Three former players for the Collingwood Magpies have declared they will cease dealing with the club.
Heritier Lumumba, Andy Krakouer and Leon Davis had been meeting with the club, which has been implementing recommendations of thereport - an internal investigation into Collingwood's responses to racism and safety in the workplace - for the past 15 months.
This morning, Lumumba declared they had lost faith in the club's intentions in a Twitter post.
"Nothing has changed. It is our firm belief that the Collingwood Football Club has no intention of acting in good faith to achieve a just outcome for past players who have experienced racism at the Club."
It comes after a damning few years for the club on racial issues.
In 2017, Lumumba revealed he had endured years of racial epithets from his Magpies teammates, in what he called a "boys' club for racist and sexist jokes". It included being called "chimp".
His claims were refuted by Lumumba's former coach and club president Eddie McGuire, but backed up by several of his colleagues, and eventually led to Collingwood commissioning the report into the club's culture.
Last year, the release of the 'Do Better' report proved a damning indictment on the culture of the club. Written by Professors Larissa Behrendt and Lindon Coombes, it found systemic racism within the Magpies.
The controversy caused by the report's release was compounded by McGuire's response to its findings, saying it was a "proud day" for the club.
His comments, one of many to have caused ire in his years involved with the club, inspired even more outrage in the community and led to his resignation.
The Do Better report made several recommendations, including a truth telling environment, where former players and employees of the club could discuss their experiences of racism.
Today's announcement from the players comes just a few weeks after the club released the findings from the 12 month progress review of the Do Better report, which is being administered by the Jumbunna Institute, led by Professors Larissa Behrendt and Lindon Coombes.
Within the review, documented progress was highlighted, and an acknowledgement of those within the club both past and present who have fought to have change implemented.
"We acknowledge the particular dedication demonstrated by First Nations people within Collingwood to continue their work in making Collingwood a better club for everyone," they stated.
"We would also note that the ambitions of Collingwood in this space will be greatly enhanced by the support of other Clubs and by the AFL.
"Real and lasting cultural change of the nature they are pursuing takes time, dedication and persistence."
In response to the findings of the first year review, Magpies CEO Mark Anderson said in a statement, “As one of the club’s staff interviewed for the report has said, ‘None of us are kidding ourselves that there isn’t a long, long way to go, but everyone’s leaned into that, all of our people want to do better and be better.’
"For me, that says it all, and I look forward to the next 12 months of this important work.”
