The AFL has scrapped the decision to hold a minute’s silence in honour of Queen Elizabeth before each AFLW match this round after clubs questioned the appropriateness of holding the ceremony during AFLW Indigenous round.
Clubs were sent a memo late on Friday night after the league reconsidered the call made earlier in the day in response to Queen Elizabeth’s death after concerns were raised about the lack of consultation with representatives of clubs, including Indigenous liaison officers, before the decision was announced.
Players observed a minute’s silence at the MCG on Friday night.Credit:Getty
The league listened to the feedback that a source said came from the majority of clubs and changed the decision, having held the minute’s silence before both the men’s and women’s games on Friday night.
There will be a minute’s silence before Saturday night’s semi-final between Collingwood and Fremantle and there will be no extra ceremony surrounding the start of the match.
In the memo sent to clubs the AFL said, “as AFLW season 7 are Indigenous rounds, all existing plans to respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will proceed as planned”.
The AFL had earlier released a statement saying that: “In honour and remembrance of Her Majesty’s life, a minute’s silence will be observed before the national anthem at this evening and tomorrow’s semi-final matches and flags will be flown at half-mast.
“A minute’s silence will also be observed before all AFLW and VFL matches this weekend.”
