Australian Football League’s manager quits over Aboriginal slur

Sydney: Adelaide’s national recruiting manager Matt Rendell has resigned after he was identified to the Australian Football League (AFL) as the recruiting chief who claimed he would not draft an indigenous player unless he had one white parent.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou called up Crows chief executive Steven Trigg this morning, asking Adelaide to investigate the allegation. “Matthew disputes the interpretation in the context of what was said but he is aware that to continue in the role would be to attach those comments to the club,” News.com.au reports. “Our club has a strong history of recruiting, fostering and developing Aboriginal players (including dual Norm Smith Medallist Andrew McLeod) and we have full intention of doing so in the future,” Triggs said. “There has never been any suggestion at our club about changing our recruiting policies, particularly involving Aboriginals,” he added. Meanwhile, Rendell has issued a warning over the matter. “I believe the comments in a meeting with Jason (community engagement officer Jason Mifsud) were taken out of context. They were misunderstood. I have a strong track record of recruiting Aboriginal players. My comments were about where recruiting could finish up without proactive work. I was trying to help,” he said. ANI