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- Welcome to Country will be performed at AFL grand final at MCG
- Follows controversial words from celebrant Brendan Kerin
AFL boss Andrew Dillon remains adamant the performing of the Welcome to Country is vital because it ‘sets the tone for the game’ – despite widespread anger from fans over footy’s most controversial ceremony.
His comments on Thursday came after a wave of criticism that followed celebrant Brendan Kerin setting off a firestorm earlier this month when he declared that the ceremonies are ‘not invented to cater for white people’.
Kerin also incorrectly stated Indigenous residents have been performing them for 250,000 years BC, which he explained stands for ‘Before Cook’.
His staging of the Welcome to Country unfolded moments before the GWS versus Brisbane Lions elimination final on September 14 in Sydney – and was widely panned by footy fans.
Even former Indigenous footy star Mathew Stokes feels Welcome to Country ceremonies are becoming too divisive and continue to be hijacked by ‘people with agendas’.
Dillon said the code has no plans to drop the ceremonies, and confirmed Uncle Colin Hunter – who also performed at Monday’s Brownlow Medal – will be tasked with the role on Saturday moments before the grand final begins.
‘We will continue to do it, the Welcome to Country is for everyone,’ Dillon told Radio 3AW.
‘We are a sport that is inclusive, and we believe it sets the tone for the game.
AFL boss Andrew Dillon remains adamant the performing of the Welcome to Country is a vital part of footy games
Indigenous Geelong premiership winner Mathew Stokes (pictured) has voiced his opposition to the Welcome to Country being used to push political agendas
Stokes’ comments came hot on the heels of the very controversial Welcome conducted by Brendan Kerin before the GWS versus Brisbane elimination final (pictured)
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon confirmed Uncle Colin Hunter – who also performed at the Brownlow Medal earlier this week – will be perofrm the Welcome at Saturday’s grand final
‘[We hold the collective view] it serves the game well, so we will continue to do that.’
In response, 3AW’s Elliott pointed out many Aussie sports fans ‘don’t want to be lectured about their own country’ before asking why supporters of Greek and Italian origin aren’t acknowledged in a similar way.
Following Uncle Brendan Kerin’s performance, politician Pauline Hanson and footy legend Tony Shaw were quick to voice their displeasure.
Hanson branded the rituals ‘one of the most racially divisive features of modern discourse in Australia’ and later called for footy fans to turn their backs on them before games.
Shaw – who skippered Collingwood to the 1990 flag – blasted the AFL as ‘weak’ and ‘politically correct’ for failing to issue a public rebuke over Kerin’s take on the ceremony.
Channel Nine footy commentator Tony Jones also waded into the controversy, saying the AFL should start vetting what the celebrants say before they deliver the Welcome in order to prevent future scandals.
‘Now, whether you agree with Welcome to Country or not, I think football fans show a fair degree of respect. But there’s a problem. There’s a problem and the AFL must address this,’ he said.
‘This is an observance during the Welcome to Country … there was laughter through it, and I’ll tell you why: because these Welcomes … they should not be personal agendas.
‘They shouldn’t be there for political statements per se and I’m not sure whether the AFL vets the scripts, maybe they will as of now because those comments [from Kerin] did not go down well with a number of people.’
