Australia is a nation that is home to people of a variety of different cultural backgrounds. throughout Australia’s short but eventful history many individuals hailing from these varying cultural backgrounds have made names for themselves in Australian sport.
However one issue has plagued these athletes and Australian sport in general for almost a century. That issue is racism. Last Saturday night the most recent racial attack occurred during the AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and Port Power, where a banana was thrown by a Port supporter at Eddie Betts.
That event coupled with my own experiences over the past week has motivated me to write this article and to formally stand up against racism of any form.
One of the earliest recorded examples of racism in Australian sport came about in the 1930s. An indigenous cricket bowler by the name of Eddie Gilbert, who once famously took the wicket of Sir Donald Bradman, was excluded from receiving the sporting honours he deserved simply because of his indigenous heritage.
Since then many unfortunate racial incidents occurred and frustratingly still occur on Australia’s sporting fields. Some of you may recall the racial slurs launched at the touring Cricket nations during the summer of 2005-06 or the Adam Goodes incident from 2013. Racism has occurred in every sport in Australia at some point in the last century.
Given the extraordinary efforts that the professional sporting clubs and federations go to in Australia to eradicate racism and promote equality, one would think that this issue would have become a thing of the past by now. Sadly that is not the case as currently one in five Australians have experienced at sporting events and frustratingly only one in three stand up to racism. If Australia is to truly become united then we must all stand up and kick racism out of our games.
Last week I was the author of a controversial article that stated that if football continues to rise at its current rate, it will in the decades to come overtake Aussie rules as Australia’s top sport.
I received the angry feedback that I expected but what I also unfortunately received was a racial comment on social media labelling me as an unwanted immigrant. Yes I am of European heritage but I was born and have been raised in Australia.
For the first time in my life I felt as though I had experienced what so many other Australians have tragically experienced in their lives, that sense of a lack of identity and the feeling of being unwanted. Do not mistake this as a sob story, I know that this minor incident cannot compare to those that so many other Australians have experienced but what happened to me last week made me realise that something must be done.
Sport is something that should unite Australia and its people and not be a means to segregate and condescend.
The manner in which the Port Adelaide AFL club has handled the incident that occurred last Saturday night is to be commended. Instead of publicly shamming the individual, it is understood that the club has reached out to perpetrator and has begun to educate her on the negative impacts on racism and the importance of understanding the cultures of other members in the community.
Simply banning this woman from attending future matches would not have been the way to go, education is what is needed and is what is being provided. The manner in which the majority of people on social media and in the community have also joined together to say no to racism is truly something for Australia to be proud of as it shows that there is hope that Australian sport can still bring people together.
Australian sport is now more multicultural than it has ever been and that is something for us all to be proud of. Our national teams are filled with athletes from a vast variety of cultural backgrounds and beliefs, but the fact that these differing individuals are united and unite as all when we see them wearing the green and gold of Australia makes me believe that Australia can beat racism.
My personal experiences over the past week have not deterred me from voicing my opinion regarding sport in Australia. For once the war between Australia’s sporting codes must be put to one side as standing up against racism in Australian sport is something for us all to undertake, I urge you all to join the fight. As I am, you are, we are Australian.
marron
Guest
Education can still be effective with the group that do it to be racist. Not usually in a top down way, but there are other ways. Plus there is also ensuring that the general public find it unacceptable. An education program probably wouldn't have prevented the individual from abusing Betts but it probably was behind at least some of the people in the crowd pointing it out and standing up to it. I'd also contend that some of the most difficult discriminatory behaviours to deal with are the ones that are institutionalised or normalised in some way so that people carry on doing things that they don't believe are problematic but actually keep discrimination entrenched.
I hate pies
Guest
The AFL are now the moral arbiters of our society; absolutely it's their responsibility to re-educate the unenlightened.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Afraid yours are to big, you need plenty of help
Josh
Guest
Hallelujah all the problems are solved !
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Essendon District Football League (EDFL) > Under 16 Division 2 > Moonee Valley > Moonee Valley 1 Players Alexander Savvas Anthony Alexandris Benjamin Holian Christopher Kottaridis Costa Detsikas Eric Luisetto Evan Modica George Koukounaras Imran Abou-Eid James Kefalas James Loeliger Jimmy Manias Jin-Loong Low Khoder Rabah Michael Pilarinos Mohammed Abou-Eid Nicholas Pigitsakis Patrick Boreham-Delaney Patrick White Rafferty Carroll Samuel Milne William Agius William Leslie Blair Zac Di Giuseppe Just a random team
AJ
Guest
The issue is people will still "knowingly" be racist. They know damn well how it affects people and will continue to do so because of the response they get. This is why people get so frustrated when people say " We need more education about racisim" For the majority of people they get that calling someone a monkey can be racist, there will then be a small minority that do it because they know it's racist and they know the impact it will have. I contend the smallest group would be those that don't know it's racist at all and need to be educated.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
The South Freo Croatian Team of the century is not that inclusive either, wont let an aussie in Croatian all-stars Bulldogs dream team (From full-back) Backs: Jon Dorotich, Darren Gaspar, Travis Gaspar HB: Damien Gaspar, Glen Jakovich, Danny Civich Centres: Rod Grijusich, Tony Parentich, Otto Santich HF: Eric Sarich, Tom Grijusich, Allen Jakovich Forwards: Peter Sumich, John Gerovich, Scott Watters Ruck: Jack Sumich, Mathew Pavlich, Jack Rocchi INT: Ivan Glucina, George Grijusich, Tony Begovich, Dean Ercegovich Emergencies: Don, Mark, Andy & Ross Grijusich; Ivan Bartul; Matt & Mark Sambrailo; Budi, Laurie & Joe Sumich: Murray Bogunovich; Branko & Craig Civich; Joe & Nick Silich; David & Terry Lucich; Kym Zubrinich; Frank Lendich; Bob Bucat; Gary Cukrov; Jason, Surjan & Dennis Novak; John Pavlovic; Gary Jakovich.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Waiting Nicholas ! ! , perhaps a article about racism in soccer would be good - might be a little bit longer I would imagine. How is that going to fit in a code war article aimed at Australian football ?
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
pretty sure it was a Carnarvon banana- they are quite tasty and fit perfectly in a lunch box
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Just like romper stomper eh ?
Josh
Guest
You only need look at a team photo of the GWS Giants to see what type of person is welcome in AFL.
Sonny Ofthewest
Roar Rookie
In answer to your question Nick, most likely not - there's always going to be a sub-set of people who say offensive, racist things and smear the name of sporting events like the AFL. All that can be done is to have the AFL, players, teams and community call racism out when it happens and be steadfast in their rejection of unacceptable behaviour. It won't magically stop racism, or even push racists to the margins, but it's the only real response available.
Reservoir Animal
Guest
"Do you call that racial violence." Yes I do. There was violence at the same time as racial abuse. I don't know how much closer to the definition you could get. Since when were tension and emotion an excuse for racial violence? God help us if that becomes the acceptable standard.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Do you call that racial violence ? God help us - the nanny state strikes again - it was a act of stupidity and a act of racism and whatsmore it was an act whilst tensions and emotions ran high at the showdown. You actually called it extreme racial violence whilst frothing at the mouth, the way you carried on was as bad as the girl - probably worse because you claim to be so dam righteous.
Reservoir Animal
Guest
And it was you who said it wasn't racial violence at all. Correcting a comment like that is hardly SJW behaviour.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
As harry has done many times, and twice in the last 24 hours, he chooses to mock and bait on the issue, telling us all once again that he is anti-SJW. What a man. Hasn't given the issue any more thought than his narcissism will allow. Your point is well made mattyb.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
People do want to be extremely pedantic about things when it suits there purpose. It appears people are after Eddie - they have there own agendas and can swing public opinion against who ever they want. Eddie is a marked man and whatever he says can be swung by the SJW to suit there agendas
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
You fit the bill perfectly - been frothing at the mouth all week - pretty sure it was you who called the banana throw an extreme act of racial violence Extreme act of racial violence - WTF
Reservoir Animal
Guest
In other words, not me or anyone on this site.
marron
Guest
Can you quote them harry? under here will be fine. The people saying she needed to be hung, executed, or set on fire?