Matthew Pavlich The Sydney Swans initiated a pre-game Bondi Tribute to honour the lives lost in the terror attack and to stand with the Jewish Community, and have acknowledged an internal script change that omitted a specific reference to the Jewish Community, apologising for the omission and taking full responsibility.
Matthew Pavlich
The club said the tribute was a heartfelt attempt to show compassion to everyone impacted by the events on 14 December, and most of all the Jewish Community. The statement made clear the focus of the script was to recognise those people present on field that night, including members of the Jewish Community, community heroes and first responders.
Swans Admit Script Change and Offer Apology
The Sydney Swans acknowledged they were made aware that the on-field tribute neglected to specifically name the Jewish Community. The club apologised for the omission and said it had taken full responsibility, describing the change as an error of judgement.
Club Statement: Why The Change Was Made And What The Club Said
The statement explained there was no directive or instruction from the AFL to remove or change the reference to the Jewish Community. It said the script change was made within the club in a genuine effort to use inclusive language by referring to the ‘whole community. ’
The club reiterated that the tribute aimed to recognise those present on the field on the night and that the Jewish Community was included in that recognition. The statement closed with an apology for the error of judgement and an acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of Country across the lands on which the club operates.
Additional elements of the club’s match materials noted an injury update on Errol Gulden and referenced a strong first-quarter performance that affected the match result, alongside acknowledgements of community engagement and pre-game activity.
The Swans’ statement frames the change as an internal decision intended to be inclusive, while the club has accepted responsibility and apologised for the outcome.
