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Are things getting better? Collingwood accused of new racism allegations by former First Nations employee

DeMonk
Are things getting better? Collingwood accused of new racism allegations by former First Nations employee

Collingwood’s former head of First Nations strategy has made serious allegations of racism against the AFL club.
On Monday, Palawan resident Mark Cleaver filed documents in Australia’s Federal Family Court alleging that Collingwood director Craig Kelly made a series of racist insults and physically assaulted him.

According to the Herald Sun, Mr Cleaver alleges that during a discussion about the need for a First Nations cultural space, Mr Kelly picked up a marngrook from the desk and said: “I don’t give a fuck what you put in there, put this shit in there,” before violently throwing the ball at Mr Cleaver.

“Mr Kelly kept talking and said ‘I don’t give a shit if you put a live bloody possum in there, just get Jeff (Browne, Collingwood chairman) and (Indigenous vice-chairman) Jodie (Sizer) off my arse’,” the Herald Sun reported.
Documents filed in court detail how Collingwood met with Uncle Alan and Aunt Carol Thorpe of Dardi Munwurro, an Aboriginal family violence organisation, on March 18. The organisation claims it did not receive the $500,000 it was promised as a sponsor following previous racism scandals.

They also allege that Mr Kelly described Aunt Carol as a “stupid old bitch”, that he provoked a Jewish colleague by sending her a photo of “free Palestine” and that he made racist comments about an Asian pedestrian.

Mr Cleaver claims that on the same day Mr Kelly said to them: “Why do you have to use Google Maps? I assume you people can navigate with your eyes closed.”
Dardi Munwurro said in a statement on Thursday that they had no choice but to immediately end their partnership with Collingwood, which began in 2017.
“The reporting of this case … causes great emotional and spiritual harm to us and our people,” the statement said.
“The pain is just too much to bear…

Dardi Munwurro is a domestic violence support organization within the First Nations community. We are passionate about helping all women feel safe and respected in their communities.

The documents were filed as part of a motion challenging Mr Cleaver’s dismissal, in which he sought damages for injuries, humiliation, distress and economic loss.

Mr Cleaver gave a statement to Victoria Police on April 20 about the physical attacks on Mr Kelly.

On Wednesday the club “completely and absolutely” supported Mr Kelly, with club chairman Jeff Browne stressing the Magpies are not a racist club.
Mr Browne said Collingwood would “challenge this process” and denied the club had a racism problem.
In 2020, Jumbunna Institute academics Larissa Behrendt and Lindon Coombes conducted the research review of Collingwood’s responses to incidents of racism and cultural safety in the workplace, following multiple reports from Indigenous players and Amazonian African Australian player Héritier Lumumba, including public statements from then Magpies chairman Eddie McGuire.

Magpies claim they are doing better

Speaking after a board meeting on Wednesday, Mr Browne said Collingwood had implemented all 18 recommendations from the Do Better report and that the culture within the club had “improved immensely”.
“It’s a culture where people feel safe, people from different backgrounds feel safe and they feel safe to make complaints if they want to,” he said.
Browne couldn’t have been more supportive of Kelly.
“In my experience he is doing an excellent job as CEO of this football club,” Browne said.

“He has the full support of the board and also my full support.”

Daniel Victory, Mr Cleaver’s legal representative from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, said the allegations raise questions about whether Collingwood has learned anything from its many home-grown racism scandals.
“We can expect more from a club that has promised to do better,” he said.
“The behavior alleged in this case has no place in society or in a sports club, and certainly not in a league that profiles itself as an agent for social change.
“Football fans have every right to feel disappointed by the Collingwood Football Club again.
“The AFL should consider imposing penalty points on clubs if such allegations are proven.”

According to AFL spokesman Jay Allen, the league’s integrity department was aware of a complaint from a Collingwood employee about the human resources department.

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