Dardi Munwurro severs ties with Collingwood amid Craig Kelly racism allegations
An Indigenous family violence service has severed ties with Collingwood as the club prepares to fight allegations of racism against CEO Craig Kelly.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Collingwood has been dumped – “effective immediately” – as a partner of a leading First Nations support service in the wake of the Craig Kelly racism scandal.
Dardi Munwurro, an Indigenous family violence group, said the scandal engulfing the Pies and their chief executive had “left us no choice but to terminate our partnership with them effective immediately”.
The support group said the pain of the scandal was “simply too great to tolerate” and “causing great emotional and spiritual harm to us and our people”.
In explosive court documents filed in a federal court on Monday, Mr Kelly was accused of calling Aboriginal elder Aunty Carol — the wife of Dardi Munwurro chief executive Alan Thorpe — a “dumb old bitch”.
Dardi Munwurro has had a partnership with Collingwood since 2017.
“Throughout this time we have attempted to be as supportive as possible with the club as they have navigated their way through issues involving racism and their culture that led to the ‘Do Better’ report,” Dardi Munwurro said in a statement.
“However, recent media reports involving Collingwood have left us no choice but to terminate our partnership with them effective immediately.
“We want to make clear that we are not passing judgement on any individual at the club or the club itself, we understand the media reports are based on unproven allegations that relate to an ongoing court case and we respect this process.
“By making this statement we are in no way suggesting that the allegations are true, only that they have been made in documents before the court. However, the media coverage of this case has unfortunately included the naming of Dardi Munwurro and a highly respected Elder in the community.
“The unfortunate public exposure of some of these allegations also calls on us to reiterate that Dardi Munwurro is a family violence service for the First Nations community.
“Furthermore, we are deeply committed to supporting all women to feel safe and respected in the community. We encourage everyone in the community to take this stance. Dardi Munwurro will not be making any further comment about this issue.”
Court documents filed by lawyers for the club’s former head of First Nations strategy, Mark Cleaver, also detail how Mr Kelly is accused of joking about putting a “live f---ing possum” in a special room at the club for Indigenous players.
Mr Cleaver, a Palawa person, also claimed in the documents that Mr Kelly quipped “why do you need Google Maps, I assume your people can navigate with their eyes closed” and joked about sending a photograph of a ‘Free Palestine’ sign to a Jewish colleague to wind her up.
Claims Dardi Munwurro had not been paid $500,000 promised as part of a Collingwood sponsorship were included in the court claims.
However, Mr Thorpe this week said the financial matter had been resolved.
Pies president Jeff Browne on Wednesday refused to explicitly address the racism claims levelled against Mr Kelly, but said he “totally and absolutely” supported the Pies boss.
“We’re backing in Craig Kelly … and we intend to fight these proceedings and see them through to a judgement,” Mr Browne said.
MORE TO COME
Ladder predictor: Hawks’ fast start, Crows ease pressure on Nicks
The AFL went all in on Hokball with its prime time fixturing in 2025, and it appears to start the season they are going to be rewarded. Simeon Thomas-Wilson predicts who starts hot in 2025.
Predictions, best 23: How Saints can fill huge Battle void
St Kilda has the salary cap room to continue its search for a big fish in 2025. But, can the Saints deliver the on-field results to make them an attractive destination? SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON examines their prospects.