I see that racism is embedded in a lot of European countries. What UEFA has done to curb this and provoke change in society and at their stadiums, to varying degrees of success, is to promote that Racism is not acceptable these days and that you must show respect to your peers.

I see that Racism is also still present in Australia and pops its head up at AFL matches (it's where we hear about racism in sport the most, these days), with the AFL organisation not proactively advertising any major, or minor "no to racism" statements or campaigns on the scale that of UEFA does. I see that they want to pretend that it isn't there.

No, racism in the AFL isn't audibly or visually as obvious as a hundred people making monkey sounds at black players, which is mainly because Football supporters organise themselves to make one voice. That racism is more coy at aussie rules matches and gets lost in the walla at AFL grounds.

FTR, I've never heard a single racist remark from the crowd around me at any AFL game that I've been to.

Really wish we could just talk about footy in this thread

The indigenous round of AFL has just passed with two (that I know of) publicly known-of racial taunts. What has the governing bodies reaction to these been? How have they actively condemned these acts?

Do you see my point? The AFL is not responding publicly.

Swept under the rug? Within 24 hours the player involved, coaches, club presidents and AFL CEO had made public statements, which helped fuel this being front and back page news for days. I think everyone in the country knows about it.

The indigenous round of AFL has just passed with two (that I know of) publicly known-of racial taunts. What has the governing bodies reaction to these been? How have they actively condemned these acts?

Do you see my point? The AFL is not responding publicly.

Straight after the game in question the Collingwood President went into the Sydney rooms and met with Goodes, his coach and at some point in time Sydney's President too. There was a press conference the very next morning, a apology from the girl and further media discussion by the AFL's CEO, I don't think they could have handled it any better imo, the issue was effectively resolved in less than 24 hours.

Am I the only one who doesn't think that second incident at the Collingwood game is particularly racist? I mean, yeah he mentions the ethnicity of Goodes and Jetta but he's just accusing the umpire of favoring them on Indigenous round, incredibly crude and poor taste sure, but not racist for me.

I don't know how anyone could rationally argue that racism is a bigger problem in AFL than football, it's a purely cultural thing imo. Whilst Australia has far too many bogans and drunks that like to find their racial rants end up on youtube, for the most part this is the extent of the problem, thankfully we don't have hordes of right wing extremist thugs to contend with like so many European nations do. It isn't about football vs AFL, Australia just doesn't have that sort of history that gives birth to the intense rivalries between nations, and spreads that sort of radical political thought; we just have low life dickheads who like to yell things from the stands or in public transport.

Brisbane Lions' member-based organisation calls for the return of the 2001-03 premiership strip

BRISBANE are facing an uprising from a new member-based organisation who want the "Paddle Pop Lion'' jumper scrapped and are prepared to challenge the board at the next annual general meeting.


Triple premiership player Chris Johnson has thrown his support behind The Lion's Roar group, who have started a website and are planning a protest before Friday night's Gabba clash between Brisbane and Collingwood at which 10,000 flyers calling for the return of the strip worn in the 2001-03 premierships will be distributed outside the Gabba gates.

Brisbane abandoned the design at the end of 2009 without consulting their members and were forced to fight a legal challenge from Fitzroy fans who eventually reached a settlement with the club.

The fight is back on with The Lion's Roar urging supporters to visit their website and demand a vote on the jumper at the next AGM.

They have sought legal advice on their constitutional rights as members and have threatened to force a board spill.

Johnson said the new jumper had hurt the club's image and relationship with fans.

"I will do anything I can to help them get that jumper back,'' he said.

"We are a club run by members and at the moment they are not listening to their members there are a lot of people are hung up on this.''

Founder James Kliemt, a member for 20 years, said The Lions' Roar group was angry with the way they were treated by the club.

"They (Lions) need some serious PR help, they don't get the extent of their disengagement with their fans,'' he said.

He said a survey of 300 people taken before the game against the Bulldogs last year showed the fans were overwhelmingly opposed to the new jumper.

"It looks like one person has drawn the head and another has drawn the body and they have tried to stick it together,'' he said.

"It is a disgrace, especially when all the other clubs are going back to simple traditional jumpers.''

Thelionsroar.net has copies of letters of outrage sent to Brisbane CEO Malcolm Holmes and chairman Angus Johnson.

One angry fan described the new jumper's introduction as "the worst, most divisive, decision in our proud club's post-merger history''.

Coach Michael Voss said the old guernseys represented a golden era in the club's history but it was time to move on.

"It's important to honour that but we can't live there, fans can't live there,'' Voss said.

"It's a nice memory and I like it too.

"But in the end it's about this team, here and now.''
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/brisbane-lions-member-based-organisation-calls-for-the-return-of-the-2001-03-premiership-strip/story-e6frg1zc-1226652467571

Not sure why they saw a need to change it - and they shouldn't have done it without consulting with the members first.

As a non-kangaroos fan, you guys are definitely on the right track. Not many teams have had a tougher draw than you guys, and you have competed really well against the big guns. Could easily see you guys making top 4 next year and having a real crack at a flag not long after.

Go home Eddie, you're drunk.

He's always been a piece of shit to be honest. One of the most sexist people on national television, and this just shows what he's actually like when not in front of a camera. In what world would that be funny?

Let me give an explanation in Maguire's way of thinking
"You need to be a racist to watch this racist game"

But that's ok, all races are equal: some more equal than others