Is Aussie Rules football inherently racist?

So I'm watching AFL360 and Robbo says he loves the reemergence of the small forward. He then says he often compares the trios of Carlton (Betts, Garlett and Yarran) and Geelong (Stokes, Motlop and Christensen).

Now, obviously Betts and Garlett are small forwards and Yarran is back there, and Stokes is - but playing a high flanker role, but Motlop is playing more and more off halfback (and playing better there imo) and Christensen is a bona fide midfielder who may start or rest forward but his best footy is absolutely through the guts. Billie Smedts, maybe Jimmy Bartel, Paul Chapman (last year maybe, debatable this year), probably even Mitch Duncan play more as forwards.

He then mentions Lindsay Thomas, Michael Walters, and Alwyn Davey, all genuine small forwards, but doesn't make note of Luke Breust, Mark LeCras (although injury explains this) or any other white small forwards.

Do Aboriginal players too often get pidgeonholed into a certain player classification? Christensen is a hard ball winner, but the number of times the media compare him to Stokes (who is a flanker who plays mainly outside) is ridiculous. They're often called magical, and I know Adam Goodes has said he really dislikes this as it gives the impression indigenous players do not work hard.

So, without really knowing it, are AFL fans and commentators racist? It seems to me that if you're indigenous you're often stereotyped as a player. What do you think? I'm I just a little more sensitive (for lack of a better word) or have you noticed this too?

 

Yeah, their physical abilities and the style they play in indigenous communities helps them play these roles, but players who do not have these attributes are often put into the same category because they're Aboriginal.

Allen Christensen, to continue with what I said in the OP, is an in and under player and is actually quite a solid lad (he actually turned up to the Draft Combine about 10kgs overweight) but it just assumed to be a small forward, when his skill set is completely different to most of the others.

No doubt that a majority of indigenous players are small forwards, but those that aren't are sort of made out to be because of that imo.

 

Well yeah, it does, and that's the way it's intended to be taken, but the fact that an indigenous person has said it's not something they like says something.

 

I think I'd take the word of an indigenous person over a non-indigenous person on the issue though.

 

Good post, that's what the thread is about, debating this.

It's not a deliberate thing, so I don't think it's racist as such, but I wasn't playing devil's advocate either, I do think it's a little bit offensive at times.