GIANTS look to follow Indigenous leaders

By Malcolm Conn

Adam Goodes has provided the Nicky Winmar moment for exciting GWS Giants Curtly Hampton and Shaun Edwards, who would gladly make the same stand as their indigenous heroes.

Hampton and Edwards were born the same year that Winmar so famously raised his jumper at Colllingwood’s Victoria Park 20 years ago and pointed to his black skin.

Originally from Alice Springs, Hampton wears his indigenous pride on his chest in the shape of an aboriginal flag.

Darwin born Edwards has the names of his grandparents tattooed on one arm and an uncle who died in a car crash on the other, such is the strength of family.

They believe that the message Goodes displayed last Friday night against Collingwood, when he pointed out a teenage girl who called him an ape, must continue to be reinforced.

“Obviously its pretty disappointing for that to happen to arguably one of the best indigenous players of all time,” Hampton said.

“The way he handled it, no one could have done it any better than he did. He’s never going to take shots at anyone. He always has a positive outlook on everything that happens.

“It just goes to show that there’s still a lot of work to do even 20 years later with the stuff that happened with Nicky but I’m sure the AFL and all us indigenous boys are going to do everything we can to minimise racism in sport.

“I’m not sure you’ll ever completely wipe it out. There are always going to be some little issues every now and then but to minimise it would be an achievement in itself.”

Hampton’s uncle, Gilbert McAdam, played alongside Winmar for St Kilda in that famous game and was voted best on ground.”It meant a lot to uncle Gilbert,” Hampton said.

“He used to get pretty emotional telling us about that.

“Seeing the emotion that he had telling us around the family was pretty special.”

Hampton felt racism first hand growing up in Alice Springs.

“A lot of racism goes on there,” he said.

“I’ve seen a lot of things and heard a lot of things. I had a lot of things said to me in Adelaide playing school footy.

“It has always made me strong and I don’t get too down about it. I use it to want to play better and work harder.

“I’d always make a stand. I’d never let something like that blow over.

“It’s important to stand up for your beliefs, your rights and where you come from.”

Edwards explained that indigenous players take strength from those who have stood up in the past.

“On the weekend another indigenous player has made a stand and said that racism isn’t part of the game,” said Edwards.

“It doesn’t matter whether its towards indigenous players or Majak Daw (from Sudan) running around, its got no place in football.

“If I ever heard it said to me or anyone else I’d make a stand and make it known it’s not the right thing to do.”