Storm Chairman Expresses ‘Disappointment Beyond Words’ as Eddie McGuire Supports AFL’s Welcome to Country

The chairman of the Melbourne Storm, Matt Tripp, has expressed that a “miscommunication” led to the cancellation of their Welcome to Country ceremony on Anzac Day.

Traditional elder Aunty Joy Murphy was meant to address the crowd prior to the match against South Sydney, but was informed at the last minute that her presence was no longer required.

This occurred while several Indigenous performers were already rehearsing on the field.

In an interview with The Age, Tripp remarked that he is determined to mend any rifts caused by this incident.

“I am beyond words at how disappointed I feel about this,” Tripp shared with The Age.

“I have a deep appreciation for the diverse cultures and communities represented within our football club and its supporters. As with any aspect of the club, I take this responsibility very seriously and will protect it fiercely.

“To have a miscommunication occur that reflects poorly on our sensitivity towards the Welcome to Country and, by extension, Australian customs, has been extremely upsetting for me.”

The Welcome to Country gained attention in Victoria following an incident where neo-Nazi hecklers disrupted the address during Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn service.

Hecklers demanded that Uncle Mark Brown cease his address, leading to the police escorting notable neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant away from the scene.

The ceremony later took place at the MCG, where an audience of 92,000 witnessed Uncle Colin Hunter’s heartfelt rendition, which was met with resounding applause.

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire believes that the Welcome to Country is particularly fitting for Anzac Day for various reasons, though he cautioned the AFL against overdoing it by making it too frequent.

“I do feel that when you’re on Zoom calls with government officials and people are delivering five Welcome to Countries, and every time someone grabs the microphone, it happens again, it can feel excessive. The pendulum may have swung too far, so let’s find a balance. We certainly don’t want to eliminate it,” McGuire said on Nine’s Eddie and Jimmy.

“I believe we need to refine the process to ensure that we deliver a great experience.

Imagine at the MCG, Uncle Colin comes up, giving a brief but powerful Welcome to Country that acknowledges the Anzacs, receiving heartfelt applause from 100,000 attendees, followed by the New Zealand national anthem sung in both Māori and English, then we hear Advance Australia Fair, and after a minute’s silence, everyone leaves wondering – wow, that was truly special.

“The key lies in simplicity and the empathy behind what’s being communicated, rather than complicating it with excessive details.

“When the Welcome to Country is done well, it resonates deeply with me. However, when it’s repeated excessively throughout a single day, it becomes overwhelming.”