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AFL star Shaun Burgoyne admits there is a gap between the best and rest when it comes to how clubs support their indigenous players.
Hawthorn midfielder Burgoyne is on an advisory board which has produced a set of guidelines to help indigenous players make the transition to elite football, and clubs to best accommodate their needs.
The “Many Stories, One Goal” document was launched in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Burgoyne says many clubs are doing things well in dealing with indigenous player welfare, but the guidelines aim to help provide a reference point for those looking to do better.
“If teams and clubs can look back at this document and use it to help better their club and their understanding of indigenous players, it’s going to be better,” Burgoyne said.
“Clubs now are starting to adopt the philosophy that every player’s different who comes into the system – even if you’re indigenous, you’re not the same as the indigenous player next to you.
“Hopefully clubs can use this to improve, so we know when indigenous players come into the game, we know where we’re going.”
The guidelines aim to capture the best practices across the 18 AFL clubs in dealing with indigenous players and the unique challenges they often face.
Heading the indigenous players’ advisory board is Sydney star Adam Goodes, who was the subject of a racist taunt from the crowd during an AFL match in May.
AFL Players’ Association chief executive Matt Finnis said the Goodes incident and other instances of racial abuse have shown there is more work to do to educate many in the football community.
“The incidence of earlier this year of racial abuse show us there will always be more work to do to ensure a true level playing field for indigenous players,” he said.
“But it is clear we are moving in the right direction.”
Clubs will receive the booklet over the next week.
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