AFL clubs face mixed fan reaction after Australia Day posts

AFL clubs have faced equal parts praise and criticism after all but one club published social media posts either calling for a change to Australia Day or offering solidarity to Indigenous people.

Every club besides the Geelong Cats addressed the issue on their Twitter accounts, with a mix of calls to change the date and statements from Indigenous players about what January 26 means to them.

The Brisbane Lions were one of the first clubs to post their statement, tweeting that Australia Day was not a day to celebrate. 

«It's a very sad day for Indigenous people all over the country,» Lions star Nakia Cockatoo was quoted as saying. 

«It's a day of sorrow. Recognising what has happened on the 26th is a very big part of our culture.»

Teammate Callum Ah Chee said Indigenous people wanted to celebrate Australia, but couldn't do so until the date was changed from January 26.

«All Indigenous people want to celebrate this great country, but we want to do it together,» he said.

«If we could celebrate on another date, we want to be a part of that.»

The Lions post earned the ire of Senator Matt Canavan, who took offence to the stance.

«Don't support the Brisbane Lions,» Senator Canavan wrote. 

«Does anyone know if the Brisbane Lions staff are at work today?»

North Melbourne posted a video of player Kyron Hayden addressing the playing group in the club rooms.

"(Australia) should be celebrated by all, young, old, white, black, or other," Hayden said.

«But unfortunately, today's date is not a day of celebration for all 26 million of us. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it is a day of mourning.»

The Collingwood Football Club, which had come under fire a year ago over the Do Better report and historical racism, was one of the most