Storm chairman ‘greatly upset' by Welcome to Country ‘miscommunication'
Melbourne Storm have taken responsibility for what they say was an internal miscommunication that meant the Welcome to Country for their Anzac Day clash at AAMI Park was cancelled at the last minute, a situation that has left the chairman 'disappointed him beyond words'.
Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy said she had been scheduled to perform the service at AAMI Park last Friday night before the Storm's clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Performances from First Nations groups were also planned.
But as other Indigenous performers rehearsed on the field, Murphy said she was told by the club's board that it no longer wanted her to conduct the Welcome to Country. The two other First Nations groups refused to continue their performances as a result.
Storm chairman Matt Tripp said his club had to repair relationships with its Indigenous and First Nations supporter base.
'It has disappointed me beyond words,' Tripp told this masthead.
'I am acutely aware of the many different cultures and races we have involved in our football club and our supporter base.
'Like I do with anything within the club, I guard that with my life and I want to protect that at all costs.
'To have a miscommunication deem us as non-sensitive to Welcome to Country and beyond that, a part of Australian customs, that has upset me greatly.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Matthew Nicks rips 'unfair' report suggesting Taylor Walker's past could impact Adelaide's Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera pursuit
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has lamented an "unfair" report suggesting Taylor Walker's racism incident in 2021 could affect the AFL club's pursuit of St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. The third-placed Crows are due to travel to Launceston for a blockbuster clash with sixth-placed Hawthorn on Friday night. But the game has been overshadowed by a report from veteran journalist Caroline Wilson, who claimed Indigenous young gun Wanganeen-Milera had indicated he would not join Adelaide due to Walker's racist comment in 2021. Classy half-back Wanganeen-Milera, 22, is out of contract at season's end and both the Crows and Port Adelaide are attempting to lure him home to South Australia. Walker, 35, received a six-game ban and $20,000 fine from the AFL in 2021 after he was overheard making a racist comment about North Adelaide's Indigenous player Robbie Young at an Adelaide SANFL match. Wanganeen-Milera's management immediately denied the report, while the St Kilda star reportedly called Walker to say the incident was not a factor in his decision regarding where he will play next year. When asked if he had gotten involved after the story emerged, Nicks said: "No, other than putting support around the people I felt needed support. "I didn't like the way it played out at all. I think it was unfair to a lot of people. "But no, I didn't get any more involved than checking in with Taylor, for example, just to make sure that he knows that I'm proud of what he's done since what was an unacceptable moment four years ago. "He's done a lot of work on educating himself and he's actually probably done more than anyone at the footy club, but our whole footy club's improved off the back of that. "Other than that, no, not involved." Nicks conceded in-season speculation around players' futures was part of the modern environment. "It's part of the deal: pressure to perform on field, but there's also pressures that come off field," he said. "As I mentioned before, some of it I'm not a fan of, the way it plays out. Nicks refused to comment on whether he believed Adelaide were still in the mix to secure Wanganeen-Milera. "We don't talk about players from other footy clubs," he said. Nicks instead wanted to focus on a huge clash with Hawthorn. "They're in good nick, we're in good nick, so it should be a great contest," he said. "They've sorted us out, especially last time we met here at AO (Adelaide Oval). They put us to the sword, their small forwards. "They're a very dynamic group. If they can get the game on their terms, nearly impossible to stop." Adelaide will be without James Peatling (suspension). AAP
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Crows coach laments 'unfair' report involving veteran
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has lamented an "unfair" report suggesting Taylor Walker's racism incident in 2021 could affect the AFL club's pursuit of St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. The third-placed Crows are due to travel to Launceston for a blockbuster clash with sixth-placed Hawthorn on Friday night. But the game has been overshadowed by a report on the Nine Network on Monday, which said Indigenous young gun Wanganeen-Milera had indicated he would not join Adelaide due to Walker's racist comment in 2021. Classy half-back Wanganeen-Milera, 22, is out of contract at season's end and both the Crows and Port Adelaide are attempting to lure him home to South Australia. Walker, 35, received a six-game ban and $20,000 fine from the AFL in 2021 after he was overheard making a racist comment about North Adelaide's Indigenous player Robbie Young at an Adelaide SANFL match. Wanganeen-Milera's management immediately denied the report while the St Kilda star reportedly called Walker to say the incident was not a factor in his decision regarding where he will play next year. When asked if he had gotten involved after the story emerged, Nicks said: "No, other than putting support around the people I felt needed support. "I didn't like the way it played out at all. I think it was unfair to a lot of people. "But no, I didn't get any more involved than checking in with Taylor, for example, just to make sure that he knows that I'm proud of what he's done since what was an unacceptable moment four years ago. "He's done a lot of work on educating himself and he's actually probably done more than anyone at the footy club, but our whole footy club's improved off the back of that. "Other than that, no, not involved." Nicks conceded in-season speculation around players' futures was part of the modern environment. "It's part of the deal: pressure to perform on field, but there's also pressures that come off field," he said. "As I mentioned before, some of it I'm not a fan of, the way it plays out. "There's a little bit of a lack of accountability there, but I think our players deal with it really well." Nicks refused to comment on whether he believed Adelaide were still in the mix to secure Wanganeen-Milera. "We don't talk about players from other footy clubs," he said. Nicks instead wanted to focus on a huge clash with Hawthorn. "They're in good nick, we're in good nick, so it should be a great contest," he said. "They've sorted us out, especially last time we met here at AO (Adelaide Oval). They put us to the sword, their small forwards. "They're a very dynamic group. If they can get the game on their terms, nearly impossible to stop." Adelaide will be without James Peatling (suspension).
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Crows coach laments 'unfair' report involving veteran
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has lamented an "unfair" report suggesting Taylor Walker's racism incident in 2021 could affect the AFL club's pursuit of St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. The third-placed Crows are due to travel to Launceston for a blockbuster clash with sixth-placed Hawthorn on Friday night. But the game has been overshadowed by a report on the Nine Network on Monday, which said Indigenous young gun Wanganeen-Milera had indicated he would not join Adelaide due to Walker's racist comment in 2021. Classy half-back Wanganeen-Milera, 22, is out of contract at season's end and both the Crows and Port Adelaide are attempting to lure him home to South Australia. Walker, 35, received a six-game ban and $20,000 fine from the AFL in 2021 after he was overheard making a racist comment about North Adelaide's Indigenous player Robbie Young at an Adelaide SANFL match. Wanganeen-Milera's management immediately denied the report while the St Kilda star reportedly called Walker to say the incident was not a factor in his decision regarding where he will play next year. When asked if he had gotten involved after the story emerged, Nicks said: "No, other than putting support around the people I felt needed support. "I didn't like the way it played out at all. I think it was unfair to a lot of people. "But no, I didn't get any more involved than checking in with Taylor, for example, just to make sure that he knows that I'm proud of what he's done since what was an unacceptable moment four years ago. "He's done a lot of work on educating himself and he's actually probably done more than anyone at the footy club, but our whole footy club's improved off the back of that. "Other than that, no, not involved." Nicks conceded in-season speculation around players' futures was part of the modern environment. "It's part of the deal: pressure to perform on field, but there's also pressures that come off field," he said. "As I mentioned before, some of it I'm not a fan of, the way it plays out. "There's a little bit of a lack of accountability there, but I think our players deal with it really well." Nicks refused to comment on whether he believed Adelaide were still in the mix to secure Wanganeen-Milera. "We don't talk about players from other footy clubs," he said. Nicks instead wanted to focus on a huge clash with Hawthorn. "They're in good nick, we're in good nick, so it should be a great contest," he said. "They've sorted us out, especially last time we met here at AO (Adelaide Oval). They put us to the sword, their small forwards. "They're a very dynamic group. If they can get the game on their terms, nearly impossible to stop." Adelaide will be without James Peatling (suspension).
