Footy fans have sent a direct message to Sam Newman after he cheered and applauded a welcome to country ceremony during the AFL preliminary final.
Newman had urged fans to boo ceremonially at football games and public gatherings, while also suggesting people “clap slowly.”
Brisbane’s Gabba was packed on Saturday night as fans came to see the Lions take on Carlton.
Before kick-off, leading Aboriginal cultural speaker Shannon Ruska delivered the introduction to Welcome to Country.
He then asked the crowd to join in chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi”.
Supporters (pictured) at the AFL preliminary final between the Brisbane Lions and Carlton on Saturday snubbed calls from football great Sam Newman to boo Aboriginal welcome ceremonies to the country.
“Now there is only one song, like we have 300 indigenous nations, we can’t all speak the same language, but we can sing one song, I think, that brings us all together,” said Mr. Ruska.
“Now it’s Australian rules, so has anyone heard the ‘Aussie Aussie’ chant?
Fans enthusiastically joined in the chanting, with huge shouts of “Oi, Oi, Oi” filling the stadium.
Before kick-off, prominent Indigenous cultural speaker Shannon Ruska delivered the welcome to country ceremony.
The enthusiastic reception to the welcome ceremony did not go unnoticed, and many took the opportunity to criticize Newman online over his failed attempt to avoid the ceremony.
“The best welcome in the countryside at the Gabba. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Ou, Oi, Oi!’ » tweeted one of them.
“Did I miss the slow claps and boos that Sam Newman was asking for? It seemed quite unifying to me,” said another.
“Well that should keep Sam Newman buzzing for another week,” one wrote.
“Welcome to Country goes like fireworks at the Gabba, not a single boo, ends with Aussie, Aussie, Aussie and huge cheers. Thanks Sam Newman, trot off,” said one footy fan.
“Now it’s a welcome to a country that unites rather than divides,” said another who noted that the players were smiling at the reception.
The enthusiastic reception to the welcome ceremony did not go unnoticed, and many took the opportunity to criticize Newman online over his failed attempt to avoid the ceremony.
Newman, a former Collingwood ruckman turned media personality, had this week expressed his opinion on the traditional ceremony on his podcast “You Cannot Be Serious”.
“The next time you go to a public event, like the grand final, a football match or any other public event and they chant Welcome to Country, start booing,” he said.
His comments sparked backlash from several people, including Senator Lidia Thorpe, who lashed out at the former footballer, saying “Welcome to Country” was about peace and bringing people together.
“Sam Newman, I don’t even know why he’s in the news. It has no relevance to the debates of the time,” she said on Nine’s The Today Show on Thursday morning.
“It’s about peace. The whole message behind this is respect.
Newman doubled down on his speech on The Opposition podcast, saying the ceremony divided people on race.
“Are we tired of this? I’ve been talking about this for a while now. I find it insulting and humiliating to be welcomed into a country where I live,” Newman said on the podcast.
AFL great Sam Newman (pictured) encouraged people to boo during welcome to country ceremonies at sporting events and public gatherings.
