When Nicky Winmar raised his jumper 20 years ago it was at Victoria Park, the home of the Magpies, and was in response to the vile behavior of a number of diehard Collingwood supporters.
So on Thursday, the Pies did something they do so well – they made an important announcement.
The Barrawarn Indigenous Employment Program, which has given disadvantaged Indigenous Australians employment and educational opportunities in the corporate sector, would be expanded with the addition of a $350,000 boost from the Victorian Government.
Barrawarn is the Wurundjeri word for Magpie.
The key aim over the length of the program is to establish 35 long-term jobs for Indigenous youngsters living in Victoria.
Collingwood forward Andrew Krakouer will be the ambassador for the program and will mentor those who have been chosen to take part.
It was a significant time to be making the announcement said Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who didn’t shy away from what took place at Victoria Park in 1993.
"Twenty years ago we were obscene in our behaviour towards Nicky Winmar, Gilbert McAdam and other aboriginal footballers and indeed to our great man Andrew Krakouer's father, Jimmy," he said.
"The AFL and also Collingwood have learned from the lessons of the past and are determined that those days never come back. It’s a spur to do the right thing in the community and to look after people."
The Barrawarn Program will be based at Victoria Park, a development McGuire said is very significant.
"It is the place that was the field of dreams, where the marginalized came so they could feel like they were part of the community and it is the place that shone the torch on Australia to show we hadn’t quite overcome our racist past 20 years ago.
"It is now the place it has always been – a beacon of hope and equality and hope for the future. Going forward, the photo of Nicky Winmar pointing to his stomach will not just be a reminder of a horrible day for the community but the first step forward for the rest of our lives," he said.
Collingwood has atoned for the events of 20 years ago, and then some. Krakouer is now a favourite son of the club.
But there is still some baggage. The AFL asked the club for permission to film the TV commercial for the Indigenous Round at Victoria Park and the Pies were only too happy to oblige.
They also offered Krakouer as one of the current AFL players to raise their jumper in salute of Winmar as part of the commercial, which was rebuffed, much to their bemusement. The Pies believe that including Krakouer would have made a powerful statement and it is hard to disagree.
Ashley Browne is an AFL Media senior writer
