Collingwood legend Tony Shaw has demanded action from the AFL over a controversial welcome-to-country ceremony that some outraged football fans branded a “disgrace”.
Brendan Kerin, a cultural educator with the Sydney Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, gave the speech before the GWS Giants and Brisbane Lions game on Saturday night and said such ceremonies were “not for white people”.
The frequency of the welcomes has been criticized by some fans, and Kerin addressed this issue in her speech.
“I’m here this afternoon to perform a welcome to country ceremony… a welcome to country is not a welcome to Australia,” Kerin said.
‘In Australia we have a lot of Aboriginal lands and we refer to them as ‘country’. So we always welcome the lands we have gathered on.
‘Welcome to the country is not a ceremony that we have invented to satisfy white people.
‘It’s a ceremony we’ve been doing for more than 250,000 years BC, and BC stands for Before Cooking.’
Shaw criticised the “disgraceful” rant on social media and compared the AFL’s reaction to the league’s sanction against Port Adelaide after its coach Ken Hinkley got into a verbal altercation with Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan following the Powers’ finals win on Friday night.
Collingwood’s championship-winning great Tony Shaw (pictured) did not mince his words in demanding the AFL publicly criticise Saturday night’s welcome-to-country speech.
Brendan Kerin (pictured), a cultural educator with the Sydney Metropolitan Aboriginal Local Land Council, divided fans with a blunt welcome to country speech on Saturday night.
“What a politically correct and weak organisation the AFL is,” Shaw tweeted.
‘$20,000 fine for verbal insults, same as physical contact. The political decision to welcome the country last night was shameful, but any public reprimand?’
The former Magpies captain’s call for the AFL to publicly criticise the country’s welcome has struck a chord with football fans.
“The Welcome to Country in Brisbane last night was an embarrassment to the @AFL, the two clubs and the Aboriginal community. The people of Australia are all about recognising, supporting and celebrating our Indigenous brothers and sisters. Last night was an embarrassment,” wrote one.
“100% Tony. He was a huge embarrassment to everyone over the weekend,” added another.
“Went to a football game last night and started using the moment to create division. Absolute disgrace but sure. Not a word from the @AFL wimps,” added a third.
“Players don’t need a divisive political lecture before their big game. What a joke! Why does the AFL need to enforce the WTC before every final? We just want to watch football,” wrote another.
However, some commentators felt that Shaw was wrong in his opinion of the controversy.
“I also like that indigenous people have stood their ground, Tony. Especially in the face of the horrible racism here in Australia,” one said.
“No, it wasn’t. It was telling the truth,” another commentator agreed.
Shaw criticised the AFL for fining Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley $20,000 after he verbally attacked a player on Friday night, but did nothing to criticise the welcome he received in the country.
Kerin’s speech sent X into a meltdown, with viewers debating whether it was refreshingly direct or over-the-top.
“It was the best speech I’ve seen/heard at the WTC. Very informative and explanatory. If you had listened with both ears, you might have learned some truths,” wrote another.
“Politically correct? Maybe it’s time to get out of the age of the dinosaurs, Tony,” added another.
Kerin’s speech received a round of applause before she played a short piece on the didgeridoo.
The speech sparked debate and soon became one of the most popular topics on X-rated TV in Australia.
“This welcome to the country will have upset all the right people,” said one.
“A very good and informative welcome to the country tonight,” was one comment.
“Shame on them! They refer to BC as ‘pre-Cook’ and then lecture everyone,” one angry individual responded.
“It’s a joke for the progressives. Australia has fallen,” added a fourth.