AFLW 2022: Keep up to date with the latest news

The AFL declined to comment on the process behind scrapping a tribute to the Queen. And the decision has been slammed by an Indigenous leader and a women’s football pioneer.

Players observe a minutes silence in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The AFL has refused to explain the process behind its decision to implement and then scrap a tribute to the Queen during AFLW Indigenous round.

While a minute of silence in recognition of the monarch’s passing was observed ahead of the opening game between the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle on Friday night, the traditional acknowledgement of country was abandoned for what the club later described as an “insensitive” scheduling.

Culture is Life chief executive and Western Bulldogs director Belinda Duarte said during official proceedings on Friday that “due to sorry business, a Welcome to Country was unable to be conducted today”.

After consultation with clubs, the league wrote to the 18 AFLW clubs to advise it had removed its minute of silence for the remainder of the AFLW Indigenous round.

Wotjobaluk and Dja Dja Wurrung Woman Belinda Duarte before the match. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Western Bulldogs observed a minutes silence. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

When contacted on Monday, the league elected not to comment.

The welcome to country was followed by a minute’s silence at both men’s semi-finals. Duarte, a Wotjobaluk and Dja Dja Wurrung woman, hit out at the league on Saturday at what she said was a conflict between recognising Indigenous round and “the impact of colonisation and what the monarchy represents to us and our families”.

“The AFL-mandated minute of silence imposed a reflection on the impact of her life and her reign,” she said in a club statement.

“This unearths deep wounds for us.”

The move was backed by the majority of clubs, while players also spoke out in support of the move.

“If you’re wondering why there is no minute silence for the Queen at AFLW games because it is Indigenous round … think, think again, think slightly deeper, then realise,” Hawthorn player Kate McCarthy wrote on Sunday.

“Always was, always will be (aboriginal land).”

But Indigenous leader and head of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation Warren Mundine was riled by what he described on Monday as an “insulting” call to scrap the minute of silence.

If you’re wondering why there is no minute silence for the Queen at AFLW games because it is INDIGENOUS ROUND…. Think, think again, think slightly deeper then realise 💡 and keep scrolling 🖤💛❤️ #ALWAYSwasALWAYSwillbe

— Kate McCarthy (@kateemac9) September 11, 2022

“There are a lot of Aboriginal people who respected the monarch, there is a lot of Aboriginal people who have good manners who would have stood there,” he said on 3AW.

“I’m just getting sick and tired of – and people can call me a racist or not – of white people and white organisations telling me how I should feel.

“What a bizarre thing.”

Women’s football pioneer and former Western Bulldogs vice-president Sue Alberti said that the league “should be ashamed” by the move.

“As far as I am concerned, she is the most remarkable woman of my time, irrespective of politics on both sides,” Alberti said on Monday.

“We can do both with respect to both.”

Alberti had over the weekend urged the league to reconsider its stance.

Flags were flown at half-mast at all stadiums, and players wearing black arm bands in games was a club decision rather than a league mandate.

Mundine said that Queen Elizabeth was “the queen of decolonisation”.

“Under her rule, we went through all these changes,” Mundine said.

“We got rid of all these discriminatory laws. We got rid of a colonisation. We got all this stuff done. I can’t believe people are so ignorant on it.”

A minute’s silence to honour the Queen was observed at the AFL men’s semi-finals.

Originally published as AFLW 2022: Keep up to date with the latest news