Essendon 2022: Nova Peris says she quit Michael Long’s foundation because of Bombers CEO Xavier Campbell
As a putrid Essendon wallows in the doldrums, Olympic gold medallist and ex-federal Senator Nova Peris has poured even more scorn on the underperforming club and its CEO Xavier Campbell.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Essendon boss Xavier Campbell has been blamed for the sudden resignation of Olympic gold medallist and ex-federal Senator Nova Peris from The Long Walk Foundation’s board.
A leaked email shows Campbell has been accused of treating Peris — the first Aboriginal to win Olympic gold and first Indigenous woman elected to federal parliament — with “utter disrespect” over plans for the Bombers to house the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Hall of Fame at the club’s Tullamarine headquarters.
“My decision is due to the Essendon Football Club CEO Xavier (Campbell) and the disrespectful treatment I have endured by him,” Peris wrote in her resignation email on Sunday.
Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
“The utter disrespect I have been shown with this project is nothing short of disgraceful and I find Xavier’s leadership extremely poor which is a sad reflection on the Essendon Football Club as an organisation which is why I have had to remove myself from the board due to the association with EFC.
“No wonder our Aboriginal kids continually struggle, when people like myself get so disrespected and used up by the systems.
“It is my hope that in time, the AISHoF (Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame) will have a new home somewhere independent of the EFC because they are acting like they own our history and they most certainly do not.”
Peris, 51, said she had lobbied to secure millions of dollars in funding for the project since 2018.
But she felt she had been benched by Campbell and the Bombers, despite professor Colin Tatz – who gave birth to the project – putting Peris in charge when he died in 2019.
The move by an underperforming Essendon to quietly re-sign Campbell as CEO last month for a further two years has angered sections of the Bombers fan base because of the club’s dismal on field performances this year.
The bitter fallout with one of Australia’s most respected indigenous icons is an embarrassing blemish on the eve of Essendon’s Dreamtime blockbuster celebrating Indigenous culture.
It’s understood a dispute over who would pay for a bronze statue of Peris to be transported from Federation Square to Tullamarine to promote the Indigenous Hall of Fame was one example of Peris feeling disrespected by Campbell.
The $250,000 statue, on display at Federation Square, is now likely to be moved to the bridge connecting the city with the MCG after the Bombers refused to pay around $2000 for it to be moved to Tullamarine, where it would have promoted the Hall of Fame.
The statue was funded by private sponsors connected to artists Gillie and Marc, as well as $30,000 from a GoFundMe page.
Sources close to the saga said Daniel Andrews’ government was willing to split the bill with Essendon to facilitate the move to Tullamarine, but the club declined.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett phoned Campbell offering to help when he learned of the drama, which led to Campbell calling Peris to ask why Kennett was interfering.
Northern Territory politician Luke Gosling also called asking the Peris camp to help source memorabilia for the Hall of Fame — surprisingly, Essendon had not told him that Peris was already heavily involved in the project.
According to sources, the Bombers acted like housing the Hall of Fame was a burden rather than a privilege and tagged it on the back of their own club museum.
It’s understood former Bombers chief commercial and customer officer Justin Rodski was passionate about promoting The Long Walk and indigenous projects.
But Essendon’s relationship with the Peris camp broke down when Rodski joined Melbourne Storm as chief executive and Campbell took control of such initiatives.
Peris, whose son Jack was drafted by St Kilda last year, and Essendon legend Michael Long are lifelong friends.
Nova’s mum and Long’s parents were members of the stolen generation and taken to the Tiwi Islands mission.
A heartbroken Peris made it clear in her email that she was only leaving The Long Walk Foundation because of Campbell.
“You would all know how much I have loved being a part of the journey, the importance of shaping the future of this country coupled with the fact that I love my brother Michael and sister Leslie,” she wrote in her email to fellow Long Walk board members.
“This decision has not come lightly because I know how much I was valued by you all and in the absence of Michael, I have always stepped-up and represented his journey, as his story is also my own.
“My decision has nothing to do with any of you or The Long Walk Foundation itself. My decision is due to (Campbell).”
Campbell was contacted for comment.
Long said the foundation would fight to keep Peris on the board.
“We don’t want her to go,” Long told the Herald Sun on Wednesday night.
“Nova’s like a sister to me and I love her. She’s self-made and a very proud Aboriginal woman.”
Long hadn’t read Peris’s email in full, but said the Long Walk Foundation had always “had the great support of Xavier Campbell”.
He said the indigenous Hall of Fame received its “best outcome” by landing at The Hangar.
Ablett family reveal details of son’s condition
Jordan and Gary Ablett had been reluctant to discuss many details about their little boy’s heartbreaking condition until now.
Four Cats sign on as flag trio remain without deals
Four Cats have signed short-term contracts with the club, including a free agent. It means three ageing stars are the only uncontracted Geelong players at the club.