Two decades on after Michael Long speaks out against racism

TWENTY years after his racial clash with Collingwood’s Damian Monkhorst, Michael Long reckons sport around the world is better for it.

Collingwood's Damian Monkhorst & Essendon's Michael Long arrive for AFL press conference on racisim in sport. Sport / Australian Rules / Head / With Others

TWENTY years after his ground breaking racial clash with giant Collingwood ruckman Damian Monkhorst, Michael Long reckons sport around the world is better for it.

Monkhorst was alleged to have called Long a “black bastard” in the 1995 Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon when the Melville islander did not get off him in a one-on-one battle for a loose ball when both players were on the ground.

The ramifications from that incident still echo through the AFL today after racial vilification laws were installed after that one incident.

The NT News broke the story next day when Long went public on the incident, declaring the time had come for players of all races and cultures to be treated with respect.

“What I did back then was not just for indigenous footballers, it was for sportspeople everywhere and that for me is the real positive,’’ he said last night.

“Racial abuse of any kind is not acceptable in society and we’re very fortunate that is now the case in sport everywhere.

“Aussie rules stands alone in that it was the first sport to adopt a racial vilification policy that other codes were quick to follow, it’s something the sport and its administrators can be very proud of I think.

“Yes, there have been cases since but now we have systems and laws in place to be able to deal with them in the form of mediation and a range of penalties aimed at removing from racism from sport altogether and that’s off the field as well.’’

Long has stayed in touch with Monkhorst despite their differences two decades ago.

“I see Damian around town from time to time and we often chat about the way it was, all those years ago at the MCG,’’ he said.

“Damian’s a family man like myself and he’s a great advocate for racial vilification and where the game has moved to today in a positive way.

“I think humanity itself has learnt from the last 20 years, both in the need to respect all people regardless of skin colour and culture and the role every one has in society.’’