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A senior Tiwi Islands Indigenous elder is warning the AFL that the latest allegations over the treatment of Aboriginal players will put off young rising stars.
Key points:
- Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's cousin was shocked when he retired early
- Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu is calling on the AFL to provide better Indigenous support programs
- Charlie King calls for AFL to form Indigenous elders council to advise it
Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu is calling on the AFL to "fix itself", as the number of early retirements of Indigenous players, and players having to change clubs because of problems, was totally unacceptable.
He was extremely proud when his cousin Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti joined the Essendon Football club six years ago.
But he was dismayed when the forward announced his shock retirement at the top of his game in May, aged just 29, after kicking 153 goals for the Bombers in 126 games.
McDonald-Tipungwuti was in Essendon's top 10 Best and Fairest for all five of his complete seasons.
"We were shocked when we heard, because we see some of the non-Indigenous players getting to play more than 300 games," he said.
"They should have talked to him more about the future, you know?"
In his retirement speech, McDonald-Tipungwuti said he'd received "great support" from the "great club".
But Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu said he believed the club and AFL did not provide his cousin with enough support to balance playing and cultural obligations.
"He was getting not enough support," he said.
"The AFL should be supporting a program for young Indigenous to move forward. Some of the young Indigenous players, they don't understand about what's out there."
The Tiwi elder, who has served as an NT MP, said his cousin's retirement was particularly troubling following the early exit of other high profile NT players.
Some, including Tiwi Islander Cyril Rioli who played at Hawthorn, have publicly alleged experiencing racism.
Others have said they didn't receive enough support.
"That's really upset all the Indigenous people in Australia," Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu said.
"You know, Indigenous people, we'd like to know why these young people aren't staying."
He said he believed the most recent allegations of mistreatment, which have been made by former Hawthorn players, could cut off the AFL's supply of rising stars.
"Some of the kids who are moving up, they won't be able to go into that top level," he said.
"The AFL seems to be doing nothing, they should stop this nonsense.
"The AFL is something that needs to be fixed."
The Essendon football club and the AFL were asked for responses.
'Just interested in television performances'
Don Fuller got to know many of the Territory's rising Indigenous stars as a player in Darwin's Nightcliff football club as a young man.
He now often provides support and a place to stay at his home in Adelaide to Indigenous players from the state and the NT.
"It's been necessary, in a lot of cases I've dealt with, to realise that the AFL and the clubs' approach to Indigenous issues is very superficial," he said.
"It becomes clear to those involved, such as myself, dealing with a number of Indigenous players, is that all they're really interested in is television performances and ticket sales.
"This approach proves untenable with Aboriginal people who value things like discussion of key issues."
He said he would like to see the AFL change its approach to communicating with Indigenous players and their loved ones.
"The AFL and clubs need to be able to work closely with family and community members. And they need to be able to listen and learn and act on concerns."
'AFL hasn't dealt with this problem well'
Gurindji ABC sports broadcaster Charlie King said he has been saddened over 40 years to see unnecessary early retirements of many NT players.
"We've watched in horror," he said.
"Austin Wonaeamirri is one of them, a Tiwi Islander who played for Melbourne.
"He was at the top of his game, he came back to the Tiwis because his father was killed in a road accident.
"He obligated with tribal responsibilities to be with his family.
"They didn't understand that; and the same happened to Liam Jurrah."
The broadcaster said there were now far too many similar allegations against the AFL.
"They keep coming up and we still have this problem — it's just not being dealt with well enough," he said.
"When it raises its ugly head, it's, 'Well, we're dealing with it and there'll be a report,' and the report takes forever, and by the time it's complete we've all forgotten about it.
"So I don't think the AFL deep dive enough into racism to do something about it."
'Real risk' stars will change to basketball
The veteran broadcaster said the AFL does appear to be trying to tackle the problem.
But he said the organisation could be much more successful if it established a council of Indigenous elders of about 30 people to advise it.
"I'm calling on the AFL to put together a council of elders made up of representatives from all around Australia that can guide them forward from here," he said.
"Here's an opportunity for the AFL to get on the front foot and actually hear from tribal elders."
Mr King said there was a "real risk" that rising stars would start to rethink plans to try to get into the top AFL clubs because they wouldn't feel culturally safe.
"They're already thinking that," he said.
"There's a real challenge here from basketball and other sports. There are already signs that people are starting to rethink whether AFL is a good game to play."