'AFL-Not Just a Game' puts the spotlight on racism in football

THE 30-minute documentary video, 'AFL- Not Just A Game', was be launched by WA's Equal Opportunity Commissioner Moira Raynor as part of Murdoch University's three-day Treaty Conference earlier this month.

Directed by Murdoch University Senior Lecturer in Law Tony Buti, and Media Studies Senior Lecturer Martin Mhando, 'AFL - Not Just a Game' investigates racism in sport and its wider consequences.

The documentary- the most up to date account of the issues surrounding racism in the Australian Football League - follows the events through the eyes and voices of players, coaches, umpires, journalists and administrators.

"In 'AFL- Not Just a Game' we discover that the AFL and the people involved in the industry have moved a long way forward in a relatively short period," said Mr Buti.

"This is based in the strategies that the AFL undertook a few years back by instituting anti-racial vilification rules. The video is a celebration of AFL as an organisation and as a sport that has made a difference in our society through changing peoples' perceptions of racism in sports."

The documentary interviews many central football figures including players Scott Chisholm, Peter Bell, and Clem Michael, coaches Mick Malthouse and Kevin Sheedy, AFL official Tony Peek, sports journalist Michael Sheahan, Beverly Knight, former Minister, the Honourable Gordon Hill, umpire Derek Humphrey-Smith and former Equal Opportunity Commissioner June Williams.

Insightful commentary was provided by TV personality Dennis Cometti.