Thought it'd be fitting to discuss this on Indigenous round.
What is a Rooney Rule?
Although Indigenous Aboriginals are only 2% of the total Australian population, they represent 10% of AFL players. Fremantle just sided a team with record 8 Indigenous players.
But when we look at the demographics in the coaching ranks, we get a much different outlook...
The intention/purpose behind a 'Rooney Rule' is simple.
CLARITY: It is NOT a QUOTA. (PLEASE READ THIS AGAIN)
A 'Rooney Rule' is aimed to give disenfranchised and underprivileged minorities equal opportunity and footing, specifically in the coaching ranks. It's an approach utilized to sour the blow of historical racism, discrimination and prejudice. In America, historically African-Americans were both ostracized and ignored by sporting leagues for various reasons ranging from Jim Crow laws, to more basic prejudices like income inequality.
In South Africa, the Springboks have a current directive that's similar in intention to a "Rooney Rule", but aimed at racial player demographics, and is much more extreme being a quota system. This is not a "Rooney Rule", but it's intent is similar... Counteract historical demographic injustices and discrimination.
The discussion of this topic specifically in regards to the AFL is not new. Indigenous AFL Champion Chris Johnson had this to say about the idea;
CLARITY: It is NOT a QUOTA. (PLEASE READ THIS AGAIN)
What is a Rooney Rule?
The Rooney Rule is a National Football League policy that requires league teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. It is sometimes cited as an example of affirmative action, though there is no quota or preference given to minorities in the hiring of candidates.[1][2][3] It was established in 2003, and variations of the rule are now in place in other industries
Although Indigenous Aboriginals are only 2% of the total Australian population, they represent 10% of AFL players. Fremantle just sided a team with record 8 Indigenous players.
But when we look at the demographics in the coaching ranks, we get a much different outlook...
While Indigenous footballers have been legends of the Australian game, only eight Aborigines have filled senior or assistant coaching positions in VFL/AFL history. Of the AFL's current coaching crop Fremantle assistant Roger Hayden and Andy Lovell at the Gold Coast Suns stand alone as Indigenous faces.
The intention/purpose behind a 'Rooney Rule' is simple.
CLARITY: It is NOT a QUOTA. (PLEASE READ THIS AGAIN)
A 'Rooney Rule' is aimed to give disenfranchised and underprivileged minorities equal opportunity and footing, specifically in the coaching ranks. It's an approach utilized to sour the blow of historical racism, discrimination and prejudice. In America, historically African-Americans were both ostracized and ignored by sporting leagues for various reasons ranging from Jim Crow laws, to more basic prejudices like income inequality.
In South Africa, the Springboks have a current directive that's similar in intention to a "Rooney Rule", but aimed at racial player demographics, and is much more extreme being a quota system. This is not a "Rooney Rule", but it's intent is similar... Counteract historical demographic injustices and discrimination.
South Africans of colour, more than 90% of the population, remain the minority in starting line-ups more than two decades after the end of draconian white-minority rule which prohibited them competing at the highest level.
The problem in South Africa lies in the fact that such mechanisms were designed to find only white players, and the authorities which have remained in place since the 1950s have never adequately invested in undoing this trend, meaning white players continue to have an unfair advantage.
For South Africa, these quotas are vital means through which to reverse the apartheid policies of racial division and systemic disadvantage.
The discussion of this topic specifically in regards to the AFL is not new. Indigenous AFL Champion Chris Johnson had this to say about the idea;
"I don't think AFL clubs or the AFL are ready for the "Rooney rule" at this minute because there's not enough Indigenous coaches at hand at TAC Cup and under-18 level," Johnson said.
"Once we get, say, an Indigenous coach at each TAC Cup side and at a national under-18s level I think we'd be able to do that. But we've got to boost those numbers up first.
"I think what we need to start looking at is retiring players and what the transition is for them going into coaching.
"We need to build a core group, build the knowledge, build the experience; show that it's not so daunting."
Of the AFL setting on coaching recruitment, Johnson said: "Maybe the people hiring don't know we can actually be part of an AFL club like that and that we can do it."
Equally, Johnson said the task of elite AFL coaching needs to be demystified for potential candidates of Indigenous and multicultural backgrounds.
CLARITY: It is NOT a QUOTA. (PLEASE READ THIS AGAIN)