Cats declined to answer questions on Thursday about their lack of acknowledgment of Australia Day, including whether it was an oversight or a deliberate decision.

The club only responded with a statement stating its “strong commitment to Inclusion and Diversity, and to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

“This commitment towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is covered comprehensively in the club’s reconciliation action plan (RAP),” the statement read.

A social media post released at 5pm on Wednesday pointing fans to buy the club’s new training guernsey was met with scorn from some, with Geelong fan @pappy90 replying on Twitter that he “would like to understand why we haven’t made a statement regarding (Australia) day … I’m a bit disappointed as a fan”.

Twitter user @chryssieswarbs responded by writing “pretty sure there’s a pretty big sentiment you should be tweeting today and this ain’t it”.

But @a77arati voiced the other side of the debate, tweeting he was glad Geelong was “doing the right thing and staying out of politics”.

Freed the flag 🖤💛❤️@clothingthegaps | #GeelongStrongpic.twitter.com/xJQqtgME3U

— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) January 25, 2022

Indigenous Geelong players Tyson Stengle and Quinton Narkle both posted Instagram stories on Wednesday raising awareness of their feelings about the day, while Stephanie Williams spent the afternoon at Still Here, Now a local exhibition of art from First Nations artists.

Geelong did not post on social media about the impacts of Australia Day on January 26 last year either.

The club did however join others across the AFL in positing about the Free the Flag movement on Tuesday.

The Cats were on the front foot as far back as 2014 in promoting marriage equality.

Originally published as Geelong backed to choose as fans hit back about being the only club to no address January 26