As part of Reconciliation Week Fremantle players took part in a session with Curtin University Centre for Aboriginal Studies senior research fellow Sean Gorman.
The playing group and staff heard stories about the heartbreaking history of Aboriginal people since Colonial settlement and how Indigenous players broke into the tough VFL/AFL system.
Fremantle Indigenous player Jon Griffin introduced Dr Gorman, who he met at the 2015 Indigenous Players Camp in Perth.
Fremantle's Indigenous Round jumper
During last weekend’s Indigenous Round, Fremantle players wore a special jumper bearing the Sorry Day flower, ran through a banner reading ‘For the Stolen Generations’ and its Indigenous players handed a message stick to Adelaide’s Indigenous players before the coin toss as a gesture of goodwill, friendship and respect.
Dr Gorman told the playing group on Wednesday about the tough road for many Aboriginal footballers in the last century.
He said AFL clubs had come a long way in how they dealt with players from diverse backgrounds.
“Reconciliation is not just important for Aboriginal players but the broader AFL community,” he said.
“It is about education and being open to making mistakes while having a discussion.”
Dr Gorman has studied Indigenous issues for 22 years and completed a PhD based on the life of WA-born VFL/AFL legends Phil and Jimmy Krakouer.
He also sits on the Steering Committee for the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan launched in 2013.
