AFL coach discusses devastating impact of racism on players
Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin has described the heart-wrenching impact racist taunts and remarks have on players in an emotional press conference on Thursday.
Goodwin went in to bat for Indigenous star Kysaiah Pickett, who he said was visibly distressed after being targeted on social media earlier in the week.
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The response of the AFL and its clubs to incidents of racism has been front and centre in football conversations in recent weeks, following the six-game suspension handed down to Adelaide's Taylor Walker.
Walker was suspended for the rest of the 2021 season and three games of the 2022 season after he was overheard directing a racist remark an an Indigenous SANFL player, which was subsequently reported by a Crows staff member.
Speaking about Pickett's incident and the AFL's efforts to combat racism more broadly, Goodwin said the status quo was clearly not getting the job done.
He said, in the wake of Eddie Betts' emotional interview on the Walker incident, that it was up to people like himself, non-Indigenous people in positions of power, to stand up for the cause.
“Seeing Kozzie post-game, being able to give him a hug and see the visible stress he was under makes it incredibly upsetting. We need to make a stand,” Goodwin said.
“We saw Eddie Betts the other night, and it’s got to stop. It just has to stop.
“What I took from Eddie that as non-Indigenous people we need to take up the fight. It’s my responsibility and everyone’s responsibility to continue to educate and get people to understand this needs to stop.
“Kozzie has had a tough couple of days, he’s struggled. He’s in a good mindset around things now, and he’s got a lot of support around him from us as a footy club.
“But we will continue to fight for the Indigenous population because this needs to stop."
Pickett has been selected to face the Crows this week, as Melbourne looks to sure up its place atop the AFL ladder.
Crows can't guarantee Taylor Walker's AFL future
Adelaide have refused to guarantee Taylor Walker will remain with the Crows next season despite the embattled AFL veteran being contracted.
An "emotionally-drained" Walker has taken leave from the club after he was suspended for six matches for making a racist comment about North Adelaide player Robbie Young at a SANFL game last month.
The Crows' all-time leading goal-kicker earned a contract for 2022 after a hot start to this season, but his playing future is now unclear.
"We haven't distanced ourselves from Taylor, we've distanced ourselves from the comments - racism has no part in our club, the AFL industry and the community," Crows chief executive Tim Silvers told SEN SA.
"(Walker's) contracted for next year but we need to understand how that looks and how he can reintegrate back into the group for next year.
"It's too early to guarantee that (he will play for the Crows again) but he is contracted and we've got to work through it with a number of different people."
It comes after Walker appeared with Young in a short video, released by the Crows on Monday, as he apologised for using the racist slur.
Young showed support for the 31-year-old Walker by patting him on the shoulder.
Walker, a former Crows captain, has kicked 489 goals during his 220-game career.
With AAP
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