Indigenous groups claim Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm clash was cancelled at the last minute - and it was not the only First Nations ceremony that was axed
Indigenous groups say they were left dumbfounded and hurt after the Melbourne Storm cancelled a planned Welcome to Country ceremony just hours before kick-off at their Anzac Day NRL match.
Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy had been scheduled to deliver the Welcome to Country at AAMI Park before Friday night's clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Performances by Maori group Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Wurundjeri dance group Djirri Djirri were also organised for the evening.
However, as performers rehearsed on the field, Murphy said she was informed by the club's board that they no longer wanted the Welcome to Country to proceed.
'We were all just dumbfounded,' Aunty Joy said late on Friday.
Following the decision, both Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Djirri Djirri withdrew from performing.
Murphy said the club later apologised and asked her to go ahead with the ceremony, but after discussions, the Indigenous groups chose not to continue.
'We would dearly love to be out there, but they've broken our hearts,' Murphy said.
Storm chairman Matt Tripp said the issue arose from a misunderstanding between the board and management.
Tripp stated the board had only approved Welcome to Country ceremonies for multicultural and Indigenous rounds, not Anzac Day.
'We weren't sure it was happening in this game, and when we asked the question, there was a bit of confusion,' Tripp told The Sydney Morning Herald.
He said the board would now consider including the Welcome to Country at future Anzac Day matches.
Tripp also confirmed he was unaware of the disturbance at Melbourne's dawn service earlier that day.
'I had no idea. I had been working all day and wasn't aware, but that was disgraceful this morning. We strongly condemn that behaviour,' he said.
Earlier on Anzac Day, far-right agitators booed and heckled Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown during his Welcome to Country at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the actions, saying, 'A neo-Nazi disrupting Anzac Day is abhorrent, un-Australian, and disgraceful. The people responsible must face the full force of the law.'
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the incident was 'beyond disrespectful' and Defence Minister Richard Marles urged Australians to focus on the sacrifices of Anzac soldiers.
RSL Victoria president Robert Webster praised the crowd for drowning out the hecklers with applause, stating it reflected the respect the occasion deserved.
Melbourne Storm issued a public statement blaming a 'miscommunication' for the last-minute cancellation at AAMI Park.
'There was a miscommunication of expectations regarding the use [of] Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm events throughout the year,' the club said.
The Storm confirmed they intend to continue Welcome to Country ceremonies during multicultural and Indigenous rounds.
The club displayed an Acknowledgement of Country message on the big screens during the Anzac commemoration at AAMI Park.
Murphy said no clear reason was given for the initial cancellation, only that Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said it was a board decision.
'After being disrespected, we couldn't then go forward with a smile on our face and act,' Djirri Djirri lead dancer Ky-ya Nicholson Ward said.
Murphy added, 'We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them realise that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic.'
In December 2024, the Storm announced they would scale back Welcome to Country ceremonies at regular games.
The club clarified it would continue acknowledgements at 'culturally significant celebrations.'
The decision sparked criticism from Indigenous artists, including Yorta Yorta rapper Briggs, who questioned the club's commitment to cultural recognition.
'See, the cost of living means cultural recognition is just not viable in this economy,' Briggs wrote on X.
'Unsurprising & underwhelming. What's your identity @Storm?'
The controversy also follows revelations that Storm part-owner Brett Ralph donated $175,000 to the 'No' campaign during the Indigenous Voice referendum debate.
At the MCG on Anzac Day, a Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter was warmly received before the AFL clash between Collingwood and Essendon.
Commentators noted that the strong applause may have been a response to the earlier disruptions in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, in Perth, a heckler interrupted Noongar elder and former soldier Di Ryder during her Welcome to Country at Kings Park.
Spectators quickly hushed the heckler and supported the ceremony.
Veteran and former Fitzroy AFL player Uncle Ricky Morris condemned the behaviour, calling it disrespectful to Aboriginal people and all Australians who have served.
'[The people who disrupted Friday's Welcome to Country] need to go back and have a good hard look at themselves,' Morris said.
Fans reacted strongly online to the Storm's cancellation, with some calling it 'disgusting' and accusing the club of enabling racist behaviour.
'Melbourne Storm cancelling the Welcome to Country is absolutely disgusting,' one fan posted.
'Melbourne Storm enabled racists when they cut back on the Welcome to Country a while back. Now they cancelled today. Shameful for a club that Greg Inglis played for,' another added.
'You know why? Because it could end with thousands of people booing, arguing, fighting and rioting. Football games are charged with adrenaline and 'fighting spirit.' I really dont think they wanted to risk it,' another speculated.
Others welcomed the move, describing the Welcome to Country as divisive and applauding the decision.
'Good. Stop this divisive disingenuous display,' posted one footy fan.
'And that right there is the beginning of the end of the WTC. The boos will now get louder until it is gone,' another said.
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