AFL inclusion chief Tanya Hosch calls out lack of indigenous commentators

The AFL’s Tanya Hosch says the lack of indigenous Australians commentating on Australian rules football in the mainstream media is “alarming”.

A mural of Adam Goodes in inner city Sydney. Goodes has been a rare Aboriginal voice heard in the AFL environment. Picture: AFP

The AFL’s Tanya Hosch says the lack of indigenous Australians commentating on Australian rules football in the mainstream media is “alarming”.

There is not a single full-time commentator with an indigenous background commentating or hosting Australian rules football on commercial TV.

“We are working together to make changes and there is a definite acceptance that this needs to be addressed,” Hosch said.

Hosch, the first indigenous woman on the AFL executive, said having more First Nations people talking footy on our screens would be another step to combat racism.

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“When you think about the large number of indigenous players who played the game, obviously there is not a job for every past player, but certainly (the) lack of representation of blackfellas in the broadcast of the game is alarming,” Hosch said.

“I think when you look at the films The Final Quarter and The Australian Dream, I think that just put everyone on notice about that period of time, while Adam ­Goodes was enduring all of that awful, hateful behaviour. Where were the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices other than Goodesy’s?

“There were football shows discussing what was going on, discussing Goodes’ war cry, discussing a whole range of these things without interviewing a single Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander player or past player. Why weren’t they being sought out for their lived experience and point of view? It was startling.

“What is really clear is if we are going to progress as a code then all of the different perspectives need to start being represented. The indigenous voice is really important to that, given the excellence they bring to the game. Yet, we rarely hear from them.”

Tanya Hosch, the AFL’s general manager inclusion and social policy. Picture: Getty Images

While there is the footy show Yokayi on NITV hosted by Bianca Hunt and Tony Armstrong, Hosch is pushing for a larger indigenous presence on all screens.

The AFL has been troubled by some shockingly racist incidents in the past and recently, from Goodes being racially booed out of the game, Heritier Lumumba revealing he was called “Chimp” during his time at Collingwood and Carlton star Eddie Betts speaking up about being constantly racially vilified on social media.

Last month Nine’s Sunday Footy Show had the return and then sudden departure of controversial star Sam Newman, who years ago unapologetically painted his face black to impersonate Nicky Winmar.

Former St Kilda player Nicky Winmar attends a mediation session in Melbourne on Friday. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Hosch, who is four years into her job as the AFL’s chief of inclusion and social policy, said Nine’s approval of Newman’s brief to return to the Sunday Footy Show was personally upsetting.

“I was gutted really,” Hosch said.

“I have never met Sam Newman, but his history of commentary and behaviour is obviously deeply concerning when it comes to issues of gender and race, LGBTQI issues as well. I hope there is not space for those sorts of representations connected in presenting our game. I was not surprised by how many other people also shared that view and took action and encouraged his quick removal from that role.

“He will always have a platform because of his history and profile. It’s obviously continued with the podcast. He is not without a voice. He has that privilege of having a voice.

“Obviously he is entitled to use it how he likes, but there are also laws in this country about what is acceptable and what is not. I think Sam gives people permission to behave similarly …”

This week Newman was again at the centre of controversy when a podcast hosted by himself, Mike Sheahan and Don Scott questioned whether Winmar was taking a stand against racism at Victoria Park in 1993 when he lifted his guernsey and pointed at his skin.

Photographer Wayne Ludbey and Winmar have launched legal action over the attempt to rewrite history. Angry, hurt phone calls from Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin convinced Sheahan to apologise and he has quit the podcast.

That “hurtful” incident again played into the need for more diverse voices in and around the AFL, said Hosch.

Before COVID-19 hit, Hosch hosted a roundtable with high-ranking media executives and addressed the issue of the lack of diversity when it came to the media covering AFL. The conversation has since brought about one significant change with indigenous former Swan Tony Armstrong since joining the ABC.

Former St Kilda player and TV host Gilbert McAdam. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

While Gilbert McAdam’s regular appearance on Channel 7 last year was well-received, Hosch said there was more to be done.

“Certainly, I feel like broadcasters are reaching out a lot more in dealing with these issues,” Hosch said. “I feel like we are on the right track, including increasing the fluency of non-indigenous broadcast presenters in improving the knowledge of these issues as well, it’s just as important.”

In recent weeks on the back of Black Lives Matter protests here and in the US, Hosch has been leading meetings with the AFL’s indigenous players as well as the AFL and AFLW captains.

Hosch said the overwhelming sentiment from non-indigenous players was “what we can do to make a practical difference”.

Hosch said the players had discussed taking action “beyond symbolism” of social media posts and taking the knee.

“Symbolism is important but it is not enough on its own,” she said.

“There’s a great desire amongst all the playing group to use their platform, regardless if they are indigenous or not, which is what is really exciting beyond this moment.

“They want to do it in the right way, partnering with the indigenous leaders and groups, and that is respectful. You have indigenous advocates that have been doing work in this space for decades, but sometimes an elite athlete can just bring so much life and attention to an issue very quickly.

“Them being aware they can bring greater awareness to important actions in helping the conversation along when it comes to racism and its impacts and is what may remedy some of the terrible statistics that we see.”

Among Hosch’s achievements since taking on the job — aside from orchestrating the apology from the AFL and all 18 clubs to Goodes — has been increasing the number of indigenous people on AFL boards. That number has risen from one to five. She has also suggested more inclusion at the AFL tribunal. This saw AFL football manager Steve Hocking and the general counsel Andrew Dillon appoint Peter Matera to the AFL tribunal.

“That was really significant moment; the fact you get an Aboriginal past player, who was one of the best players, highly credentialled, to have a voice in that tribunal context,” she said.

Another great achievement was the commissioning of the Nicky Winmar statue showcasing his Victoria Park stand against racism, which was unveiled in July last year. It was the first statue of an indigenous AFL footballer in action.

“There’s not many monuments in the country recognising or celebrating indigenous ... people, full stop, ” Hosch said.

“The fact that this has now been immortalised, countless people will walk past and ask: ‘what was that about?’ The significance of what it stands for is sadly as relevant now as it was back then.”