Collingwood and Richmond players unite for a powerful gesture in support of Black Lives Matter movement as AFL season resumes
AFL players and umpires have banded together in an united show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement moments before the season resumed for the first time in 10 weeks.
There were extraordinary scenes on the middle of the MCG on Thursday night as Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies players came together as one and all knelt down on one knee in a circle around the centre square.
Umpires showed their support by joining in on the powerful display of solidarity for indigenous Australians.
Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies players came together in a united front to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement moments before the AFL season resumed
Players also wore black armbands and wore plain black shirts as they warmed up on the ground prior to the match- the first one since March 22 when the competition was suspended after one round due to coronavirus.
Other AFL players are also expected to show their support for the Black Lives Matter as the two round continues over the the weekend.
The powerful gesture prior to the first bounce on Thursday night sparked a divided reaction from fans watching at home.
‘The AFL is biggest employer of indigenous people in Australia and they enrich our game immeasurably. Nice touch on such an important issue,’ one woman tweeted.
But not everyone was in favour.
‘Oh for goodness sake. All it is, is divisive and 100 per cent shallow. No actual action is coming from this. It’s an embarrassment,’ a fan tweeted.
Another added: ‘Perhaps the AFL should just stick to football instead of politics.’
The Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum worldwide following the death of US man George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis last month after a police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes.
