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<\/p>\n\u201cThe AFL has the opportunity to lead by the way in which it conducts its defence. We continue to invite Andrew Dillon to engage in realistic settlement discussions, and to meaningfully listen to and understand our clients\u2019 experiences of racism in the game and the permanent harm it causes them and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AFL followed up its defence with a statement on Friday, saying it would continue to \u201cwork through\u201d the class action and support work against racism and discrimination at all levels of the game.<\/p>\n
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Nicky Winmar has spoken out against racism.Credit: ABC<\/p>\n
\u201cThe AFL respects and values all people in our game and is continually working to improve and promote football environments that reflect that respect and maintain standards that are unaccepting of discrimination, in all forms,\u201d the league said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a code, we are privileged to have had hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players who have played our game. We fully acknowledge during our long history of the game there has been racism in Australian football and that players have been marginalised, hurt or discriminated against because of their race, and for that, we have apologised and continue to apologise and will continue to act to address that harm.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe do not agree with the Margalit Lawyers claims that the VFL\/AFL has been conducted negligently over the past 47 years and we will defend those claims.\u201d
But Phil Krakouer criticised the league\u2019s response.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe AFL\u2019s defence hurts,\u201d he said in a statement on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t defend ourselves against racism in the AFL. We were in an impossible position \u2013 if we fought back, we were often reported and suspended. The AFL could have done something and they chose not to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The class action has Winmar, the former St Kilda and Western Bulldogs great, and Krakouer, the former North Melbourne star, as the lead plaintiffs. It also includes Krakouer\u2019s brother, James Krakouer.<\/p>\n