Ex-Sun’s new shot at AFL

FORMER Gold Coast Suns player Joel Wilkinson has accused the AFL of systematic racism and claims the league’s response to his complaint has been an insult.

Lawyers for Wilkinson will lodge legal papers at the Australian Human Rights Commission on Monday morning and the case could end up in the Federal Court.

A day after Wilkinson’s unprecedented legal action was made public, he read from a prepared statement and referred to what he called the “dark works” inside the AFL.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking again apologised to Wilkinson on behalf of the league, but said there were processes the former player could work through.

Wilkinson’s lawyer Will Barsby said two other former

3AFL players had made contact in the wake of the accusations.

“I am here to hold the AFL accountable and stand against injustice ... this is extremely systematic across the AFL,” Wilkinson said.

He alleges his career was taken from him and his rights were violated due to racism, religious vilification and racially motivated sexual harassment over many years.

“It won’t be happening behind closed doors any more,” said Wilkinson.

The AFL said on Wednesday that Wilkinson previously had shared his experiences of racial abuse in videos produced with the league.

“It is disrespectful to the gravity of the situation to continually deny my experiences and claim one three-minute video was sufficient,” Wilkinson responded. AAP