Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

15 minutes

Tune In: Do Better report

25 minutes

Find Out: Analysing impact

20 minutes

Take Action: Reversing the cycle

5 minutes

Reflection

Learning intentions

Students will:

evaluate the role AFL has played in both reinforcing and challenging racism in Australia.

Success criteria

Students can:

explain how racism has affected First Nations players in the AFL
evaluate how the AFL has responded to racism and whether it has been effective.

Tune In: Do Better report

Step 1

Introduce students to the Do Better report (https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2021/02/01/0bd7a62e-7508-4a7e-9cb0-37c375507415/Do_Better.pdf) from Collingwood Football Club. This report addresses racism within the club and outlines steps the club is taking to create a more inclusive environment for all players, especially those from marginalised communities.

Allow students time to explore the report on their own devices. Direct students to view the distinctive history timeline on pages 11-13.

Encourage your students to look at the comment on Page 4 of the report, which outlines the prevalence of racism beyond Collingwood Football Club:

Collingwood is not the only Club in the AFL to be accused of racism, and racism has been publicly called out in many sporting codes across Australia. What happens on the field, in the stands and in the Club often reflects what happens in streets, schools and workplaces. While racism exists throughout Australian society, it is not an excuse for individuals and institutions to avoid taking responsibility for ensuring that within their Club, those attitudes are addressed and countered rather than allowed to fester and amplify.

Step 2

Ask the students to pair up and discuss what they found interesting in the timeline and the overall report. After discussing in pairs, ask students to write a short reflection on their devices on the following questions:

How does racism manifest in sports like the AFL, and why is it so harmful?
Why does the effort to create an inclusive and respectful environment, like the actions in the Do Better report, matter?
How can sports clubs and players help combat racism and promote inclusivity?

Encourage students to express their thoughts creatively and include personal insights about why this issue is important in their lives or in the world of sport.

Step 3

After completing their reflections, invite students to share their thoughts with the class or in smaller groups.

Find Out: Analysing impact

Step 1

As a class, watch the following video of Collingwood Football Club AFLW players, Mattea Breed and Kalinda Howarth, speaking on their experiences of racism.

Collingwood Football Club - The Issues of Racism in AFL and Society (https://vimeo.com/1097737350/41d99c52f0?share=copy)

Step 2

Next, organise students into small groups. Each group will require a device to use the internet. Students should collect a quote or case study from an AFL player discussing an incident or response to racism within the league. Students will need to decide if their chosen example represents personal racism (individual acts of discrimination) or systemic racism (institutional bias, lack of representation, or cultural issues within the organisations).

Step 3

Invite each group to present their research and explain the reasoning behind the group's decision to identify whether each example represents personal or systemic racism.

Step 4

After each group has presented their research, facilitate a class discussion. Ask students:

Do you agree with the group’s decision? Why or why not?
How might the impact of personal racism differ from systemic racism on an individual or community?
What can the AFL or other organisations do to address each type of racism?

Encourage students to reflect on how systemic racism can often be harder to identify and challenge because it’s embedded in policies, practices, and cultural norms, while personal racism is more visible but equally damaging.

Take Action: Reversing the cycle

Step 1

Outline to students that, just as negative behaviours can impact individuals and systems, positive behaviours can also have a significant effect. When people speak up, challenge stereotypes, or promote inclusion, their actions can influence group norms. As these positive behaviours spread, they can create pressure on institutions to reflect these values in their policies and culture, leading to lasting systemic change.

Step 2

Using a digital display, explore Collingwood Football Club's initiatives (community.collingwoodfc.com.au/programs). Lead students to read the impact of their programs and showcase specific examples of Collingwood’s efforts, such as the Barrawarn program, highlighting how the club has addressed racism, promoted inclusion, and supported civil rights. Encourage students to critically analyse how these initiatives have influenced both the players and the broader community to change.

Step 3

Outline to the class the potential for sports clubs, like Collingwood Football Club, to lead social change through their actions and inspire other institutions, such as local sporting clubs, to follow suit. Divide students into small groups and use the Student Worksheet to brainstorm ways their school or local sporting clubs can foster stronger, more inclusive communities.

Step 4

Direct them to evaluate the potential impact of their ideas on the Student Worksheet once they have created a list. Next, invite students to consider 1 idea that they could implement and prompt them to consider the actions and resources required to implement the idea.

Step 5

After completing their worksheets, invite the class to participate in a guided discussion where each group shares their chosen idea, followed by open questions from other students. For example:

What could be the challenges of implementing this idea?
How could we make sure this idea works for everyone?

Reflection

Step 1

Ask the students to take a few moments to silently reflect on what they learned in this lesson and what they will do to take action against racism. Place students in a circle and use a football as a talking prompt. Ask the students to pass the ball around the circle, each taking turns to share their reflective thoughts.

The Issues of Racism in AFL and Society

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Summary

Lesson Guides and Printables

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The Issues of Racism in AFL and Society

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Summary

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