According to journalist Marnie Vinall, the Australian Football League (AFL) AFL is set to announce an Equality, Inclusion and Safety Advisory Committee later today with a focus on LGBTQIA+, First Nations and culturally diverse players.
One would hope “culturally diverse” players is meant to include Jewish ones, and we are not being ignored like pretty much all DEI initiatives around the world. There is, after all, a Jewish player already playing (the amazing Harry Sheezel), and he has been subjected to antisemitic abuse. Not to mention the monumental rise in antisemitism in Australia and the possibility of more Jewish players being drafted to the AFL in future.
But how do you explain the AFL’s decision to have Alex Pearce on the committee?
For those who don’t remember, Alex Pearce is the Fremantle Dockers caption who defended Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap, when they came under fire for supporting terrorists. Naturally, he also accused Israel of the fake genocide, and has accused of weaponizing “false accusations of antisemitism.”
The AFL did absolutely nothing after Alex Pearce posted these highly offensive things online. No reprimand, fine, or demand for an apology. But the AFL Players CEO Paul Marsh did comment – supporting Alex Pearce’s right to share the posts.
And now, the AFL has rewarded him with a seat on their new Equality, Inclusion and Safety Committee.
Let that sink in.
The AFL is creating a committee supposedly dedicated to “equality,” “inclusion,” and “safety” – while including a player who publicly defended terror-supporting entertainers, pushed blood libels about Israel, and dismissed concerns about antisemitism as cynical manipulation.
The message this sends to Harry Sheezel, to Jewish fans, and to the broader Jewish community couldn’t be clearer: your safety doesn’t count. Your inclusion doesn’t matter. And when someone dismisses the hatred directed at you and even contributes to it, don’t worry, we’ll promote them.
Jewish Australians deserve better. Harry Sheezel deserves better. And frankly, the AFL – if it wants to be taken seriously on this – needs to do a whole lot better.
