Indigenous stars launch racism class action against AFL

afr.com:

A group of Indigenous Australian Rules football players, led by 1980s legend Phil Krakouer, launched a landmark class action against the AFL on Friday, claiming the game failed to protect players from vile racial abuse on the field that resulted in life-altering damage.

The case came on the eve of this weekend’s finals, and as the AFL grapples with the fallout of the Hawthorn racism scandal and criticism for not featuring Yes campaign advertisements on Grand Final day, just a fortnight before the Voice referendum on October 14.

VFL legend Phil Krakouer in action for North Melbourne. Picture:Tony Feder/Sporting Pix

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined AFL legend Michael Long as he completed the final leg of The Long Walk from Melbourne to Canberra on Thursday morning to raise support for the Voice.

Margalit Injury Lawyers is acting on behalf of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who played VFL and AFL football between 1975 and 2022. Lawyer Michel Margalit is also acting for Gary Ablett snr and a group of footballers suing the AFL in a concussion class action.

In documents lodged in the Supreme Court of Victoria late on Friday, the lawyers claimed the AFL knew or ought to have known of the immediate and long-term adverse consequences of players experiencing racial vilification, both physical and verbal.

Phil Krakouer and his brother Jim were among the game’s biggest stars for North Melbourne during the 1980s and, along with six other players, approached the class action lawyers to take on the case.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, AFL legend Michael Long and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Michael Long’s anniversary Long Walk, in Canberra on Thursday 14 September 2023. Alex