It’s too little too late.
Taylor Walker’s apology, something that felt like a horribly scripted PR job, has ignited fresh conversations about racism in the AFL.
If you missed it, Walker made a racist slur at a SANFL game a few weeks ago that was aimed at North Adelaide’s Robbie Young. An Adelaide official overheard it. The AFL has investigated it. Walker is now banned from playing for the Adelaide Crows for six games.
This week Walker gave a brief statement flanked by Young, who even consoled him when the Crows forward couldn’t say his name properly, which made for cringe-worthy viewing.
“What I’ve said was racism. And it’s totally unacceptable,” Walker said. “I’ve lost trust and respect from everyone. I’ve got work to do. There’s no place for racism in society.”
Walker looked stuffy and uncomfortable. But that’s irrelevant.
Spare a thought for the Adelaide official who was brave enough to bring this to light. Most players now call out racism. But for an official to do it at a game is groundbreaking.
Spare a thought too for Robbie Young, who had to endure Walker’s spiel. He had to sit there calmly listening to how Walker is going to transform himself, educate himself and lean on the AFL and Young for support. That would have been hard to do.
For Indigenous footballers this is a nightmare stuck on repeat. But though we’ve sadly been here too many times before, this week was different.
AFL players are usually accustomed to racist abuse and vitriol from faceless trolls on social media, but this time it was an AFL player who did the damage. It was a player who should’ve known better. Walker has played alongside Indigenous legend Eddie Betts, who played 132 games for Adelaide and has received racist abuse every year he’s played in the AFL.
In Walker’s apology he says he’s taking time away to get educated, which is “going to take some time”. Did he learn nothing all those years playing with Betts? Did he not see the trauma Betts went through? Clearly he wasn’t paying enough attention or didn’t think it was important enough to understand what real racism looks like.
Racism is bigger than football. It’s going to take huge efforts from governments, sporting codes and fans to come together. But until then there’s oodles of information out there to educate people on racism. The sad part is people like Tex Walker aren’t trying hard enough to educate themselves to begin with to understand how casual racism is still racism and how non-Indigenous people can become allies.
The AFL has become a clearing house for information on racism. The AFL Players Association actively calls out racism and shares information on anti-racist campaigns. More and more players are calling out racism on social media.
More recently the Ripple Effect documentary went deep into the lives of Indigenous sports figures and revealed just how much damage racism can do to one person.
In that documentary Nathan Lovett-Murray talks about the enduring hurt caused by being racially vilified. His first encounter was when he was nine years old running laps around a school oval. He said every time there’s a media report on racism in sport it takes him back to that moment that happened some 30 years ago. Ask anyone who has been racially vilified and they will say the same thing: racism sticks with you.
Former AFL player Tony Armstrong was asked how he felt about Walker’s comments, considering he’s known him for 16 years. Armstrong said Walker was someone he was close with.
“That really hurts, being a black fella,” he said. “It’s really hard to reconcile that on a personal level. To be quite frank, we’re all pretty angry.”
Without much protection from social platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where most people can register more than one account under fake names, we’ve come to expect racist taunts from trolls. But where is the game at if an AFL player is the one spewing the vitriol?
Armstrong said harsher penalties were needed for racial vilification given not much has changed since Peter Everett’s penalty of $20,000 and four weeks suspension 23 years ago.
On the weekend Eddie Betts wrote “no room for racism” on his wrist tape, and he told media we are going backwards.
“He needs to learn from this. He needs to own it,” he said. “Doing that is the only way we’re all going to move forward on this.”
Everyone still has work to do: Walker, AFL clubs, the AFL, all sporting codes, all sports fans and the Australian government. A collective approach is what’s needed to squash racism. But, for Walker and his apology, saying sorry doesn’t erase the hurt.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Even better. Send him up north to be an umpire
ScottD
Roar Guru
Be thankful she wasn't a Kiwi mate :)
ScottD
Roar Guru
As a Fremantle supporter I can honestly say he should have been publicly flogged, had his willy cut off and then been subject to a life long sanction. :silly:
ScottD
Roar Guru
Port, nor any club, doesn’t have the ability to ban anyone from attending games unless they own the facility. The maximum they can do is to deregister someone as a member. Deregistration doesn’t stop that person from going to the footy (including Port games) as a non member just like any member of the public can do.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Good on Andrew Krakouer saying that harsher penalties aren’t the answer as Tony Armstrong has called for he was delisted from 3 clubs. The penalty Walker originally received was more than fair. He has a life sentence now which won’t help the issue one iota.
Ace
Roar Rookie
I very much like and agree with your summation . He has made the apology to the young man and together which is better than standing alone in front of cameras reading his script ..but it won't be enough for Cornes and Wilson . Just gives them more fuel. Walker has made the error and will find it hard to live down so hopefully he and the young man both receive support
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
You didn't answer my question, how long did Port ban her for??? You can't read the advertiser without subscription, so that doesn't help.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Try The Advertiser. Google. It will take about 3 minutes, but hey if you’re too busy …. Do your own research before running off at others for not knowing the topic! Can you find anything in my posts that were incorrect?
Bruce
Guest
Spot on. Divide and conquer.
Bruce
Guest
Good comment
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Tex has been punished for his misdemeanour, made an apology and shook hands. Whether you feel the apology was sincere is irrelevant, what needs to stop is all these Twitter heroes having their dig at him and a compliant main stream media publishing the best known. What Walker did was wrong, everyone knows that, but he didn’t commit murder, lets forgive and all get on with life
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
So she found a loophole, good on you for being so clever, just like her in a way. Where did you find this information from, can you please reference so I can check it out? Just so I got this right though, cause apparently I'm a bit slow, Port did revoke her membership though right? They did sanction her, for longer than six weeks, how long did they sanction her for Pedro, and what did my original post say? Love your posts mate, always fun and friendly
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Here is a hint – read the actual post before running off at the mouth. As I posted (I am typing slowly for you) Port revoked her Membership BUT that did not stop her from attending games!!!! She does have to sit elsewhere though ????????
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Everything I’ve read say Port banned her indefinitely, I just went and read articles on ABC News, the herald sun after I read your post, you’re wrong mate, they revoked her membership for that year and the next. Maybe do the research, then post
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
I repeat, the Port banana chucker did not miss a match! Port revoked her membership but that did not stop her from attending games. She was fined $543 by police (disorderly behaviour,) and was temporarily banned from re-entering the oval and surrounding licensed premises for six months. Port did not play at the ground for the following 6 months!
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
"In that documentary Nathan Lovett-Murray talks about the enduring hurt caused by being racially vilified. His first encounter was when he was nine years old running laps around a school oval. He said every time there’s a media report on racism in sport it takes him back to that moment that happened some 30 years ago. Ask anyone who has been racially vilified and they will say the same thing: racism sticks with you". Yes, That is sad. I can sort of relate to a lesser extent, having people telling me "what are you looking at you wog". You never forget it. But, I still think Australia is a pretty decent country, now full of decent people, and better than most.
Kane
Roar Rookie
I said I'm not trying to change anything about being racially vilified. My comments were about how people from all races get racially vilified but only one side seems to be offended by it rightly or wrongly. We are all human beings so how about ALL of us from ALL races treat each other like humans and act like humans.
Willie
Roar Rookie
I don't believe this article adds anything of value. There has been more than enough sanctimonious piling on already.
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
Matt Rendell might be their precedent? Havent seen his name bob up so probably not.
shifty
Roar Rookie
What part of " if he proves he doesn't get it, he shouldn't be part of the sport" is not saying that at all.