Michael Long, who has done more than anyone to address the issue of racism in Australia’s only indigenous football code, says even though there is no room for complacency, the fight is being won.
In the lead-up to this weekend’s annual indigenous round, it was revealed that Australian of the Year and two-time Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes and Melbourne’s Neville Jetta had both been racially vilified by fans this season.
Goodes took heart from the fact that it was other Essendon supporters who alerted authorities to the man who abused him.
Long has been an outspoken advocate against racism in sport since he was vilified by Collingwood ruckman Damian Monkhorst during the 1995 Anzac Day clash, prompting the AFL to tackle the issue seriously for the first time.
“We’ve come on in leaps and bounds,” Long told the inaugural Dreamtime luncheon in Melbourne on Thursday.
“The game has come so far and the positives outweigh the negatives.
“Given what’s happened (with Goodes and Jetta) we’ve still got to be just as diligent with our supporters and … influence what happens on the boundaries of our great game.
“There still needs to be a lot of work done on the education side of things.
“You can never lose sight of that.”
Long is the face of the Long Walk charity, which this year celebrates the 10th anniversary of his walk to Canberra to confront then prime minister John Howard about the plight of indigenous Australians.
Nathan Lovett-Murray told the Dreamtime luncheon he was inspired to become an AFL player by Long’s heroics in the 1993 grand final, when he was awarded the Norm Smith Medal in Essendon’s win over Carlton.
Lovett-Murray, who was at the MCG that day as part of the halftime entertainment show, went on to play 145 games for the Bombers before retiring at the end of the 2013 season.
His appreciation for the sacrifices made by the indigenous trailblazers in the VFL/AFL increased greatly when he learnt more about his great grandfather Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls, who played for Fitzroy in the 1930s after being shunned at Carlton.
Nicholls went on to become a Churches of Christ pastor, reconciliation advocate and the Governor of South Australia, making him the first indigenous Australian to hold vice-regal office.
“He was like the Martin Luther-King of Australia for all the work he did in the community,” said Lovett-Murray.
The Dreamtime at the G clash between Essendon and Richmond on Saturday night will again be the showcase of the AFL indigenous round which will feature all 18 clubs wearing indigenous-inspired jumpers for the first time.
