Wilkinson accuses AFL of extreme racism

By Roger Vaughan / Wire

Former Gold Coast player Joel Wilkinson has accused the AFL of extreme racism and is determined to take the matter to court.

A claim will be lodged with the Australian Human Rights Commission on either Friday or Monday.

Wilkinson’s lawyer Will Barsby said that two other former players had made contact in the wake of Wilkinson’s accusations against the league.

“I’m here because I won’t be silenced any more and what has happened has been a continuous breach of human rights,” said Wilkinson, reading from a prepared statement on Thursday.

“I have suffered extreme racism during my time in the AFL and post my career from the AFL until this very day.

“I am here to hold the AFL accountable and stand against injustice … this is extremely systematic across the AFL.”

Wilkinson said he was looking forward to his day in court and improving the human rights of players.

“It won’t be happening behind closed doors anymore,” he said.

“It seems in recent times the dark works on the inside of the AFL are being revealed and I hope this gives others the courage to come forward.”

Barsby said it was unclear whether the two other former players who had made contact also wanted to take legal action.

“It’s really about whether those individuals want to pursue their legal rights, as Mr Wilkinson has,” Barsby said.

Barsby also claimed that Wilkinson lost his place at the Suns because he became too much trouble.

“He was labelled as a grandstander … Joel experienced much racism during his time (in the AFL) and that has been documented publicly,” he said, .

“That became a problem and like any workplace, sometimes an employer doesn’t want to keep that perceived problem child around.

“Joel was very advocating on behalf of his rights and others’ rights and he’s been persecuted because of that.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the AFL said it respected “a person’s right to pursue claims through the legal system”, while noting it was sorry Wilkinson had been racially abused during his time as a footballer.

“We will continue to work with Joel to resolve this matter,” added the AFL.

Wilkinson was racially abused by Western Bulldogs player Justin Sherman during his debut AFL game for Gold Coast in 2011.

The following year, he was racially vilified by a Collingwood supporter during a match.

Wilkinson played 26 matches for the Suns from 2011-13 before being delisted.

The Crowd Says:

2018-05-13T05:26:28+00:00

Basil (the original)

Guest


Black people can be racist against whites as whites can be against blacks. Mugabe kicking white Zimbabwean farmers off their land and handing power of to black farmers is an example. Let's not make excuses, but rather make a call on the fabric of the individual human being rather making generalisations based on their colour. There are plenty of nice white middle-classed males out there. They're not all evil.

2018-05-13T05:04:00+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


Alright it’s my fault - fair enough. I guess white people really are to blame then

2018-05-13T04:00:06+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


Hypocrisy I think you mean. I’m ok with that. Gotta get your hands dirty to argue with one. Yet another comment on my method and nothing on the contents btw. Shallow.

2018-05-13T03:57:49+00:00

Murphster888

Roar Rookie


And the fact that you actually believe that whites are the only ones that can be racist shows just how blinkered and truly ignorant you truly are, and why there will never truly be equality or racial harmony in this world as long as people like you hold different races to different standards of behaviour.

2018-05-13T03:50:34+00:00

Murphster888

Roar Rookie


No he's pointing out the typical double standards and hypocracy of left leaning people like yourself.

2018-05-13T03:45:01+00:00

Murphster888

Roar Rookie


So now your sexist as well assuming Ali is female because you think he/she is thick, really the hypocracy of the left knows no bounds.

2018-05-13T03:26:21+00:00

Murphster888

Roar Rookie


Do you think Asians and Africans and Middle Eastern people and Greeks and Italians etc etc etc are exempt from being racist just because they are not white. Go to a business in say Victoria St Richmond and see how multicultural there work force is, or a business run by other non white races and see how many people of different races are employed by them. Sorry to tell the bleeding heart left but we are the least racist of all. Go to non western countries and see how multicultural they are, go and listen in on a conversation by say Greeks and then you will see what real racism is. The left talk about ignorance yet they are the most ignorant and uninformed of us all.

2018-05-13T03:08:42+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


Here’s one that will curl your eyelashes for you - I’d argue it’s impossible to make truly racist remarks against white people because racism is really about institutionalised and inherent power. Most you can do is be derogatory, like I am. Anyways? You’re still going on about this? Report me or launch a legal case then. I’m not defending it further, very happy with the term. Your flabby turgid squawking since you copped it merely confirms it.

2018-05-13T02:47:53+00:00

Don Freo

Guest


Well, you don't, Matti. You are the reigning king of the dummy spit outrage.

2018-05-13T02:45:15+00:00

Don Freo

Guest


You maybe ought to listen to a bit of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. The term was coined in the 60s. The 60s came before 1993 and 2013. Popular culture was making social commentary long before Wikipedia existed.

2018-05-13T02:14:51+00:00

Aligee

Guest


Haha you are to much Paul, you accuse me of being big oted yet you are the one who has made an ethnic slur and as far as i can see the only poster on this thread to do so. And funnily enough you decide what % your slur is on the slur scale. Isn't that precisely what Wilkinson is railing against ?.

2018-05-13T01:52:56+00:00

Jed Clampit

Guest


Not really, it’s just another example of a lowlife exploiting the virus that is political correctness for their own gain , and the willingness of stupid people who support them. But I agree , toughen up .

2018-05-13T01:47:05+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


You didn’t know a thing about Wilkinson. I’ve got plenty of recollections of the stuff you’ve written here. I think I have a long history of showing i always go for barbs when trying to wind people up. Same way you have a long history of writing bigoted boring schmaltz, pounded out on your keyboard as you mouth the words to yourself

2018-05-13T01:42:19+00:00

Aligee

Guest


Paul, it is pretty clear you are the one who is in a big 'huff'over this, you have even gone down the personal abuse road and we all know who is winning the argument when that happens. But hey, you having fun ..... "Hopefully this issue rolls on for a while I’m gonna have a lot of fun taunting the bernardi acolytes on this place". And who are you to judge what scale your ethnic slurs are on, isn't that precisely what you complained about people posts on here in relation to Wilkinson.

2018-05-13T01:24:35+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


You can take it however you want. Still really amusing too that you accused me of sensitivities but you’re the one hand flapping over a term that’s about 0.5/10 on the slur scale What’s even funnier is that you’ve given up making your own argument and you’re just here trying to pick a hole in my words. Pretty obvious you ran out of puff on this topic some time ago. I return to the original topic - you made a bunch of remarks, I decided to mess with you over it, and now you’re all huffy because someone called you on your boring middle aged white shtick. I chose the term primarily to get a reaction out of you. It’s the main reason I choose any term. If you’re going to rattle someone’s cage do it with intent

2018-05-13T01:16:36+00:00

Aligee

Guest


Haha Don, just to clarify, it is a ethnic slur https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/white_bread white bread (US, ethnic slur) A white person, a person of European descent, a Caucasian 1993 November 15, Eric Pooley, "Can Giuliani Pull It Together?" in New York, Vol. 26, No. 45, p. 53 Guiliani is hedging a bit, but he's not the white-bread cop so many blacks expect him to be. 2013, Mary McVee, "Interracial Friendship & Enmity between Teachers & Students: Lessons of Urban Schooling from a 'Cracker Girl'" in The Psychology of Friendship & Enmity, Vol. II, p. 212 Bystanders shouted a racial slur, "white bread," at her. It might not be an ethnic slur to you, but in the context of how it was written and what was posted before it, it was pretty clear it was directed to be one.

2018-05-13T00:53:55+00:00

Don Freo

Guest


Just to clarify, 'white bread' has nothing to do with ethnic slurs. It refers to conservative, middle-class suburban people with the white picket fence, double garage and beautifully trimmed roses. Usually phrased along the lines of, 'They live in their blinkered, comfortable white bread and cornflakes world, oblivious to any struggles around them'. It's an amusing thread to follow, nonetheless. I'll often cross swords with Paul but I love reading his caustic tongue. Love the phrasing, Paul!

2018-05-13T00:41:40+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


What standards? I have none. The only standards I have here are the ones people try and impose on me because they think I’m mean to them

2018-05-13T00:00:28+00:00

Jonboy

Guest


This is more of today’s soft world get over it and move on from mouthpiece people who call names they are the people with the problem everyone is aware of that........Harden up.

2018-05-12T23:56:40+00:00

Aligee

Guest


Wow, what a tirade! As per what happens a lot, the people vociferously complaining about something also tend to be culprits themselves. white bread ... (US ethnic slur) Of or relating to white people, Caucasian. Lessons of Urban Schooling from a 'Cracker Girl'" in The Psychology of Friendship & Enmity, Vol. II, p. 212 Bystanders shouted a rac ial slur, "white bread," at her. When held to the standards of your own constant virtue signalling that you demand of others on this board you fail miserably and strangely enough (not!) the only poster in this thread to use a rac ist and derogatory insult to another poster.

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