Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

10 minutes

Tune In: Gut reactions

20 minutes

Find Out: Activism in real time

25 minutes

Take Action: #PostOrScript

5 minutes

Reflection

Learning intentions

Students will:

examine key moments in AFL history that contributed to the fight for the civil rights of First Nations peoples
assess how AFL has served as a platform for activism and social change.

Success criteria

Students can:

identify key events where AFL players and clubs fought for First Nations rights
explain how these events contributed to broader social and political change in Australia.

Tune In: Gut reactions

Step 1

Explain to students that they are going to watch a video in which photographers, fans, and players look back on the day they witnessed Noongar man and AFL player Nicky Winmar take a stand against racism on Saturday, 17 April 1993, in a St Kilda vs. Collingwood match at Collingwood’s home ground.

Outline to students that in the moments before the game, St Kilda players Gilbert McAdam and Nicky Winmar received racial abuse from the Collingwood spectators. After the siren, Nicky stood near the Collingwood cheer squad, who continued to yell racial abuse. Nicky raised his hands in victory, looked at the crowd and pulled up his guernsey and pointed to his skin, saying, ‘I’m black and I’m proud to be black.’

Step 2

As a class, watch the video to listen to the different perspectives of the iconic moment.

The moment Nicky Winmar took a stand | I Was Actually There | ABC iview (youtube.com/watch?v=3_6RYQk00Xk)

Step 3

After the video, invite students to write what may have evoked strong feelings or reactions in Part A of the Student Worksheet. Once completed, ask them to respond to the questions in Part B.

Step 4

Explain to the students that it is important to listen to their ‘gut reactions,’ as these feelings usually indicate to us when something isn’t morally fair or right. It is easy for us to ignore them, but it is right to critically assess why we feel this way and act accordingly.

Recognising our feelings in reaction to someone else’s story is empathy and usually relates to something we have experienced ourselves in some way. It helps us to relate to a situation and develop an understanding of the importance of activism.

Find Out: Activism in real time

Step 1

Your students' task is to work in groups to research a significant sporting event that has impacted inclusion, diversity, or racism within the AFL. Using this information, they will construct a timeline that identifies the changes or actions that followed.

They can select a significant event to begin their timeline, and research what changes have occurred since the event to improve the league for all players. Events may include:

Nicky Winmar’s stand in 1993
the introduction of the AFL’s anti-racism policies following Michael Long’s stand against racism in 1995
the AFL’s response to Adam Goodes’ stand against racism in 2015
the opening of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round in 2002
the introduction of the AFLW in 2017
the introduction of the Pride Round in 2019
Collingwood Football Club’s Do Better report to address racism.

Using the Student Worksheet, students will document the following:

what occurred during the event
who was involved in the event (for example, players, clubs, the community)
the outcome or the immediate impact of the event.

Step 2

Next, students will construct a timeline on the Student Worksheet that starts with their chosen event and tracks the changes or actions that followed. This should include any policies, initiatives, or shifts in club culture that resulted from the event, along with key moments where these changes were further supported or developed. The timeline should reflect how the event led to a broader cultural shift in the AFL, showing how things changed over time to improve inclusivity and equality within the league.

Take Action: #PostOrScript

Step 1

Initiate a class discussion to explore how activism within the AFL affects the civil rights of First Nations peoples and marginalised minority communities. Use the following prompts:

How has AFL activism raised awareness of civil rights for First Nations peoples?
What role do AFL players and clubs play in advocating for civil rights?
How can the AFL’s stance on racism contribute to broader societal change?
What challenges do players and communities face when speaking out about social justice in the AFL?
How can fans and the community support AFL players in promoting civil rights and inclusivity?

Step 2

Invite students to reflect on their significant event timelines and brainstorm what key points they would like to share with a wider audience on butcher’s paper.

Step 3

Using their brainstorm, instruct students to design a social media post (using Canva) or write a short video script that educates the public about the significant event and its impact on civil rights. Their post or script should:

Introduce the event: Provide a brief overview of the key event you researched.
Explain its importance: Explain why this event matters in the context of civil rights, and how it affected First Nations peoples or marginalised minority communities in AFL.
Use engaging language: Make it accessible and engaging for your audience, ensuring it grabs attention and educates people on the issue.
Include a call to action: Include a call to action encouraging people to reflect on the issue, learn more, or take part in creating change (for example, ‘Let’s continue the conversation’ or ‘Stand up against racism’).

Example text for a social media post:

‘Collingwood Football Club’s Do Better Report is a crucial step in acknowledging and addressing racism within the AFL. The 2021 report revealed the club’s past shortcomings in addressing racism and outlined actions for cultural reform. By publicly committing to change, including better support for Indigenous players and stronger anti-racism policies, Collingwood is setting an example for the entire AFL community. It's time for all of us to do better – recognise our past, challenge racism, and work towards a more inclusive future in sport. 🖤🤍 #DoBetterReport #AFL #InclusionInSport #CollingwoodFC #MagpieArmy’

Reflection

Step 1

Provide students with sticky notes and ask them to draw emoji reactions, write hashtags, or write short messages in response to each of the campaigns by ‘posting’ their notes under each social media design or video script as they would on a social media post.

Significant First Nations Events in AFL History

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Summary

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