Online racist abuse directed at AFL players is showing no signs of slowing down and one Geelong midfielder has had enough.
Geelong premiership player Brandan Parfitt has labelled racist online trolls as “disgraceful” and “sad” as he prepares to celebrate his Indigenous culture during the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Possibly the most important Indigenous round staged by the AFL was launched on Tuesday, and the leagues’ inclusion and social policy boss Tanya Hosch bemoaned the constant racist abuse that remains in the game.
The rounds, to be held over the next two weekends, will also be played ahead of this year’s national Voice to parliament referendum.
Several players have been racially attacked through social media this year, while Western Bulldog young gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was abused by spectators during a match in March.
Parfitt, a proud Larrakia and Warumungu man, said he was “very fortunate” to not have been attacked online himself during his career but he said it was “pretty sad” to see other players cop it.
“It is pretty disgraceful and it’s sad,” he said.
“It is keyboard warriors out there who have nothing better to do than write something abusive just because of the colour of your skin. It is pretty sad.”
Parfitt chose not to go into detail about the upcoming referendum but said “I am going to vote yes and that is where I stand”.
The Geelong midfielder said the Doug Nicholls weekends were “my two favourite rounds for the season”, with the Cats to travel to play Fremantle (known as Walyalup in Indigenous rounds) before hosting GWS Giants.
Geelong will wear navy blue and white versions of its Indigenous strip in the next fortnight, with the guernsey designed by Awabakal artist Michelle Searle.
Parfitt said his culture was “everything” to him.
“It means everything to me, it is who I am,” he said.
“It is what I identify as and it’s my people. My family is Indigenous and my family is No.1 for me, so it means the world and I love celebrating it and I love Australia and the world to know about my culture.
“(The rounds are) for my people and family. You look back at all the past players who have paved the way and it is pretty special and something I love being a part of.”
Originally published as Geelong midfielder Brandan Parfitt hits back at racist trolls online