Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy lashes AFL chiefs

Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy lashed out at the AFL during a pre-match function on Saturday night, saying she felt disrespected.

Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin of the Kulin Nation delivers a Welcome to Country. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy has lashed the AFL and chief executive Gillon McLachlan for a perceived lack of presence at Saturday night’s Dreamtime celebration at the MCG.

Attendees at the pre-match president’s function were stunned when Aunty Joy became highly emotional and said she felt disrespected because she believed no AFL Commissioners or McLachlan had showed up to the footy’s annual celebration of Indigenous culture.

Aunty Joy was on stage delivering the Welcome to Country when she noticed the front table was empty and believed the game’s top brass had snubbed the event.

She became highly emotional and accused the AFL of disrespecting her.

However it’s understood there were in fact three AFL Commissioners in the room as well as four members of the league’s executives.

Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin performs Welcome to Country at the Dreamtime celebration. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Swans players line up for the Welcome to Country by Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

The table was empty because the likes of Bombers president David Barham, chief executive Craig Vozzo and other senior figures did not want to take their seat during the Welcome to Country and were observing from the back of the room.

The Commissioners present were Paul Bassat, Helen Milroy and Robin Bishop while the executive attendees at the MCG were Sarah Fair, Tanya Hosch Brian Walsh and chief executive-elect Andrew Dillon.

It’s understood a timing issue forced Dillon to miss the pre-match function because he was completing the Michael Long Walk along with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Premier Daniel Andrews.

Dillon was seeing Marles off outside the ground when the function was on because the politician couldn’t stay for the match.

McLachlan was absent from the event for what was understood to be an important social event.

However with Dillon at the ground and multiple members of the AFL’s leadership present it’s understood the league was comfortable with its representation.

Commissioners spoke to Aunty Joy during the function as she calmed down from her earlier outburst.

Milroy and Essendon director Dean Rioli went on stage to console Aunty Joy as she broke down.

It’s not the first time Aunty Joy Murphy has taken aim at the league. Picture: Steve Tanner

It was not the first time Aunty Joy has taken aim at the AFL.

In 2014 she unloaded on McLachlan and then-chairman Mike Fitzpatrick at the MCG for the AFL’s inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan because they had not acknowledged the traditional owners or elders.

“There is one thing that is remiss, not acknowledging traditional owners or elders or community,” Aunty Joy said.

“For me on National Sorry Day it kind of hit me very hard ... I just wanted to apologise if I may on behalf of the Wurundjeri people to say that I’m sure this was an oversight, not meant to be, not intention.

“But when you do read the launch (document) could you please bear that in mind especially to those of your family that have gone before us.”

Ahead of the Saturday night blockbuster, Aunty Joy performed the Welcome to Country in the middle of the MCG.

“You are most welcome to the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people,” she said.

Aunty Joy made headlines in March after she was controversially dumped from performing a Welcome to Country during Barack Obama’s speaking tour in Melbourne.

At the time, Aunty Joy said she was removed from the proceedings for being “too difficult” after she asked for a support person and wanted to give Mr Obama a gift.

“I have been shocked and distressed by the way I have been treated by event organisers. I am 78 years of age. I have never been treated or spoken to in this way in the past,” she said.

Event organisers later issued an apology.