Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley admits details of Do It Better racism report were ‘confronting’

Shayne HopeThe West Australian
VideoAFL: Collingwood have been in all the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Nathan Buckley weighs in.

Nathan Buckley insists Collingwood are working hard to avoid a repeat of the racist incidents that have blighted the AFL club and admits he found details of past players’ experiences of racism “confronting”.

Former AFL forward Andrew Krakouer this month detailed a racist incident during his time at the Magpies, which included hearing the word “b**ng” being used by teammates.

Krakouer’s experience added to those aired by Leon Davis and Heritier Lumumba, and followed the leaked Do Better report, which rocked Collingwood over the summer.

Buckley, who addressed the media on Tuesday ahead of round one, said he has taken time to reflect on the issues that have arisen and vowed to help the club improve its approach to dealing with racism.

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“One of the things that you need to consider ... is becoming more conscious of that reality and more open-minded and open-hearted to being challenged by it,“ Buckley said.

“It hasn’t been a period we have breezed through, clearly.

“So whatever the public front or facade of it is, and the challenge that comes through the media ... the reality is how we feel in here.

“It is confronting to know that people you love and respect so much have felt that way.”

The Do Better report found Collingwood guilty of “systemic racism” and detailed numerous incidents over the past 50 years.

It led the club to start implementing a series of recommendations aimed at improving its handling of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island players, along with those from multicultural backgrounds.

“What I’ve learnt personally is to stop, listen, acknowledge and seek to understand the experience of people who feel like they’ve been diminished in the environment,” Buckley said.

Camera IconNathan Buckley, Senior Coach of the Magpies addresses his players. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“As a club we’ve acknowledged that we need to do better.

“The board and the expert panel that have been put together are going to roll out the changes that need to take place and the things that need to be set in stone.

“The intent might have been there but the process hasn’t been.

“The players and staff will be guided as much as any on how that looks.

“We don’t want a repeat of the incidents that we’ve seen that the report spoke about over the last 50 years, and what Leon, Andrew and Heritier have discussed.”

Despite a tumultuous off-season at Collingwood, which also included a disastrous trade period and the departure of long-time president Eddie McGuire, Buckley said he feels energised in his role as senior coach.

The 48-year-old enters his 10th season in charge when the Magpies host the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night.

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