did you know that 1 in 27 Australians are members of an AFL club one in 27 and
are members of an AFL club one in 27 and
are members of an AFL club one in 27 and when I say member I don’t mean to
when I say member I don’t mean to
when I say member I don’t mean to someone who just buys a season’s ticket
someone who just buys a season’s ticket
someone who just buys a season’s ticket or a ticket for a match or watches the
or a ticket for a match or watches the
or a ticket for a match or watches the game on TV I’m talking about someone who
game on TV I’m talking about someone who
game on TV I’m talking about someone who is a shared owner of their football club
is a shared owner of their football club
is a shared owner of their football club now this fierce loyalty is at its
now this fierce loyalty is at its
now this fierce loyalty is at its highest here in Melbourne where on any
highest here in Melbourne where on any
highest here in Melbourne where on any given weekend in winter time you can see
given weekend in winter time you can see
given weekend in winter time you can see thousands of people and families draped
thousands of people and families draped
thousands of people and families draped in the colours of their teams heading to
in the colours of their teams heading to
in the colours of their teams heading to these Coliseum’s to watch a live game
these Coliseum’s to watch a live game
these Coliseum’s to watch a live game and whether they’re a new family who’s
and whether they’re a new family who’s
and whether they’re a new family who’s arrived from Mumbai and I’m going to top
arrived from Mumbai and I’m going to top
arrived from Mumbai and I’m going to top the Essen bombers as their team or
the Essen bombers as their team or
the Essen bombers as their team or they’ve grown up in working-class North
they’ve grown up in working-class North
they’ve grown up in working-class North Melbourne and for them it’s the
Melbourne and for them it’s the
Melbourne and for them it’s the Kangaroos one of the things they all
Kangaroos one of the things they all
Kangaroos one of the things they all have in common is their love of AFL and
have in common is their love of AFL and
have in common is their love of AFL and the love of their team so what is it
the love of their team so what is it
the love of their team so what is it about this game in these clubs which
about this game in these clubs which
about this game in these clubs which drives this enormous sense of connection
drives this enormous sense of connection
drives this enormous sense of connection and tribalism is it the thrill of the
and tribalism is it the thrill of the
and tribalism is it the thrill of the contest the opportunity to see amazing
contest the opportunity to see amazing
contest the opportunity to see amazing athletes performing incredible acts of
athletes performing incredible acts of
athletes performing incredible acts of physical courage and bravery or just the
physical courage and bravery or just the
physical courage and bravery or just the thrill of winged well of course it’s all
thrill of winged well of course it’s all
thrill of winged well of course it’s all these things but it’s also much much
these things but it’s also much much
these things but it’s also much much more and my team our team listened cured
more and my team our team listened cured
more and my team our team listened cured a football club
is living proof of the ability of our
is living proof of the ability of our sporting tribes to transform communities
sporting tribes to transform communities
sporting tribes to transform communities through the power of belonging my name
through the power of belonging my name
through the power of belonging my name is Matt finis and I never played AFL
is Matt finis and I never played AFL
is Matt finis and I never played AFL on the ground Colosseum in front of
on the ground Colosseum in front of
on the ground Colosseum in front of hundreds of thousands of people I wasn’t
hundreds of thousands of people I wasn’t
hundreds of thousands of people I wasn’t a great kick
a great kick
a great kick indeed now I’m just one of the suits who
indeed now I’m just one of the suits who
indeed now I’m just one of the suits who along with the orange peelers and the
along with the orange peelers and the
along with the orange peelers and the cheer squad sit on the sidelines of our
cheer squad sit on the sidelines of our
cheer squad sit on the sidelines of our great game but over the last few years
great game but over the last few years
great game but over the last few years I’ve had the privilege to play a very
I’ve had the privilege to play a very
I’ve had the privilege to play a very small role in quite an inspiring journey
small role in quite an inspiring journey
small role in quite an inspiring journey of discovery which is a journey worth
of discovery which is a journey worth
of discovery which is a journey worth sharing
sharing
sharing now the origins of a strain rules
now the origins of a strain rules
now the origins of a strain rules football have been hotly debated but can
football have been hotly debated but can
football have been hotly debated but can be traced generally back to Indigenous
be traced generally back to Indigenous
be traced generally back to Indigenous Australians playing a game called man
Australians playing a game called man
Australians playing a game called man Brook and has subsequently been passed
Brook and has subsequently been passed
Brook and has subsequently been passed on from generations and played on
on from generations and played on
on from generations and played on suburban and country ovals around the
suburban and country ovals around the
suburban and country ovals around the country fiercely egalitarian our game
country fiercely egalitarian our game
country fiercely egalitarian our game and whilst it’s often been the great
and whilst it’s often been the great
and whilst it’s often been the great distractor leave your worries and
distractor leave your worries and
distractor leave your worries and anxieties at home and go to the footy
anxieties at home and go to the footy
anxieties at home and go to the footy it’s also being the stage from time to
it’s also being the stage from time to
it’s also being the stage from time to time upon which much of our nation’s
time upon which much of our nation’s
time upon which much of our nation’s social dialogue has played out and so
social dialogue has played out and so
social dialogue has played out and so you know it’s not without its politics
you know it’s not without its politics
you know it’s not without its politics indeed
indeed
indeed that moment back in 1993 when Nicky we’d
that moment back in 1993 when Nicky we’d
that moment back in 1993 when Nicky we’d mal lifted his jumper and point to the
mal lifted his jumper and point to the
mal lifted his jumper and point to the calories skin it remains one of the most
calories skin it remains one of the most
calories skin it remains one of the most enduring images of Australian sport and
enduring images of Australian sport and
enduring images of Australian sport and race in our history now the mighty
race in our history now the mighty
race in our history now the mighty Saints were born right here in some
Saints were born right here in some
Saints were born right here in some killed over 140 years ago and it’s fair
killed over 140 years ago and it’s fair
killed over 140 years ago and it’s fair to say that over that time winning
to say that over that time winning
to say that over that time winning Premiership cups hasn’t been our strong
Premiership cups hasn’t been our strong
Premiership cups hasn’t been our strong suit it was back in 1966 when we won our
suit it was back in 1966 when we won our
suit it was back in 1966 when we won our first and only Premiership Cup
first and only Premiership Cup
first and only Premiership Cup unfortunately back in 1966 there was
unfortunately back in 1966 there was
unfortunately back in 1966 there was this tradition of the opposing players
this tradition of the opposing players
this tradition of the opposing players swapping jumpers with each other after
swapping jumpers with each other after
swapping jumpers with each other after the game so even our Premiership
the game so even our Premiership
the game so even our Premiership photograph album has our Premiership
photograph album has our Premiership
photograph album has our Premiership heroes wearing the jumpers of the
heroes wearing the jumpers of the
heroes wearing the jumpers of the Magpies
Magpies
Magpies [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] but I can tell you that right now
but I can tell you that right now
but I can tell you that right now everyone it’s in Kilda is firmly focused
everyone it’s in Kilda is firmly focused
everyone it’s in Kilda is firmly focused on securing a second piece of silverware
on securing a second piece of silverware
on securing a second piece of silverware for our trophy cabinet when our players
for our trophy cabinet when our players
for our trophy cabinet when our players think about making our people proud they
think about making our people proud they
think about making our people proud they think about returning to their home with
think about returning to their home with
think about returning to their home with a premiership cup on behalf of hundreds
a premiership cup on behalf of hundreds
a premiership cup on behalf of hundreds and thousands of some Kilda supporters
and thousands of some Kilda supporters
and thousands of some Kilda supporters but they also know that they can’t win a
but they also know that they can’t win a
but they also know that they can’t win a premiership every year let alone every
premiership every year let alone every
premiership every year let alone every month or every week so they’ve developed
month or every week so they’ve developed
month or every week so they’ve developed a plan to engender pride in the way they
a plan to engender pride in the way they
a plan to engender pride in the way they go about playing and training and living
go about playing and training and living
go about playing and training and living on a weekly basis and whether it’s
on a weekly basis and whether it’s
on a weekly basis and whether it’s playing with pride or playing for pride
playing with pride or playing for pride
playing with pride or playing for pride this intangible sentiment has become
this intangible sentiment has become
this intangible sentiment has become such an important ingredient of our
such an important ingredient of our
such an important ingredient of our sense of purpose in our footy club that
sense of purpose in our footy club that
sense of purpose in our footy club that it’s worth actually stepping back and
it’s worth actually stepping back and
it’s worth actually stepping back and exploring just some of that journey just
exploring just some of that journey just
exploring just some of that journey just before I arrived at some Kilda back in
before I arrived at some Kilda back in
before I arrived at some Kilda back in 2014 I discovered that a marketing
2014 I discovered that a marketing
2014 I discovered that a marketing agency had been confirmed by the club to
agency had been confirmed by the club to
agency had been confirmed by the club to overhaul the brand create a new logo on
overhaul the brand create a new logo on
overhaul the brand create a new logo on an advertising campaign and in a rare
an advertising campaign and in a rare
an advertising campaign and in a rare moment of clarity I remember thinking
moment of clarity I remember thinking
moment of clarity I remember thinking hang on a second our identity is not a
hang on a second our identity is not a
hang on a second our identity is not a marketing exercise the last thing we
marketing exercise the last thing we
marketing exercise the last thing we need is a new logo but we certainly need
need is a new logo but we certainly need
need is a new logo but we certainly need to get a better sense of ourselves and
to get a better sense of ourselves and
to get a better sense of ourselves and critically our relationship with our
critically our relationship with our
critically our relationship with our community since Kilda was born in a
community since Kilda was born in a
community since Kilda was born in a unique part of Melbourne this melting
unique part of Melbourne this melting
unique part of Melbourne this melting pot of humanity which is really grounded
pot of humanity which is really grounded
pot of humanity which is really grounded yet aspirational and in his brightest
yet aspirational and in his brightest
yet aspirational and in his brightest moments everyone is welcome to be
moments everyone is welcome to be
moments everyone is welcome to be themselves it’s in Cuba we’re rock stars
themselves it’s in Cuba we’re rock stars
themselves it’s in Cuba we’re rock stars rubbed shoulders with the homeless and
rubbed shoulders with the homeless and
rubbed shoulders with the homeless and neither is out of place it’s no
neither is out of place it’s no
neither is out of place it’s no coincidence that the annual celebration
coincidence that the annual celebration
coincidence that the annual celebration of sexual diversity in this state one of
of sexual diversity in this state one of
of sexual diversity in this state one of the most culturally diverse cities in
the most culturally diverse cities in
the most culturally diverse cities in Australia is a march down the Main
Australia is a march down the Main
Australia is a march down the Main Street of some Kilda
Street of some Kilda
Street of some Kilda as we listen to the stories of our fans
as we listen to the stories of our fans
as we listen to the stories of our fans now members our coaches and our players
now members our coaches and our players
now members our coaches and our players and we connected the dots between this
and we connected the dots between this
and we connected the dots between this place which gave birth to our footy club
place which gave birth to our footy club
place which gave birth to our footy club all those years ago and what we are
all those years ago and what we are
all those years ago and what we are today we actually discovered a
today we actually discovered a
today we actually discovered a disconnect that was sitting right before
disconnect that was sitting right before
disconnect that was sitting right before our eyes and pretty conveniently ignored
our eyes and pretty conveniently ignored
our eyes and pretty conveniently ignored we discovered a section of our community
we discovered a section of our community
we discovered a section of our community which felt welcome to be themselves in
which felt welcome to be themselves in
which felt welcome to be themselves in some cool to the suburb but not when
some cool to the suburb but not when
some cool to the suburb but not when they were supporting it’s in cured of
they were supporting it’s in cured of
they were supporting it’s in cured of the club we discovered a section of our
the club we discovered a section of our
the club we discovered a section of our community that felt safer to be
community that felt safer to be
community that felt safer to be themselves on the streets than they did
themselves on the streets than they did
themselves on the streets than they did in the stadiums now by coincidence at
in the stadiums now by coincidence at
in the stadiums now by coincidence at the same time as we were having this
the same time as we were having this
the same time as we were having this conversation
conversation
conversation a small Football Club in country
a small Football Club in country
a small Football Club in country Victoria started a conversation which is
Victoria started a conversation which is
Victoria started a conversation which is to be honest being taboo in country
to be honest being taboo in country
to be honest being taboo in country towns let alone footie clubs for years
towns let alone footie clubs for years
towns let alone footie clubs for years when Yarra Glen Jason ball came out and
when Yarra Glen Jason ball came out and
when Yarra Glen Jason ball came out and spoke openly about his homosexuality his
spoke openly about his homosexuality his
spoke openly about his homosexuality his footy club decided to change the color
footy club decided to change the color
footy club decided to change the color of their jumper to take a stand against
of their jumper to take a stand against
of their jumper to take a stand against homophobia and wrap their arms around
homophobia and wrap their arms around
homophobia and wrap their arms around Jason when that footy club decided to
Jason when that footy club decided to
Jason when that footy club decided to have a conversation to address prejudice
have a conversation to address prejudice
have a conversation to address prejudice and stereotypes which had existed for
and stereotypes which had existed for
and stereotypes which had existed for generations some Keota was inspired into
generations some Keota was inspired into
generations some Keota was inspired into action if a country footy town can have
action if a country footy town can have
action if a country footy town can have that conversation and make such a
that conversation and make such a
that conversation and make such a difference in their community what could
difference in their community what could
difference in their community what could we do on a national basis imagine if we
we do on a national basis imagine if we
we do on a national basis imagine if we could stage a game attended by tens of
could stage a game attended by tens of
could stage a game attended by tens of thousands of people watched by hundreds
thousands of people watched by hundreds
thousands of people watched by hundreds of thousands if not millions more where
of thousands if not millions more where
of thousands if not millions more where we laid out the welcome mat and sent the
we laid out the welcome mat and sent the
we laid out the welcome mat and sent the most powerful message to the LGBTI
most powerful message to the LGBTI
most powerful message to the LGBTI community you’re welcome at the footie
community you’re welcome at the footie
community you’re welcome at the footie well we knew this was the right thing to
well we knew this was the right thing to
well we knew this was the right thing to do and we knew that we were the club to
do and we knew that we were the club to
do and we knew that we were the club to do it but we also knew that get it wrong
do it but we also knew that get it wrong
do it but we also knew that get it wrong and you can cause more damage than good
and you can cause more damage than good
and you can cause more damage than good so we embarked on a two-year journey of
so we embarked on a two-year journey of
so we embarked on a two-year journey of discovery which ultimately made us a
discovery which ultimately made us a
discovery which ultimately made us a much richer place for what it is that we
much richer place for what it is that we
much richer place for what it is that we learned we met with politicians and
learned we met with politicians and
learned we met with politicians and activists media commentators community
activists media commentators community
activists media commentators community organisations who were really keen to
organisations who were really keen to
organisations who were really keen to help us to help them to belong in sport
help us to help them to belong in sport
help us to help them to belong in sport we surveyed our members to get a sense
we surveyed our members to get a sense
we surveyed our members to get a sense of their attitudes we marched with our
of their attitudes we marched with our
of their attitudes we marched with our coaches and our players and our staff
coaches and our players and our staff
coaches and our players and our staff with the LGBTI community and some Kilda
with the LGBTI community and some Kilda
with the LGBTI community and some Kilda and we did education sessions as well
and we did education sessions as well
and we did education sessions as well because for too long
because for too long
because for too long language like proof homo have
language like proof homo have
language like proof homo have been all too commonly used in our game
been all too commonly used in our game
been all too commonly used in our game and along the way we met some of the
and along the way we met some of the
and along the way we met some of the most inspiring people who were so giving
most inspiring people who were so giving
most inspiring people who were so giving of their wisdom and their courage to
of their wisdom and their courage to
of their wisdom and their courage to join us in our journey but we also
join us in our journey but we also
join us in our journey but we also learned that some of our fans resented
learned that some of our fans resented
learned that some of our fans resented their footy club having this
their footy club having this
their footy club having this conversation so we did receive some hate
conversation so we did receive some hate
conversation so we did receive some hate mail the occasional cut up membership
mail the occasional cut up membership
mail the occasional cut up membership and we also received flyers distributed
and we also received flyers distributed
and we also received flyers distributed by anti-marriage equality campaigners
by anti-marriage equality campaigners
by anti-marriage equality campaigners urging people to boycott our game it’s
urging people to boycott our game it’s
urging people to boycott our game it’s funny but our club got a bit of an
funny but our club got a bit of an
funny but our club got a bit of an insight into what it would be like to be
insight into what it would be like to be
insight into what it would be like to be on the wrong side of homophobia now we
on the wrong side of homophobia now we
on the wrong side of homophobia now we were certainly troubled by this but I’ve
were certainly troubled by this but I’ve
were certainly troubled by this but I’ve got to say there was more than a few
got to say there was more than a few
got to say there was more than a few sleepless nights but we were far more
sleepless nights but we were far more
sleepless nights but we were far more encouraged by these heartwarming
encouraged by these heartwarming
encouraged by these heartwarming messages of support that we received
messages of support that we received
messages of support that we received from Saints fans and fans of other clubs
from Saints fans and fans of other clubs
from Saints fans and fans of other clubs who all of a sudden saw an opportunity
who all of a sudden saw an opportunity
who all of a sudden saw an opportunity for change and who would have thought
for change and who would have thought
for change and who would have thought that over 20 years on since Niki win ma
that over 20 years on since Niki win ma
that over 20 years on since Niki win ma lifted up his jumper that he would start
lifted up his jumper that he would start
lifted up his jumper that he would start a new conversation about discrimination
a new conversation about discrimination
a new conversation about discrimination and Prejudice when he and his gay son
and Prejudice when he and his gay son
and Prejudice when he and his gay son tine and shared the story
tine and shared the story
tine and shared the story of an Aboriginal father sporting hero
of an Aboriginal father sporting hero
of an Aboriginal father sporting hero and his estranged son growing up in
and his estranged son growing up in
and his estranged son growing up in Ballarat who would have thought that by
Ballarat who would have thought that by
Ballarat who would have thought that by simply painting the rainbow colors on
simply painting the rainbow colors on
simply painting the rainbow colors on our ground and changing the colours
our ground and changing the colours
our ground and changing the colours likewise of our goal umpires flags that
likewise of our goal umpires flags that
likewise of our goal umpires flags that we would send such a powerful message of
we would send such a powerful message of
we would send such a powerful message of inclusion that it would encourage people
inclusion that it would encourage people
inclusion that it would encourage people to come to the football when they’d
to come to the football when they’d
to come to the football when they’d never been before
never been before
never been before who would afford that’s the simple act
who would afford that’s the simple act
who would afford that’s the simple act of our coaches and players sending
of our coaches and players sending
of our coaches and players sending messages of welcome would have such an
messages of welcome would have such an
messages of welcome would have such an impact that a Saints fan would come to
impact that a Saints fan would come to
impact that a Saints fan would come to the stadium and marching to see his team
the stadium and marching to see his team
the stadium and marching to see his team holding his male partners hand for the
holding his male partners hand for the
holding his male partners hand for the first time who would have thought
first time who would have thought
first time who would have thought [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] colors of the rifles and spices not
colors of the rifles and spices not
colors of the rifles and spices not every owner is a gram the primeira one
every owner is a gram the primeira one
every owner is a gram the primeira one by college it really is priceless she
by college it really is priceless she
by college it really is priceless she began for the iPhone
now it’s hard to believe it’s been over
now it’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since the first ever pride game
a year since the first ever pride game
a year since the first ever pride game in world sport was staged in Melbourne
in world sport was staged in Melbourne
in world sport was staged in Melbourne on that winter’s night a whole nother
on that winter’s night a whole nother
on that winter’s night a whole nother season has been running one including a
season has been running one including a
season has been running one including a second pride game which we took to
second pride game which we took to
second pride game which we took to Sydney this year to lad the welcome mat
Sydney this year to lad the welcome mat
Sydney this year to lad the welcome mat to a whole new community of LGBTI fans
to a whole new community of LGBTI fans
to a whole new community of LGBTI fans and there were news stories this year
and there were news stories this year
and there were news stories this year too but now we can week out when we go
too but now we can week out when we go
too but now we can week out when we go to the footy we see these symbols of
to the footy we see these symbols of
to the footy we see these symbols of Pride and inclusion in the scarves and
Pride and inclusion in the scarves and
Pride and inclusion in the scarves and the beanies and the flags which are
the beanies and the flags which are
the beanies and the flags which are there week in week out and these symbols
there week in week out and these symbols
there week in week out and these symbols of pride remind us as a fully Club that
of pride remind us as a fully Club that
of pride remind us as a fully Club that our community is proud of what we’re
our community is proud of what we’re
our community is proud of what we’re doing and our players can draw upon that
doing and our players can draw upon that
doing and our players can draw upon that pride as strengths to deliver that
pride as strengths to deliver that
pride as strengths to deliver that second premise ship back for the Saints
second premise ship back for the Saints
second premise ship back for the Saints and fuel a contagious sense of belonging
and fuel a contagious sense of belonging
and fuel a contagious sense of belonging for everyone thank you
for everyone thank you
for everyone thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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