‘Which version of history?’: Pearce backs call to scrap minute’s silence for AFLW Indigenous round

AFLW star Daisy Pearce has backed the decision by the AFL to scrap the mandated minute’s silence to honour Queen Elizabeth II during Indigenous round given “the timing of where the two things fell”.

The league reversed its mandate after the AFLW match between the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle and scrapped it for the remainder of the Indigenous rounds, which continue this weekend. The Bulldogs described the minute’s silence immediately after the Acknowledgement of Country ceremony as “insensitive” and 16 of the 18 clubs felt the original call should be reconsidered.

Daisy Pearce in Melbourne’s season six Indigenous guersney Credit:AFL Photos

Pearce said the decision came down to “which version of this nation’s history do you give voice to and bring to the fore”, given Indigenous round is not just about celebrating Indigenous players but also about educating the wider community “with facts in this country’s history that aren’t well told”.

“What I’ve learnt through going through that process in a number of Indigenous rounds is that for First Nations people, colonialism is not something that’s universally celebrated,” Pearce said on SEN’s Whateley program.

“It represents the genocide of their people, the theft of their land, the erasure of their culture and way of life, the loss of their wealth, their basic human rights and their children.

“Whilst for many Australians and people around the world the Queen represents a long remarkable rein marked by goodwill, grace, leadership, family and service, for a group of very significant Australians, the first owners of this land, it doesn’t.”

Pearce said she understood the Queen was not directly to blame for past atrocities but for many Indigenous people, she leaves a 70-year legacy as the figurehead of colonialism and represents pain, trauma and ongoing oppression.

Pearce hoped the call not to observe a minute’s silence came from the AFL listening to Indigenous voices, who “probably suggested it would be insensitive to honour and celebrate the head of state at a time when we, as the AFL, are outwardly denoting that we as a league are listening to and trying to understand and acknowledge their truth”.

Many Indigenous people within the AFL community have said issue had created a painful conversation for them, and they wanted to focus on the remaining week of Indigenous round, which includes the first AFLW Dreamtime game between Essendon and Richmond.

Indigenous NRLW player Caitlin Moran was punished by the NRL for derogatory comments she posted online about the Queen’s death, which she subsequently took down. 

AFL’s executive general manager of inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch told The Age it was significant that the Dreamtime legacy would continue in the women’s game.

“What’s exciting about this is that we’re going to see women’s expression of what Dreamtime looks like as they build their own legacy around the Dreamtime concept and that sort of rivalry between those two teams,” said Hosch.

“And the honour of playing a game that is so significantly connected to recognising, representing and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the game of Australian rules football.”

The Narrm v Brisbane AFLW match will also have a curtain raiser between Indigenous side the Woomeras and the Medleys, the multicultural team, which Hosch said was an opportunity to “showcase their talents”.

The AFL’s executive general manager of inclusion and social policy, Tanya Hosch.Credit:AFL Photos

“It really is an opportunity to think about the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the game of Aussie rules football…and the work we still need to do to make sure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples still have every opportunity to pursue their love of footy at the highest level as well,” said Hosch.

Senior Richmond player Gabby Seymour echoed Hosch’s sentiments, saying the players were excited to start a new tradition in the women’s competition and have their own interpretation on the marquee event, which has such a rich history in the men’s competition.

“Traditionally, I sort of think of playing under the lights at the MCG and the war cry, and, you know, all of this sort of lead up that goes up to that, but I think in the women’s game, it’s going to be different and we’re going to have our own touches,” said Seymour.

Seymour, along with Richmond players Maddy Brancatisano and Ellie McKenzie, consulted on the Tigers’ Indigenous guernsey, which was designed by proud Gumbaynggirr woman Josie Atkinson. She said that process, and the rounds, were a chance to learn more about the history of Indigenous peoples from a club and wider football perspective.

Richmond AFLW players donning their First Nations jumper for this season.Credit:Wayne Ludbey

“I do sometimes feel that, you know, with rounds like this, sometimes it can feel a little bit tokenistic at times when you don’t have that understanding…so that was something that we were big on from the start, [that] we want to understand this and understand more about our Indigenous heritage and the role that’s played in the club,” said Seymour.

Essendon play Richmond at ETU (North Port Oval) on Sunday in the first AFLW Dreamtime match.

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