RussellEbertHandball
Flick pass expert
I looked for a suitable thread to post the story about the Indigenous Players Alliance and Wangers influence but couldn't really find one. I figured given he has done a lot of stuff with the club's Aboriginal and youth programs, mentoring some of our indigenous players the last few years, making a real commitment to these programs and now his art work which is being featured inside the footy industry as well as general arts community, I should set up a thread about the influence he is having at Port and in the game, even though it doesn't make screaming headline like Kennett or Koch or Carey or Lyon types.
People forget that Gavin was the first Aboriginal Brownlow medalist and first Aboriginal to play 300 V/AFL games. He has enormous standing with the ex Aboriginal players even though the (Malbun) media tends to forget him when looking at past Aboriginal greats and their influence.
He was instrumental in setting up the Indigenous Players Alliance which has been somewhat misunderstood in what they are trying to achieve. Here is a story from The Age when they released their report late June. They initially called themselves Indigenous Past Player Group but in mid November set up a company called Indigenous Players Alliance Limited.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/indigenous-players-struggles-revealed-20180627-p4zo5o.html
A rigorous study of 25 former Indigenous AFL players has highlighted a number of failings of the AFL system and clubs in dealing with Indigenous players – and of unique problems they faced – during their playing days and afterwards. In a study made on behalf of the recently formed Indigenous Past Players Group, the 25 former players detailed their positive and negative experiences in the game – ranging from highly positive treatment by clubs to experiencing racist jokes, a lack of cultural awareness and a failure to plan for post-playing careers by themselves and the industry.
The study on behalf of the Indigenous Past Player Group – which is headed by ex-Brisbane Lions and Fremantle midfielder Des Headland, with ex-champions Michael O’Loughlin and Gavin Wanganeen heavily involved – also made a series of recommendations aimed at improving the lot of Indigenous players, particularly after they had finished. Wanganeen, the 1993 Brownlow medallist, will speak on behalf of the group on Thursday morning following the release of the study, which was made by Perth-based academic and Indigenous expert Sean Gorman. The AFL is comfortable in hearing the criticisms directed at it, the clubs and industry in the study.
.......
Amid the various grievances – directed at clubs, the AFL, AFL Players’ Association and some player agents – a number of the former players expressed regret that they had not prepared themselves for a transition out of the game, or that they had not been been educated enough, and some had not taken advantage of their opportunities or set themselves up financially. ‘‘Overwhelmingly, the IPP felt that the industry needs to get better in dealing with transition.’’
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/indigenous-players-struggles-revealed-20180627-p4zo5o.html
From left: Phil Egan, Che Cockatoo-Collins, Des Headland, Derek Kickett, Gavin Wanganeen, Scott Chisholm, Peter Matera, Kevin Caton, Michael O’Loughlin and Courtney Dempsey.
https://twitter.com/IndigPlayaAlli/status/1019378749039468544
The Tracey Holmes interview with Gavin, Des Headland and academic Dr Sean Gorman who set this all up is worth a listen.4
https://twitter.com/TraceyLeeHolmes/status/1023059336380080129
This story was in the Sunday mail. The first half is about Gavin's experiences and the 2nd half was about Michael O’Loughlin which you can read from the link
Gavin Wanganeen’s biggest struggle during AFL career
One fringe benefit of being mortal is we get to create the gods. Come the weekend, we urge them forth in contest but it takes the near-death of someone such as North Melbourne AFL player Majak Daw to realise there are other battles, beyond the stadiums, Gavin Wanganeen is not a name associated with personal struggles but his success gave him a problem. Not drugs, drinking or gambling, but managing his money. He says he was so football-focused he never considered the time when it would all end.
Wanganeen, 45, is known as one of the most switched-on footballers this country has produced. There was a premiership and Brownlow for Essendon in 1993; and his return home to South Australia, leading the goal kicking in Port Adelaide’s 2004 flag. Yet Wanganeen’s off-field choices were poor. “I was on a pretty good wicket, playing footy for 16 years,” he says. “But I didn’t have people in my corner driving me to think about when footy finishes. It wasn’t there. It led to bad decisions on my behalf. “As a young Aboriginal man coming from nothing at all I don’t know if I really realised the importance of being financially secure.”
There were risky investments and too many cars. When he came out at the end in 2006 all he had was a house. “If you look back on it, if I had my time again, I would have bought a dozen rental properties,” he says. “That would have been so easily accessible for me at the time. Just knowing I’ve got enough for a deposit this year, and the next, for 16 years. I could have easily done it but I didn’t realise till it was too late.”
A group of former senior AFL players, including Wanganeen, Des Headland (Brisbane, Dockers), Michael O’Loughlin (Swans) and Derek Kickett (North, Essendon, Swans) have formed the indigenous Players Alliance to assist current and past players through their playing days to life afterwards.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/spor...r/news-story/23e754f18e3202abbd344ef99c27b0df
People sneered at it at first as they saw it as a money grab and in competition with the AFLPA
The suicide of Shane Yarran was a catalyst to kick off the IPA
I think this is a good analogy of why the IPA makes sense as its outside the normal work the AFLPA does.
Gavin talks more about having this understanding and that it took him 8 years after he retired to work out that he had actually aquired a great intagible skill after 16 years in the AFL - being able to deal with many different types of people. Its around that time that Gavin started making a bigger commitment to our Aboriginal and youth programs.
People forget that Gavin was the first Aboriginal Brownlow medalist and first Aboriginal to play 300 V/AFL games. He has enormous standing with the ex Aboriginal players even though the (Malbun) media tends to forget him when looking at past Aboriginal greats and their influence.
He was instrumental in setting up the Indigenous Players Alliance which has been somewhat misunderstood in what they are trying to achieve. Here is a story from The Age when they released their report late June. They initially called themselves Indigenous Past Player Group but in mid November set up a company called Indigenous Players Alliance Limited.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/indigenous-players-struggles-revealed-20180627-p4zo5o.html
A rigorous study of 25 former Indigenous AFL players has highlighted a number of failings of the AFL system and clubs in dealing with Indigenous players – and of unique problems they faced – during their playing days and afterwards. In a study made on behalf of the recently formed Indigenous Past Players Group, the 25 former players detailed their positive and negative experiences in the game – ranging from highly positive treatment by clubs to experiencing racist jokes, a lack of cultural awareness and a failure to plan for post-playing careers by themselves and the industry.
The study on behalf of the Indigenous Past Player Group – which is headed by ex-Brisbane Lions and Fremantle midfielder Des Headland, with ex-champions Michael O’Loughlin and Gavin Wanganeen heavily involved – also made a series of recommendations aimed at improving the lot of Indigenous players, particularly after they had finished. Wanganeen, the 1993 Brownlow medallist, will speak on behalf of the group on Thursday morning following the release of the study, which was made by Perth-based academic and Indigenous expert Sean Gorman. The AFL is comfortable in hearing the criticisms directed at it, the clubs and industry in the study.
.......
Amid the various grievances – directed at clubs, the AFL, AFL Players’ Association and some player agents – a number of the former players expressed regret that they had not prepared themselves for a transition out of the game, or that they had not been been educated enough, and some had not taken advantage of their opportunities or set themselves up financially. ‘‘Overwhelmingly, the IPP felt that the industry needs to get better in dealing with transition.’’
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/indigenous-players-struggles-revealed-20180627-p4zo5o.html
From left: Phil Egan, Che Cockatoo-Collins, Des Headland, Derek Kickett, Gavin Wanganeen, Scott Chisholm, Peter Matera, Kevin Caton, Michael O’Loughlin and Courtney Dempsey.
https://twitter.com/IndigPlayaAlli/status/1019378749039468544
The Tracey Holmes interview with Gavin, Des Headland and academic Dr Sean Gorman who set this all up is worth a listen.4
https://twitter.com/TraceyLeeHolmes/status/1023059336380080129
This story was in the Sunday mail. The first half is about Gavin's experiences and the 2nd half was about Michael O’Loughlin which you can read from the link
Gavin Wanganeen’s biggest struggle during AFL career
One fringe benefit of being mortal is we get to create the gods. Come the weekend, we urge them forth in contest but it takes the near-death of someone such as North Melbourne AFL player Majak Daw to realise there are other battles, beyond the stadiums, Gavin Wanganeen is not a name associated with personal struggles but his success gave him a problem. Not drugs, drinking or gambling, but managing his money. He says he was so football-focused he never considered the time when it would all end.
Wanganeen, 45, is known as one of the most switched-on footballers this country has produced. There was a premiership and Brownlow for Essendon in 1993; and his return home to South Australia, leading the goal kicking in Port Adelaide’s 2004 flag. Yet Wanganeen’s off-field choices were poor. “I was on a pretty good wicket, playing footy for 16 years,” he says. “But I didn’t have people in my corner driving me to think about when footy finishes. It wasn’t there. It led to bad decisions on my behalf. “As a young Aboriginal man coming from nothing at all I don’t know if I really realised the importance of being financially secure.”
There were risky investments and too many cars. When he came out at the end in 2006 all he had was a house. “If you look back on it, if I had my time again, I would have bought a dozen rental properties,” he says. “That would have been so easily accessible for me at the time. Just knowing I’ve got enough for a deposit this year, and the next, for 16 years. I could have easily done it but I didn’t realise till it was too late.”
A group of former senior AFL players, including Wanganeen, Des Headland (Brisbane, Dockers), Michael O’Loughlin (Swans) and Derek Kickett (North, Essendon, Swans) have formed the indigenous Players Alliance to assist current and past players through their playing days to life afterwards.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/spor...r/news-story/23e754f18e3202abbd344ef99c27b0df
People sneered at it at first as they saw it as a money grab and in competition with the AFLPA
When the IPA was announced (initially as the indigenous Past Players Association), Sam Newman sneered it was trying to “extort” money from the AFL. Others suggested the IPA wanted to create a separatist organisation to wrest indigenous players from the control of the existing AFL Players Association.
That is not the agenda. It is about a creating a network that understands that indigenous players often come from poverty, with cultures and family connections that can be a player’s greatest asset yet also create a burden with the cultural demand to share what you have.
The suicide of Shane Yarran was a catalyst to kick off the IPA
The suicide this year of indigenous player Shane Yarran, who for a short time was a Docker, and the circumstances his cousin, former Carlton player Chris Yarran, who fought an ice addiction, prematurely declared himself healed by the hand of God and is now on remand in WA on carjacking and assault charges, has galvanised the IPA. “We’d like to be there for our boys and girls when they first come into the system, while they’re in the system, and as they exit,” says Wanganeen. “We feel we can be in a position to support our people. A lot of us understand what they’ve gone through growing up, and the issues that might be affecting them.” Wanganeen knows problems are not solely defined by race. “I’m not saying Aboriginal players are the only ones who have these issues, but look at the incarceration rates,” he says. “They’re through the roof. It comes from disadvantage. It’s there in our health. “Within our families, having the right role models around us can be few and far between. It’s a common theme across communities. We’re coming from a long way back. That’s why we need support through our journeys.”
I think this is a good analogy of why the IPA makes sense as its outside the normal work the AFLPA does.
Many veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars struggled to find support, despite the lessons of Vietnam. Organisations such as Wounded Warriors and Soldier On helped put vets with other vets, meaning they weren’t just speaking to well-meaning psychologists.
Gavin talks more about having this understanding and that it took him 8 years after he retired to work out that he had actually aquired a great intagible skill after 16 years in the AFL - being able to deal with many different types of people. Its around that time that Gavin started making a bigger commitment to our Aboriginal and youth programs.
[/MEDIA]The IPA, still in its infancy, wants to get to the point where if a past or current player is in trouble, they can deploy their network to knock on a door. The AFL PA already does some of this work, but Wanganeen says it can be taken further. “I think we can work together and assist them in some of the areas they might find difficult,” he says. “Having someone who understands indigenous cultures, family connections, how strong the pull is from families, it definitely needs the right person. It can only be a good thing when you’ve got organisations working together.” Wanganeen would advise emerging indigenous players that he or she must put themselves first while the money is flowing. And to let them know that good financial health is linked to good mental health.
“When footy finished I wasn’t set up,” he says. “It was a constant scramble to try and find something that I could put my energies towards. I felt that footy was all that I was good at. What else can I do? “It was a very tough transition knowing I had wasted an opportunity. I have that regret, yeah. I got into investing in cafes without knowing anything about cafes. And other things. I wasted a lot of money on bad investments.” Wanganeen left the game at 33 and says it took him eight years to understand that within AFL culture he had actually acquired valuable skills — mainly around dealing with people. “I’m working hard,” he says. “My wife Pippa has been unbelievably supportive in helping me find my motivation and try to capitalise now while I’m relatively young. There’s still a lot of life ahead. I’m determined to make up for lost time.” One of his best personal investments has been immersing himself in his culture, painting his family’s land on the west coast of SA. “I imagine myself far above the night sky, even above the stars, looking down through the stars to the ground where my grandfather and my mum’s from. It’s been really empowering..........
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