Why the AFL’s women’s competition will NOT observe a minute’s silence to mark the Queen’s passing this weekend – as a female NRL player deletes a highly offensive tweet about the monarch’s death
- AFL announced minute of silence won’t be held during AFLW Indigenous Round
- AFLW previously said it would be observed out of respect for the late Queen
- NRLW is in damage control over insensitive tweet made by Caitlin Moran
The AFL has announced it will not observe a minute of silence to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II during the remaining matches of its AFLW Indigenous Round.
Round three of the women’s league will go ahead without interruption with the decision made after serious consideration by the AFL.
The sports body thought it was best to not hold the minute of silence as the death of the Queen was a sensitive topic considering it is the AFLW Indigenous Round.
The decision comes as the NRL goes into damage control over an insensitive post about the Queen made by NRLW Newcastle Knights player Caitlin Moran.
The AFL has announced it will not observe a minute of silence to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II during its AFLW Indigenous Round
The decision comes as the NRLW goes into damage control over an insensitive post made by Newcastle Knights player Caitlin Moran
The AFL had initially announced it would observe a minute of silence before each of its matches over the weekend.
‘In honour and remembrance of Her Majesty’s life, a minute’s silence will be observed before the national anthem at this evening and tomorrow’s semi-final matches and flags will be flown at half-mast,’ it said in a statement.
‘A minute’s silence will also be observed before all AFLW and VFL matches this weekend.’
Concerns were raised the sport body made the announcement before consulting club representatives or Indigenous liaison officers.
The AFL then walked back on its decision sending a memo to clubs on Friday night.
‘As AFLW season 7 are Indigenous rounds, all existing plans to respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will proceed as planned,’ it read.
The AFL held a minute of silence before the ALW match between Western Bulldogs beat Fremantle on Friday and will hold another minute before Collingwood face Fremantle on Saturday.
The NRL has been dealing with its own issues after Newcastle Knights star Moran made a disrespectful Instagram post about the Queen’s death on Friday.
The AFL had initially announced it would observe a minute of silence before each of its matches over the weekend
The post included a photo of the Queen along with a message that Daily Mail Australia has chosen to not publish due to the insensitive nature of it.
Moran kept the post up on her social media account for an entire eight hours before she took it down when it was publicised by the media.
Newcastle Knights said it is investigating the matter with disciplinary action possible.
Daily Mail Australia contacted the club for comment.
Moran is one of the most high profile players in the sport who joined the Newcastle Knights this season.
She is only 25-years-old but has already played for the winning Australian team in the Rugby League World Cup in 2017.
She has also represented New South Wales and the Indigenous All Stars.
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