Buddy condemns racist attack

Lance Franklin has made a rare public statement to condemn the shattering racial attack on Elijah Taylor.

Lance Franklin has labelled racist comments directed at Elijah Taylor as unacceptable Picture: Getty Images

Lance Franklin has made a rare public statement to condemn the shattering racial attack on Elijah Taylor and call on the copyright holding the Aboriginal flag hostage to be abolished.

The Swans great said he would not be silent on racism and is dismayed the AFL is dealing with yet another case of vile abuse – as well as the inexplicable commercial suffocating of the flag – in the week the code is trying to celebrate Indigenous Round.

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Taylor lived with Franklin when he first moved to Sydney last year and the premiership star has been the 19-year-old’s strongest mentor, presenting him with his debut jersey this season.

Franklin slammed Taylor’s decision to sneak his girlfriend into the Swans’ quarantine hub in Perth as “selfish”, but said the racist abuse he had since copped on social media was a separate issue and one the AFL and society must stamp out once and for all.

“Like everyone at the club I’m incredibly disappointed in Elijah’s selfish actions. They were unacceptable and I understand everyone’s anger,” Franklin said. “But the racist comments directed at him are unacceptable. There is and never will be an excuse for racism. This week is really special for Indigenous players with Indigenous Round. It’s about celebrating culture. As a society we need to call out racism and make it clear that we will not tolerate it, and we will not be silent on it.”

In an extraordinary set of circumstances marring Indigenous Round, the AFL won’t be able to use the Aboriginal flag at matches because a clothing company holds the exclusive licensing rights.

Franklin was inadvertently associated with the company, WAM clothing, this year before immediately cutting ties with it the moment he realised the issue and the ramifications on his people.

The 33-year-old has now joined fellow indigenous sporting greats Nova Peris and Michael Long in protesting against the alarming situation and using his influence in the Indigenous community to call on governments to change the damaging set of circumstances.

“It’s disappointing that there is copyright over the Indigenous flag and it can’t be used freely as an expression and emblem of cultural pride,” Franklin said. “It is extremely disappointing not to have our flag represented during Indigenous Round and I hope the issue can be resolved for the next Indigenous Round. It important for our game and our people.”

GWS Giants Indigenous leader Zac Williams reached out to Taylor and joined with Franklin in condemning the scourge of racism on the AFL and society.

“It’s just baffling that in this day and age there is still racism, but there are still people oblivious to the fact that there is racism in this society,” Williams said. “People just think there is no racism. But for us Indigenous people, there is.

“Elijah Taylor has copped a fair bit. Yes, he made a mistake … but for him to cop that racism on the back of that is not OK. We need to look after him because stuff like this brings down the Indigenous community. It just cuts you straight to the core.”

The AFL has referred the Taylor abuse to Instagram and the e­Safety commissioner’s office. Chief executive Gill McLachlan said Taylor had the game’s full backing.

“Our message is clear, if you are going to post racist comments online at our players, there is no place in football for you,” he said.

“This week’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round is a celebration … I want Elijah and all our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players to know that I stand with you.”

The Daily Telegraph