Ex-player Joel Wilkinson to sue AFL, alleging racial discrimination

Former Gold Coast footballer Joel Wilkinson is to launch a landmark ­racial discrimination and sexual harassment complaint against the AFL.

Former Gold Coast Suns player Joel Wilkinson.

Former Gold Coast footballer Joel Wilkinson is to launch a landmark Human Rights Commission complaint against the AFL alleging he was the victim of ­racial discrimination and sexual harassment.

It is understood the complaint, which could come as soon as ­tomorrow, will also name officials and players. Should action proceed to the Federal Court, Wilkinson’s lawyers will be seeking aggravated or exemplary damages for the “significant psychological reaction” their client suffered.

Wilkinson, who played 26 games with the Gold Coast Suns between 2011 and 2013, was devastated when he was racially ­abused during his debut against the Western Bulldogs. He was also abused by a Collingwood member during a game in 2012. The Magpies stripped the fan of his membership.

While praising Wilkinson for taking a “courageous stand”, his lawyer, Will Barsby, yesterday slammed the AFL’s handling of complaints. He said the AFL had failed Wilkinson, who was signed but subsequently cut by the Arizona Cardinals in a US NFL tryout in 2016, by allowing “horrific racial abuse, sexual taunting in the ­locker room, bullying and mistreatment”.

“It’s cut short his career and he’s been punished for speaking out, being shunned by clubs for his stance against racism,” Mr Barsby said. He added that the foundation Suns player was subjected to ­“racially enticed sexual harassment” in the changerooms and suffered “signification psy­cho­logical reaction” as a result of his experiences.

“People will say that’s just locker-room banter and that’s the boys’ club, but when an individual does not want to be subjected to that treatment, that’s when it ­becomes unlawful,” he said.

It is understood negotiations between Wilkinson’s legal team and the AFL have occurred over the past couple of months. Mr Barsby declined to elaborate on whether his client had ­already rejected a settlement offer from the AFL, citing legal ­restraints.

After being delisted by the Gold Coast at the end of 2013, Wilkinson attempted to revive with the Northern Bullants in the VFL. During this period, he participated in a video campaign filmed by AFL Media titled Making A Stand, detailing his despair at the treatment he received.

But Mr Barsby, from Shine Lawyers, said the AFL did not do enough to assist his client or ­address abuse in the game.

The AFL last night responded to the claims.

“We are sorry Mr Wilkinson suffered experiences of racial abuse during his time as an AFL footballer,” the AFL said in a statement.

“He has previously shared his experience of racial abuse, helping educate the community via a serious of social awareness videos produced with the AFL.

“We respect a person’s right to pursue claims through the legal system. We will continue to work with Joel to resolve this matter.”

The Suns said they were “treating the matter seriously and will participate in any process as appropriate and required”.