Statement from Robbie Muir

[Saintmatt]

https://www.saints.com.au/news/801193?f ... xYtEU6B-ik

It feels like the meaningful reconciliation has begun. Makes me feel good about the world and in particular, our club and its supporters.

[Secret Kiel]

It's been a fantastic response but I think all credit should go to the ABC journalist Russel Jackson. Clearly there was a lot of work go into that piece and was scheduled for publication on Indigenous Round for maximum impact.

Good Journalism got the ball rolling.

[asiu]

penned well
that was a solid read

he knows well
who comes first

good onya robbie muir
... all the best to you ‘n yours

.deadly.

***

well ,
that was a wind

the wind of Change
just swept across the land


how lucky is this Country


there’s the circuit breaker
if we tend it
with genuineness



nice work again
to everyone involved

good magic

[Ghost Like]

I'll be honest, I've not always been Muir's greatest fan, we have had a couple of run ins & also shared a couple of beers but I'm very appreciative of a further understanding of the man, his life, his pain, his demons and I wish him nothing but a peaceful remainder of his life.

I also wish that no player in the future has to contend with the absolute bile Robbie and others have endured because of their skin colour and their sublime abilities on the field.

[saynta]

Never again should we stand by and do nothing whilst racial abuse forces any indigenous footballer out of the game. Never again should be our motto. It will be mine.

I can't stand the ABC but this was a truly brilliant and timely article.

How often can a journo claim to have truly changed someones life.

When others talk about their favorite saints players from the past I sometimes brought forward Robbie Muir's name. He was one of my favorites. Shameful I never thought to ask how he was travelling.

[st sandy]

I am incredibly proud of the recent actions to this very difficult matter
Robert - for agreeing to sharing the horrific story of his life
StKilda FC for the public apology & the offer of support
StKilda fans for amazing support for the gofundme page

However, just like night follows day, the next step in this public situation will be that the right wing political opinion writers of the Murdoch press (Herald Sun) will turn the event into a left wing nonsence - & try make those who contributed feel bad about themselves.
Well i refuse to feel bad (when the propaganda begins)
The events of the last few days has shown the underlying supportive nature of the human spirit - to take action to endeavour to right a wrong

[minneapolis]

It is a truly awful story about Robert. I hope he has some peace and comfort now. And re-integrates himself back into society and the club. It seems he is very lucky to have a partner that is part of the support process and has instigated the change process for the better.

People can criticise the club. But there is another side.

The club did help him many times. And he was difficult to help.

This is from a contact from inside the past players association.

I am only posting it to show that there is two sides. Take it as you want.

I texted this "Of course part of it is on Robbie - but gees he copped a bundle without basically any support (other than Neil Roberts)."

This was the reply:

"That’s the point
He got heaps of support

He kept coming back

And the club accommodated

Many many times

He was belting blokes
Stealing

Gambling

Abusing

Wracking up debts
Skipping rent

Stealing cars

I could go on

It’s sad

The shoulder op
He says costs $25k

The club found out it was $10k and offered that

It’s amazing how it’s twisted around

The four Times he went back to past players he started a fight 3 times

And stole grog

And jumpers to sell

It’s sad"

[asiu]

This is from a contact from inside the past players association.

mmmmmmmm

i’m not doubting the veracity of those words presented
in any way

pinching sh1t that's not nailed down
has always been a desperate mans support system

the f***ed up blackfella from our crew was deadly at it
(as he was at most things)

the early whities ended up in this land
for pinching sh1t

though they were not quite as smart
(coz they kept getting caught)

then went on a pinching spree out here
on behalf if some king kent from across the ocean


thats why you give
so the desperate has no need to sell out his
moral integrity
to survive

but and anyways

‘we’ have a current member of the past players/officials
association i’d like to put that in front of

i’ll report back
when i hear ‘their’ version

[George27]

It is a truly awful story about Robert. I hope he has some peace and comfort now. And re-integrates himself back into society and the club. It seems he is very lucky to have a partner that is part of the support process and has instigated the change process for the better.

People can criticise the club. But there is another side.

The club did help him many times. And he was difficult to help.

This is from a contact from inside the past players association.

I am only posting it to show that there is two sides. Take it as you want.

I texted this "Of course part of it is on Robbie - but gees he copped a bundle without basically any support (other than Neil Roberts)."

This was the reply:

"That’s the point
He got heaps of support

He kept coming back

And the club accommodated

Many many times

He was belting blokes
Stealing

Gambling

Abusing

Wracking up debts
Skipping rent

Stealing cars

I could go on

It’s sad

The shoulder op
He says costs $25k

The club found out it was $10k and offered that

It’s amazing how it’s twisted around

The four Times he went back to past players he started a fight 3 times

And stole grog

And jumpers to sell

It’s sad"

If that all be true, then perhaps all the more reason to think and hope that the outpouring of public support for Robbie in the last few days will prove to be a truly cathartic moment for Robbie , for his fellow past players and for us. I have never walked an inch, let alone a mile, in his shoes , so could not begin to understand .

[asiu]

mmmmmm

yes , was his first word ,
whilst not privy to players n coaches affairs
the feelings expressed above
are common

in hindsight
more ‘could’ of been done

in reality
the timing is now
not then


***


out with ... she’ll be right mate
in with ... doin ok mate ?

still , good magic.

[minneapolis]

in hindsight
more ‘could’ of been done

in reality
the timing is now
not then

He copped a lot (too much) and didn't handle it very well. His partner is life-converting.

Your are correct. That is the crux of the matter. The timing is now.

We all added a few bob to the go-fund-me page and that will help a lot with his circumstances.

There will be reconciliation on both sides and he will have a club environment as another family place.

Super well done for him to speak up and the journo to write an excellent piece. One soul hopefully saved.

[The Peanut]

The SANFL made an official statement with an apology to Robert, but just how much of some of these statements have credibility - here is one example of inconsistency.

SANFL Statement: Robert Muir August 24. 2020

SANFL, together with the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club. wishes to apologise to former SANFL player Robert Muir for the appalling racism he experienced whilst playing for Woodville FC.

His story highlights the pain and suffering he endured from racial taunts and disrespectful actions of supporters at the match between Woodville and West Torrens In 1905.

Unfortunately, we acknowledge this would not be an Isolated incidence of racism in our game from the past which must be addressed. We are sincerely sorry to all those SANFL players who have endured racial vilification.

SANFL will be reaching out to Robert to express our apologies personally. should he be willing for us to do so.
Today. SANFL-through Its vilification and discrimination policy framework - has zero tolerance for offensive and racist behaviour towards players which Is at complete odds with the values and spirit of our game.

SANFL STATEMENT

ON THE SAME DAY AS THE MEDIA RELEASE

At a tribunal hearing on Monday night, the Southern Football League (SFL] only gave Flagstaff Hill FC a “formal reprimand”, after the club failed to stop its supporters from yelling racial abuse at Indigenous players from Port Noarlunga FC for an entire game.

After a game between the two teams earlier this month, Indigenous players from Port Noarlunga FC put in a formal complaint to the league after being called "black c**ts and stinky” for the entire game by a group of “10 or more” Flagstaff Hill supporters.

Speaking to NITV News on Tuesday, Indigenous player, Connor Sampson said he and his teammates left the tribunal feeling “angry” and “speechless” by the league’s decision.

“This has left us brothers feeling sick to the stomach and stuck with this anger for the rest of our lives because it took guts for us to come out and point this out,” said Mr Sampson.

NITV REPORT

[Josh Battle]

in hindsight
more ‘could’ of been done

in reality
the timing is now
not then

He copped a lot (too much) and didn't handle it very well. His partner is life-converting.

Your are correct. That is the crux of the matter. The timing is now.

We all added a few bob to the go-fund-me page and that will help a lot with his circumstances.

There will be reconciliation on both sides and he will have a club environment as another family place.

Super well done for him to speak up and the journo to write an excellent piece. One soul hopefully saved.

I’ve highlighted one of your statements. Most of the teens and adults that turn to excessive drinking and drug abuse, usually have a pretty good reason for wanting to escape their reality. Do you think perhaps he had no excuse for getting angry and losing his temper in his playing days? Perhaps he should have complained to the tribunal where they punish opposition players and punish clubs for the behaviour of their supporters. Or should he have been a good xxxxxx and just kept his mouth shut and kept his hands to himself?

READ THIS AGAIN

After a game between the two teams earlier this month, Indigenous players from Port Noarlunga FC put in a formal complaint to the league after being called "black c**ts and stinky” for the entire game by a group of “10 or more” Flagstaff Hill supporters.

Speaking to NITV News on Tuesday, Indigenous player, Connor Sampson said he and his teammates left the tribunal feeling “angry” and “speechless” by the league’s decision.

“This has left us brothers feeling sick to the stomach and stuck with this anger for the rest of our lives because it took guts for us to come out and point this out,” said Mr Sampson.


I’d say Muir handled in a way that made every single person who abused him think long and hard about ever doing it again. He took care of it personally because he knew that the people in control had basically the same attitude as the perpetrators ....at that time...well actually....if you read the paragraph above, it seems that the powers that be in SA need a bit of an overhaul.

[asiu]

yea

saw that