- Welcome to Country to perform at AFL Grand Final at MCG
- Celebrant Brendan Kerin’s controversial words continue
AFL boss Andrew Dillon remains adamant that holding the homecoming ceremony is vital because it “sets the tone for the game”, despite widespread fan anger over football’s most controversial ceremony.
His comments on Thursday came after a wave of criticism followed celebrant Brendan Kerin sparking a storm earlier this month when he declared that ceremonies were “not invented to cater to white people.”
Kerin also incorrectly claimed that indigenous residents have been making them since 250,000 BC, which she explained means “before cooking.”
His staging of Welcome to Country took place moments before the elimination final between GWS and Brisbane Lions on 14 September in Sydney, and was widely criticised by football fans.
Even former Indigenous football star Mathew Stokes feels that homecoming ceremonies are becoming too divisive and continue to be hijacked by “people with agendas”.
Dillon said the code had no plans to cancel the ceremonies and confirmed that uncle Colin Hunter, who also performed at Monday’s Brownlow Medal, would take over the role on Saturday, moments before the grand final kicks off.
“We will continue to do so, everyone is welcome in the country,” Dillon said. Radio 3AW.
‘We are an inclusive sport and we believe that sets the tone for the game.
AFL boss Andrew Dillon remains adamant that hosting a homecoming is a vital part of football matches.
Geelong Indigenous premiership winner Mathew Stokes (pictured) has voiced his opposition to the Welcome to Country campaign being used to push political agendas.
Stokes’ comments came shortly after Brendan Kerin’s highly controversial welcome ahead of the GWS elimination final versus Brisbane (pictured)
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has confirmed that uncle Colin Hunter, who also starred at the Brownlow Medal earlier this week, will be making the welcome at Saturday’s grand final.
“(We collectively believe that) this is beneficial to the game, so we will continue to do so.”
In response, 3AW’s Elliott noted that many Australian sports fans “don’t want to be lectured about their own country” before asking why supporters of Greek and Italian origin are not similarly recognised.
Following Uncle Brendan Kerin’s performance, politician Pauline Hanson and football legend Tony Shaw were quick to voice their displeasure.
Hanson called the rituals “one of the most racially divisive features of modern discourse in Australia” and later called on football fans to turn their backs on them before matches.
Shaw, who captained Collingwood at the 1990 ceremony, criticised the AFL for being “weak” and “politically correct” for not issuing a public rebuke over Kerin’s stance on the ceremony.
Channel Nine football commentator Tony Jones also added to the controversy, saying the AFL should start vetting what celebrants say before welcoming them to avoid future scandals.
“Now, whether you agree with Welcome to Country or not, I think there is a certain amount of respect from football fans. But there is a problem. There is a problem and the AFL needs to address it,” he said.
‘This is a celebration during the Welcome to Country… there was laughter, and I’ll tell you why: because these Welcomes… should not be personal agendas.
“They shouldn’t be there for political statements per se and I’m not sure if the AFL vets the scripts, maybe they will from now on because those comments (by Kerin) didn’t go down well with a number of people.”
