McGuire 'took 37 seconds to undo good work'
Racism is still an active scourge in society that forces indigenous Australians to prove they are equal human beings, according to former Fremantle and Melbourne star Jeff Farmer.
Farmer and West Coast great David Wirrpanda emphatically backed Collingwood premiership player Harry O'Brien's stance that Magpies president Eddie McGuire's radio outburst yesterday reflected "common attitudes that we as a society face".
Farmer said McGuire's previous stands against racism were impressive and it was sad and disappointing that it took "37 seconds" to undo the good work.
He believed McGuire would be genuinely remorseful, but the first indigenous player to kick 400 AFL goals said racial stereotyping was still rife in general society away from Australia's football fields.
While playing in the North Pilbara Football League in 2011, he was suspended for two weeks after he left the field to confront a spectator who racially abused him.
"First and foremost, it's disappointing that it's still happening," Farmer said.
"I can only talk about the experiences I've had and I've been judged by the colour of my skin before people have actually met me.
"That's stereotyping and in some parts of society, indigenous people are still seen as the bad people.
"It's a hard tag to shake and sometimes you've got to work 10 times harder to be treated like a human being.
"I had to deal with it at AFL level, but the AFL has done a tremendous job at being pioneers to stamp out racism.
"You just hope the supporters one day follow the same lead and basically be able to come to a football match, support and barrack for their team and enjoy the entertainment without taking racist pot shots.
"Hopefully this is a lesson for everyone to learn from, to treat people the way you want to be treated regardless of colour, religion, sexuality or whatever."
A bewildered Wirrpanda, a close friend of Adam Goodes, hopes the racism incidents of the past week will be a "slap in the face" for Australian society.
He also did not hide his disappointment in McGuire, saying the work he did trying to eradicate racism had taken a massive hit.
"In my eyes, when I look at Eddie and what he's done - and he's done plenty - it's forgotten about in an instant," Wirrpanda said.
"When you've got one of the most respected and famous football identities and president of one of Australia's most powerful organisations . . . Eddie is in the media more than anyone, and to pass up a comment like that, I felt instantly disappointed in Ed. They're the kind of people you want behind you to help stamp certain issues out.
"It's just not acceptable.
"If you believe something and make public noise about it and really want to follow through, you have to be consistent. If you really do believe in it, you don't have a slip of the tongue.
"I thought we were all making pretty good headway, but it raises its dirty head every now and then.
"Eddie's made that comment and I don't like it because it's disrespectful to Goodesy and to all of us . . . if he's too tired, don't do the job."
Wirrpanda also praised O'Brien's courage for making such a strong stand against his club's president.
"It's a credit to Harry O'Brien," he said. "Not only is he a sensational player, he's also a very well-rounded person and respected."
'Sometimes you've got to work 10 times harder to be treated like a human being.'"
Jeff Farmer * Former AFL star
