should be kicked off both boards.
This begs the question - Why are golliwogs allowed to be sold ? From memory there have been other types of dolls that are no longer sold or have been modified to fit in with societyâs mores.
If we are truly serious about getting to the bottom of racism in the AFL industry then each of the eighteen clubs should call for wide-ranging investigations - Iâll also add the investigation should include all racial groups.
Because itâs not offensive to white people?
And therefore you answered my question !
The Nathan Buckley approach to âleadershipâ
Never heard nuffin.
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Michael pls
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Not ideal.
What would Michael Long know??
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You would hope enough to have conversations with his nephew privately, but here we are.
Hasnât spoken to him in 4 years despite both living in Darwin. Has cut himself off from family/friends. Pretty sad state of affairs.
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Hmmm.
Problematic.
Hang on, Iâve seen how this plays out before
Let me guess.
It all ends up being the girlfriends fault for making him retire.
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Sounds like Michael isnât that fond of Cyril and his wife in particular lol
I think we would need to read the whole article before making assumptions from a superfooty âquoteâ tweet.
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Not sure that is true at all. Michael Long is pragmatic about the role of indigenous people in their own future and as in his footy attacks everything front on. Perhaps his statement is about Cyril withdrawing from the fight.
Rioliâs racism row takes another turn, as AFL great says Cyril âneeds helpâ
Cyril Rioli had reportedly become estranged from family and friends before he went public with shocking claims of racism at Hawthorn.
Rioliâs uncle, AFL great Michael Long, opened up in a damning interview with Herald Sun journalist, and AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson on Friday, claiming the four-time premiership Hawk âneeds professional helpâ.
Rioli last week rocked the AFL community when he and wife Shannyn accused the Hawks of âgaslightingâ, stemming from an incident at Launceston Airport in 2018.
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The Riolis claimed comments made by Hawthorn club president Jeff Kennett on Shannynâs designer ripped jeans were the âfinal strawâ.
Rioli retired from the AFL at just 28 years of age and returned to Darwin. He has since pledged he would never return to Hawthorn until Kennett was gone.
But now Long says Rioli, who is like a son to him, is distant and isolated, and had âcut himself off from the worldâ.
Speaking about the racism claims, Fox Footyâs Garry Lyon said the issue was âreally difficultâ.
âNo matter how uncomfortable it is for some, what we see today is how complex this whole issue is,â he said.
âThe story that was in the Fairfax papers was really hard to read for lots of different reasons. Reading the story in the newspaper today, it puts another perspective on it.
âFor us to comment on it on the back of one article and then you get what can seen to be balance or more information. Itâs a very, very complex situation.â
Lyon said every effort must be made to ensure Rioli feels comfortable to return to the AFL community.
âWe canât have people like Cyril Rioli disenfranchised from the game for whatever reason,â he said.
Long said he was saddened by the accusations levelled at Kennett, which he addressed in an open letter to club members this week.
âJeffâs apologised a number of times and wrote a letter,â Long told NewsCorp.
âWe all make mistakes, but this is not a colour thing. Itâs about a pair of jeans and even though Shannyn might have felt humiliated, you donât end someoneâs football career over that.
âThatâs a sad state of affairs.â
Fox Footyâs Jordan Lewis this week recalled one of the racial incidents alleged by the Riolis from 2013, believing the matter was addressed and resolved.
âThere were a lot of Indigenous players at the club at the time â Shaun Burgoyne was there, Lance (Franklin) was there and before that Chance (Bateman) ⌠thereâs good leadership there,â Long said.
âI donât think any of those players spoke out about racial issues and Iâve never heard anything, and his mum has never said anything to me about this.
âI donât know where itâs coming from.â
Former Hawk Shaun Burgoyne this week said he had tried to reach out to his former teammate, but was yet to receive a reply.
In a statement this week, Kennett has pledged Hawthorn are investigating Rioliâs claims.
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78. For further information about depression, contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
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Later that season, then Hawks football boss Graham Wright travelled to Darwin to try to convince Cyril and Shannyn to return to Melbourne.
The hour-long meeting at Shannynâs motherâs place was emotional and, at times, volatile and it is understood Shannyn did most of the talking. Then Wright met Long and Cyrilâs mum Kathy.
Long remembers the meeting clearly.
âEven Cyrilâs mother said, âWhat are you doing, son? Youâve got to get back to Melbourne.â
âBut he didnât want to play anymore. His mind was set ⌠and he was given the wrong advice.
âI think the discussion Graham had with Shannyn and Cyril was a bit embarrassing. We had to apologise to Graham, we apologised on behalf of our families.â
Not exactly a glowing endorsement
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