Eddie Betts believes the AFL is not a safe environment for Indigenous players, having vowed to continue fighting racism beyond Saturday’s swan song.
“Speaking to Gil [AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan] recently, we’ve got to be stronger, we’ve got to somehow catch these people.
“And keep them accountable for what they say online or over the fence.”
Betts noted it was Goodes’s activism that helped him find his own voice and “believe in myself, that I had the strength and courage to stamp out racism”.
Goodes was routinely booed by crowds throughout his final few seasons, with the AFL belatedly apologising for its lack of action during an unfitting end to the champion’s 372-game career.
Betts, who revealed plans to launch his own foundation to help “Aboriginal kids achieve their goals, dreams and be leaders in whatever aspect they want to”, said he and Goodes spoke for approximately half an hour last week.
“Just getting some advice and seeing how he dealt with it and how he felt,” Betts said.
“I told him I’m going to hang up the boots.
The AFL, responding to Walker’s suspension, has flagged plans to beef up sanctions and player education while forcing every club to employ a full-time Indigenous liaison officer.
Betts is among several AFL players to have been targeted with racist abuse by trolls on social media during recent seasons.
“I’m not the one that’s going to make change. It’s not on Aboriginal people here in Australia … we need everyone to chip in,” he said.
“Because nobody is born racist. Everyone’s learned it along the way somewhere or heard it.
“I’m still going to be there for the rest of the Aboriginal boys who are playing. I’m still going to help them, going to be their support, shoulder to lean on.”
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
