The AFL and AFLPA have established the Equality, Inclusion and Safety Advisory Committee as part of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
It is a move that will no-doubt anger critics of the league, who had already deemed it woke over previous moves to diversify the media presentation of the sport.
But the move should be seen as a positive as it aims to provide the players with another space to speak about their experiences and struggles.
It is perhaps even more important now, after Elijah Hollands suffered a mental health episode on the pitch.
The incident had already drawn attention to the clubs and their treatment of the players.
And while this committee has a specific focus, it can be no bad thing that players will be given an opportunity to voice their concerns and a place to speak about any potential issues surrounding discrimination.
The AFL and AFLPA have established the Equality, Inclusion and Safety Advisory Committee
The AFL and AFLPA have identified three priority focus groups for the EIS Committee in its first year
A statement on the AFL website outlined the goals of the new committee, ‘The AFL and AFLPA have identified three priority focus groups for the EIS Committee in its first year: LGBTIQA+ AFL and AFLW players, First Nations AFL and AFLW players and culturally diverse AFL and AFLW players.
‘The Committee provides an opportunity to engage with players to understand their experiences, particularly regarding the risk of discrimination towards LGBTIQA+, First Nations and culturally diverse players.
‘The Committee will provide guidance back to the AFL, AFLPA and clubs, allowing the industry to proactively consider improvements to current environments, policies and processes currently in place.’
AFL CEO, Andrew Dillon said, ‘Our game has come so far, particularly across the past decade but there remains significant work to be done.
‘In terms of industry collaboration, the EIS Committee is the first of its kind. At its core, its establishment will drive discussion and the sharing of experiences in order to make our game more inclusive and safe for our players.
‘Whether it be within clubs, on match days, within online environments, or post-career, every player has the right to feel safe.’
AFLPA CEO James Gallagher added, ‘Our game depends on its people, and we have the opportunity to improve the football environment for everyone involved.
‘The industry must collaborate proactively to address the experiences in our game, and provide meaningful solutions that progress the equality, inclusion and safety of AFLW and AFL players.
‘This committee will address issues the players care deeply about. We look forward to the direction it can provide to everyone across the elite level of our game.’
