AFL won’t explain why moment of silence for Queen was scrapped during AFLW’s Indigenous round

The AFL refuses to explain why moment of silence for the Queen was scrapped for women’s competition’s Indigenous round – as Aboriginal leader lashes out at decision

  • AFL declined to comment on issue which divided players in AFLW competition
  • A minute’s silence was performed in Western Bulldogs versus Fremantle match 
  • The Welcome To Country – during Indigenous Round – scrapped in same game
  • For remainder of AFLW fixtures, no minute of silence to remember the Queen 
  • Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson labelled saga a ‘public relations mess’ 

The AFL is remaining tight-lipped surrounding the controversial decision to scrap the minute of silence in memory of the Queen during the women’s competition last weekend.

It was Indigenous round in the AFLW, and while Queen Elizabeth II was remembered ahead of the first match between the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle, the tribute to the monarch didn’t eventuate in the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Adding to the drama was the traditional acknowledgement of country not being performed last Friday during the Bulldogs versus Dockers clash to open round 3 at Princes Park.

Bulldogs director and proud Indigenous woman Belinda Duarte felt the minute’s silence ‘imposed a reflection on the impact of (The Queen’s) life and reign’ and ‘unearthed deep wounds.’

‘While for many Australians it’s seen as appropriate to recognise the significance of the Queen’s passing, we must understand what this brings up for First Peoples, the impact of colonisation and what the monarchy represents to us and our families,’ the Wotjobaluk and Dja Dja Wurrung woman said.

Players from the Western Bulldogs AFLW side took part in a minute’s silence to remember the Queen last Friday at Princes Park

The traditional acknowledgement of country was abandoned, with Bulldogs director and Indigenous woman Belinda Duarte (pictured) stating the minute's silence 'imposed a reflection on the impact of (The Queen's) life and reign' and 'unearthed deep wounds'

The traditional acknowledgement of country was abandoned, with Bulldogs director and Indigenous woman Belinda Duarte (pictured) stating the minute’s silence ‘imposed a reflection on the impact of (The Queen’s) life and reign’ and ‘unearthed deep wounds’

In the lead-up to the AFLW games on Friday, the AFL sent out a memo to all clubs, confirming a minute’s silence would be observed before both men’s finals on Friday and Saturday as well as all AFLW and VFL matches.

Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson told Channel 9’s Footy Classified the AFL ‘badly botched the tribute to Queen Elizabeth, where its women’s competition was concerned.’

‘At Friday night’s Bulldogs-Fremantle (AFLW) clash, the pre-game one-minute silence for the late monarch did not sit comfortably for some of Australia’s First Peoples,’ Wilson said on Monday.

‘So the remaining one-minute silences were scrapped for the rest of the women’s round, a move which in turn incensed a number of football supporters.

‘Not only did it take away from a moving and stirring tribute at the MCG on Friday night for the men’s semi-final, but it turned a tide of public opinion against the women footballers, unfairly.

‘It was divisive and it needn’t have happened.

Veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson (pictured) labelled the poorly handled saga from the AFL a 'PR mess'

Veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson (pictured) labelled the poorly handled saga from the AFL a ‘PR mess’

Australian Indigenous Education Foundation Warren Mundine labelled the decision to scrap the minute of silence for the majority of AFLW games 'insulting'

Australian Indigenous Education Foundation Warren Mundine labelled the decision to scrap the minute of silence for the majority of AFLW games ‘insulting’

‘Why the AFL boss or bosses who made this call didn’t take into account the sensitivities of the women’s Indigenous Round and only hold the one-minute silence for the men’s competition in the first place is beyond me.

‘It was a public relations mess, and it was upsetting for many people on both sides.

‘No wonder no one has put their hand up to take responsibility.’

Australian Indigenous Education Foundation chairman Warren Mundine described the decision to scrap the minute of silence in the majority of AFLW games ‘insulting.’

‘There are a lot of Aboriginal people who respected the monarch, there is a lot of Aboriginal people who have good manners who would have stood there,’ he said on 3AW Radio.

‘I’m just getting sick and tired of – and people can call me a racist or not – of white people and white organisations telling me how I should feel.

‘What a bizarre thing.’

Hawthorn AFLW star Kate McCarthy had no issue with the scrapping of the minute’s silence across Indigenous round.

‘If you’re wondering why there is no minute silence for the Queen at AFLW games because it is Indigenous round…think, think again, think slightly deeper, then realise,’ she tweeted.

‘Always was, always will be (aboriginal land).’

The AFL were contacted on Monday surrounding the divisive issue, but declined to comment.



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