Sydney Swans AFL boss takes a swipe at clueless players after $15 million Netball Australia debacle

Sydney Swans boss Tom Harley has urged athletes to educate themselves thoroughly before publicly criticizing the way companies are run.

The AFL club’s director spoke at a time when sports sponsorship had become a subject of intense public debate after Australian netball players objected to funding from mining company Hancock Prospecting.

Players objected in 1984 to historical comments by the late company founder, Lang Hancock, who advocated sterilizing “half-blood” Aboriginal people through their water supply to prevent them from causing problems in Indigenous communities.

The players’ objections led to company chief and Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart – Mr Hancock’s daughter – drawing $15 million in funding into Netball Australia, leaving a huge financial shortfall for the organization’s budget.

Swans CEO Harley, who was a two-time Premiership-winning skipper in Geelong, believes that athletes are entitled to a voice when it comes to social issues, but they also need to be aware of how important sponsors are.

“When it comes to the athletes, it’s about creating an environment where their views can be heard in a safe environment,” he said during a conference call with club sponsor Origin Energy.

‘There is also education the other way around, about what is important for the club from an administrative point of view.

“We are constantly educating our people about some of the commercial requirements of running a sports club, which ultimately is to put our best foot forward on the pitch… and also pay the players’ salaries. ).

“Sports are maturing in many ways and we are all mature enough to understand that commercial partnerships are an important part of making sport thrive.”

It follows Hancock Prospecting – the company owned by Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart – drawing $15 million in funding into Netball Australia due to players’ reaction to comments her father made in 1984.

The Diamonds playgroup collectively supported Indigenous teammate Donnell Wallam, (pictured centre) who felt that Hancock Prospecting as a company did not align with its values ​​as a person

Harley denied that clubs were purely interested in money or used in “sportswashing’ – the practice of companies or countries that use sports to promote their brand when there are questions about issues such as labor practices or human rights violations.

The Swans have a major sponsorship deal with state-run Qatar Airways, which has been questioned by some LGBT+ fans of the AFL club as the Gulf state has laws that consider homosexual activity a punishable offense punishable by jail time.

The Diamonds refused to go to court over playing comics with the Hancock Prospecting logo during the recent four Test series of the Constellation Cup against New Zealand (pictured)

Harley asked fans to be forgiving when it seemed like sport was only chasing the dollar and ignoring such social concerns.

“We’re all doing our best,” Harley said.

“It’s important to be nice when we judge how we’re all doing. I would absolutely be able to say, from Swans’ point of view, that there is never any bad intentions when we are out of step with anything.

“If you’re taking athletes for the journey, be open and comfortable with feedback,” he told the Daily Telegram.

‘You (also) have to look at an environment that shows how important commercial partnerships can be.’

Former Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri noted that she has also seen major changes in Australia when it comes to the way some sports clubs and organizations engage with their players on social issues.

She believed that different views were welcome in football and that open dialogue makes athletes feel that their voices are heard and valued.