Collingwood Aboriginal star Leon Davis returns to Pies after being racially abused while playing

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By Oliver Caffrey for Australian Associated Press 08:25 24 May 2023, Updated 08:25 24 May 2023

Davis suffered abuse while playing Joined the club to help fight racism Joined by ex-teammate Andrew Krakouer

Former Collingwood champion Leon Davis admits he was nervous about taking a job with the Magpies due to ‘not so great’ previous experiences.

But the former power forward believes the AFL powerhouse is now a welcoming and inclusive club for indigenous people.

Davis and then-teammates Andrew Krakouer and Hritier Lumumba have argued with the Magpies, saying “nothing has changed” following the 2021 Do Better report into the racism allegations.

After making peace with the club, Davis is now employed to help the Magpies in their attempt to build a culturally safe environment, with Krakouer joining him on a part-time basis.

“I had a lot of great experiences at this club. There were times that weren’t so good,” Davis said on Wednesday.

He was reluctant at first after suffering racial abuse while playing at the club, but Leon Davis (pictured) is back with AFL powerhouse Collingwood in a new role.

“Coming back and not knowing what I was coming back into, as much as I could prepare for, probably wasn’t going to be enough until I got here and was back to day to day.

“Being on this journey, and all being together, side by side, and all wanting to do better, it’s been fantastic.

“It makes it a lot easier for First Nations people to not do all the work and have this support from non-Indigenous people at the club.”

Collingwood took significant steps to try to heal past wounds, in April this year formally apologizing to St Kilda champion Nicky Winmar and team-mate Gilbert McAdam for the appalling abuse they suffered in Victoria Park in 1993.

Former teammates Andrew Krakouer (left) and Leon Davis (right) suffered racial slurs while playing together for the Pies

Davis stood alongside former teammate Steele Sidebottom on Wednesday ahead of the midfielder’s 300th game for Collingwood.

Sidebottom will become just the fourth Magpies player to reach the milestone when they face North Melbourne on Sunday.

The pair developed an instant bond when Sidebottom arrived at the club in the 2008 draft, remaining close even after Davis retired at the end of 2011.

Sidebottom said he had witnessed major changes off the pitch during 15 years at Collingwood and treasured his friendship with Davis.

“I would love to be able to sit down with someone who doesn’t know Leon’s culture and be able to tell them where he’s from and how he grew up,” Sidebottom said.

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