Latest news with #AFLIntegrityUnit
ABC News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Racist abuse of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Jase Burgoyne condemned by AFL, St Kilda and Port Adelaide
St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Port Adelaide's Jase Burgoyne are the latest AFL players to call out racist abuse from faceless trolls online. The pair shared details of a series of messages they received via social media on Sunday night. The Saints and Power strongly condemned the messages, both clubs confirming on Monday they are working with the AFL Integrity Unit to identify those responsible. Wanganeen-Milera received messages from an anonymous account after the Saints' narrow five-point loss to Sydney. The messages appeared to be related to betting on Wanganeen-Milera's disposal tally. The 22-year-old playmaker had 24 disposals under close attention from Swans tagger James Jordon. In response to the abuse, Wanganeen-Milera posted: "Over a game of football! Hero mate." He received support from Saints teammate Liam Stocker, who reposted Wanganeen-Milera's story with the message: "Get a grip. Pissant. Put your name on it you donkey." "As a club we do not accept racist behaviour of any kind," Saints chief executive Carl Dilena said in a statement. "These comments are abhorrent and have no place in our game or our community. "Beyond Nasiah's talent on the field, he is a proud Kokatha and Narangga man who deserves to work and live free from this type of abuse. "St Kilda Football Club stands firmly with Nasiah, his family and all First Nations people, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone." Burgoyne also shared an image of messages he received, which also targeted his family, after Port's 26-point win over West Coast. The 21-year-old posted the screenshot with a clown emoji seemingly directed at the troll. "Such abuse is reprehensible and will not, and should not, be tolerated," Port Adelaide said in a statement. "The club has advised the AFL integrity department and we look forward to working closely with the AFL to identify those responsible and sanction appropriately. "We also encourage people who witness or experience online abuse to report and highlight it to the social media platforms on which it appears." Port Adelaide also called on governments to demand accountability from social media organisations. "Platforms need to take accountability and action against these abusers," the club said. The AFL and AFL Players Association have repeatedly condemned online racial abuse of players in recent years. AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon acknowledged the courage of Wanganeen-Milera and Burgoyne in calling out the "unacceptable" racist comments, and offered the league's support to the pair. "To hide behind a fake account is cowardly and I want the people that have created these online accounts and racially abused our players to know that our game does not want you," Dillon said. "Real fans don't racially abuse players. "We have been clear that there is absolutely no place for this behaviour in our sport and in society. "Racism is never acceptable and these incidents demonstrate there is so much more work to be done." AAP
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
AFL to investigate after TWO Indigenous stars were targeted by racist trolls
The AFL has been forced to confront an all-too-familiar problem after two of its brightest young Indigenous players were the targets of vile, racist abuse online. St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Port Adelaide 's Jase Burgoyne, two emerging stars of the game, both posted screenshots of the messages on Sunday night. The abuse was shocking in language and tone, and both clubs acted swiftly to bring the matter to the league's attention. 'Bro u f***ing n*****,' the message to Wanganeen-Milera read. 'Couldn't f***ing touch the ball once more. U f***ing me over.' Wanganeen-Milera, who had 24 disposals and was closely tagged during the game, responded calmly. The anonymous account sent this string of horrific messages to the in-demand St Kilda star 'Over a game of football. Hero mate,' he posted in response. St Kilda teammate Liam Stocker also chimed in: 'Get a grip. Put your name on it.' Fellow Indigenous Saint Bradley Hill shared his support too. 'Some people hey!!!! Love you @nasiah_wm7,' Hill posted. St Kilda and Port Adelaide referred the messages directly to AFL House following their matches that afternoon. Burgoyne was messaged by a profile only named 'Tim' that included a host of graphic sexual and racial abuse. 'Get a touch you weal a** c***,' it read. 'Welcome to country you f***ing loser.' Burgoyne shared the message with a clown emoji. Burgoyne shared the messages he received to social media, only replying with a clown emoji 'The AFL integrity unit is investigating vile racist texts sent to Indigenous stars Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jase Burgoyne via Instagram direct message,' 7NEWS reporter Xander McGuire confirmed. The league is treating the matter seriously, but players and fans are again left wondering how much longer this behaviour will go on. AFL players have faced repeated racial abuse on social media in recent years. This season, Willie Rioli was previously targeted online after his suspension for threatening Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale. In 2023, Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was targeted with slurs online and at the ground, prompting the AFL to issue lifetime bans. That same year, Charlie Cameron, Michael Walters, Nathan Wilson, and Izak Rankine all reported receiving racist messages via Instagram. St Kilda's Bradley Hill also revealed his partner was sent vile abuse in 2021. West Coast's Liam Ryan was called a 'monkey' on social media in 2019, sparking public outrage. Joel Wilkinson was racially vilified both on the field and online during his time with the Suns. Adam Goodes endured years of racial taunts, including being called an 'ape' in 2013, leading to a prolonged booing saga that ended his career. In 2023, Eddie Betts reported racist abuse directed at his children outside their home, shared via social media video. The AFL has responded with lifetime stadium bans and formal investigations by its integrity unit. Wanganeen-Milera, 22, is not only a star on the rise but one of the league's most in-demand players. In the days before the incident, much of the media talk was about his future. Clubs are circling with offers north of $1million per year to lure him away from Moorabbin. Port Adelaide - where his uncle Gavin Wanganeen made his name - is considered a strong chance of bringing him back to South Australia. Adding fuel to the speculation is Wanganeen-Milera's close relationship with Port defender Burgoyne. The pair have been friends since they were kids, and Burgoyne recently signed a four-year extension with Port. 'We're extremely close,' Burgoyne said.
ABC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Carlton coach Michael Voss responds as AFL investigates threatening message left on MCG's anti-social hotline service
Carlton coach Michael Voss has delivered a powerful response to a threat aimed at him amid the club's poor form. A threatening text message directed at Voss was left on the MCG's anti-social hotline service during the team's loss to Collingwood on Friday, and is currently being investigated by the AFL's integrity unit. Voss admitted he was initially dismissive of the threat, but then delivered a take-down of frustrated fans who have responded to the club's current slump with anger. "We think by showing passion is about anger — and it's not about that at all," he said at a press conference on Wednesday morning. "There's a way we need to behave and there's a way we need to go about it — and when things are tough, you've got to show that support the right way. Not the wrong way. "Now if that's a measure for some people on what it should look like, then I'm sorry you don't belong here. "We'll move on and we'll make sure we continue to bring a supporter base that will support in the good times and it will support in the bad and we'll continue to support our people to be able to do that." Voss said while he was "dismissive at first", he quickly thought about the impact such a threat would have on his loved ones. "The first thing you always think about is the person beside you or the family member or the team. Because, as a result of what I do, you appreciate there's an element of scrutiny that comes with that," he said. "But then there's a part that's completely unacceptable — and I think we can all agree that part is unacceptable. And we don't tolerate that as an industry. "We leave that with the AFL Integrity (Unit) at the moment and I expect a pretty forthright response. But this is the current nature we need to consider within the AFL environment and we all have responsibilities … and you've got to understand that the ripple effect goes beyond what your opinion is. It reaches deeper." Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan described the threats aimed at Voss as an unfortunate constant of the AFL's coaching caper. "We've all been through that," he said. "It's tough. I see there was some death threats … that's pretty average. "I've got no doubt he'd be doing the best job that he can, but that's just the world AFL coaches live in. "Faceless people, lack of courage. As coaches, we try to brush those things off, to be honest."
