AFL grows more confident in rejecting the racists

The AFL’s most senior indigenous executive has praised Sam Docherty for his response to the racist abuse directed towards Eddie Betts.

Players from Richmond and Hawthorn and umpires take a knee in a show of support for indigenous people facing racism in the AFL and broader community. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL’s most senior indigenous executive has praised the response of Carlton co-captain Sam Docherty to the racist abuse directed towards Eddie Betts.

Tanya Hosch, the AFL’s general manager of inclusion and social policy, said it was indicative of the steps taken across the league in recent years to tackle racism from any forum.

After players across the country presented unified support for the Black Lives Matter movement last weekend, the Carlton champion was again vilified online.

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Docherty was swift to express the disgust of every Blues player while stressing it was vital to listen and learn from Betts, who has been targeted several times during a decorated career with Carlton and Adelaide.

“I think Sam Docherty’s comments were just outstanding,” Hosch told The Weekend Australian.

“He was so clear in the way he reflected on his own understanding, of his lack of personal understanding (about the pain felt by Betts) but also so very supportive of Eddie.”

The response to the Betts abuse was rapid. Essendon said it would strip the fan of a club membership if they held one and ban them from games.

Elsewhere, Fremantle moved swiftly to accept a fan’s request for a membership refund as a result of the club’s participation in ‘taking a knee’ last weekend. The interaction was respectful but Fremantle’s point was clear.

Like every club during the COVID-19 crisis, the Dockers are facing financial challenges, but Fremantle stressed they would always defend the views and values of their own club and players.

It prompted other fans to promise to compensate the loss, with an Essendon member buying two Fremantle memberships in response.

The response of the entire playing group last weekend was profound, Hosch said. Richmond and Hawthorn footballers knelt before their clash at the MCG on Thursday night, with the gesture organised between the players without knowledge of their clubs.

“That it all just happened so organically is another positive sign of the understanding and the reflection that is happening across the country,” she said.

At a camp of indigenous footballers last February in Adelaide, the group watched the Adam Goodes documentary The Final Quarter and were aghast they had not provided enough support for the Swans champion.

They vowed to challenge and call out abuse whenever and however it occurred and have been supported by teammates across the competition, with stars using their profile to raise awareness.

Hosch, who spoke to Betts during the week, said the immediacy and strength of Docherty’s response was proof.

“I am not sure that the incidents (of abuse) have dropped but we are seeing a much more rapid, confident response initiated right across the board. We are seeing people feeling more comfortable rejecting those racist ideals,” she said.

Some challenges remain.

The AFL said this week it was assessing the impact of COVID-19 on an updated Reconciliation Action Plan.

Former Collingwood and Melbourne football Heritier Lumumba has been critical of the league and the Magpies for their handling of his complaints about mistreatment.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley reiterated this week he would like to discuss the issue with his former teammate.

Hosch believes the AFL has taken significant steps since the abuse which hounded Goodes, a dual-Brownlow medallist and premiership star.