Rioli slams new all-indigenous team

Dean Rioli, with Andrew Krakouer, during his playing days at Essendon for the launch of the annual Dreamtime clash between the Bombers and Richmond. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

Former Geelong and Adelaide forward Ronnie Burns believes an all-indigenous team will not work in the TAC Cup. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun

INDIGENOUS community leader Dean Rioli has labelled the introduction of an all-Aboriginal team in the TAC Victorian under-18 competition as racist.

Rioli, who played 100 games for Essendon, said there would be a public outcry if an all-white team was introduced.

"I don't really like the fact that they will be discriminating against a person," Rioli said from Darwin yesterday.

"If a young white kid was good enough to play, he can't play because he's obviously of a different race.

"To me, we want to stamp out any sort of discrimination and this is what this is."

The AFL announced last week the establishment of the Laguntas Indigenous Tigers program at Richmond's Punt Rd headquarters.

It will be supported by AFL Victoria and the Korin Gomandji Institute.

The Laguntas - the Aboriginal word for tiger - will play three games in the TAC Cup this year with more games likely in 2014.

Indigenous players tied to a TAC Cup side but who fail to get a game can play for the Laguntas Tigers.

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While Rioli conceded the program aimed to halt the decline of indigenous players in the AFL, he said smart decisions, rather than rash ones, had to be made.

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"With the numbers being down in the AFL on indigenous players compared to previous years, they are trying as many things as possible to increase that number but, at the same time, you have to do it the right way," Rioli said.

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"You can't exclude anyone from being part of any organisation and that is exactly what this promotes."

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Rioli said it was important indigenous people got a fair go, the same as non-indigenous people receiving a fair go in Aboriginal organisations.

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"Imagine the uproar if you could only be white to play in this side," he said.

"It's just ridiculous."

Rioli, who is assistant coach of Wanderers Football Club, is involved in supporting indigenous people into employment in Darwin and working with Aboriginal businesses to become involved in gas and oil plants.

Rioli said he fully supported the Indigenous All Stars match, which features a team of indigenous AFL players. He also supports the Fitzroy Stars side that plays in Melbourne's Northern Football League.

"The Fitzroy Stars team have non-indigenous players playing and coaching, but if it is just all indigenous and you have to be indigenous to be part of it, to me that's just very wrong," Rioli said.

Former Geelong and Adelaide forward Ronnie Burns, who was born in Darwin, said an all-indigenous team would not work in the TAC Cup.

"The non-indigenous players would feel left out," he said. "The white kid next door could be as good as the indigenous kid. It's unfair for that young kid."

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