Awaken: May 28

Today on NITV’s Awaken, Stan Grant talks to Michael Long and the AFL to mark 20 years of the Racial Vilification Policy.

It’s been 20 years since Damian Monkhorst and Michael Long made national headlines over an incident of racial vilification in a 1995 Anzac Day game between Collingwood and Essendon. The moment caused pain to players and divided fans but resulted in the introduction of Australia’s first sporting Racial Vilification Policy. NITV marks this anniversary with a special Awaken (tonight, 9pm), where former AFL players Michael Long and Gilbert McAdam, Assistant to AFL CEO, Tony Peek and Australian National University Professor, Colin Tatz, speak to Stan Grant about that day and the years and actions that have followed.

Discussing their experiences on the field, Michael Long and Gilbert McAdam recount the racism at the time and the specific day that they decided to bring it to the forefront of AFL management. Gilbert McAdam said “We made a stance that night…we said we’d have a meeting with the AFL on Monday and we’re going to put our points of view across and that’s what we did…I know former players who have walked away from the game.”

“Players before us had to put with it a lot more than we did. We didn’t want our kids growing up and putting up with what we have to put up with what we did.”

Reflecting on his relationship with Damian Monkhorst, Michael Long said “I still remain close friends with Damian… I take my hat off to him from that moment even to today – he has been an integral part of this change and shift…these small steps, I think it’s been quite powerful. We can’t underestimate how much has changed over that time.”

Speaking about the lack of knowledge of racism within the AFL at the time, Tony Peek, said: “I’m not sure that we were aware of the extent of it…the Nicky Winmar issue was directed at the crowd – so we were not really aware of the extent of it.”

“There was a culture in the game at the time that basically, what’s said on the field, stays on the field. It took Michael to draw the proverbial line in the sand and to say, this is no longer acceptable.”

“The most important thing we had to do was to actually listen, so that’s why we leaned on the players very heavily.”

In addition to discussing the introduction of the policy, the panel also explore its effectiveness and how it has impacted on both the AFL and wider racism in sport – noting that there is still work to be done following recent incidents with Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes.

20 years on from the introduction of the policy, the lack of Indigenous faces at senior levels of AFL is also discussed, with both players and the AFL realising that this is something that needs to be developed. Speaking on the importance of having an Indigenous voice on the AFL Commission, Michael Long, who missed out on the position earlier this year, said: “Everything starts from the top, decision making and implementation.”

Tony Peek added: “[It’s] certainly something we’ve identified…maybe ten years ago, our total workforce was about 0.3% Indigenous, today our total workforce across AFL is about 3%, so there are more jobs at various levels.”

“We have got some pathway programmes in place – we want to develop, coaches, administrators and future leaders…people like Adam Goodes and Shaun Burgoyne …they are guys that we can see taking on administrative roles.”

Thursday 28 May, 9pm on NITV.