AFL Northern Territory removed football legend Dennis Dunn's name from one of the most prestigious awards in NT football, over a conviction that's almost a decade old. His supporters are calling for the decision to be reversed.
Dennis Dunn , a Tiwi Islander and one of the greatest Northern Territory footballers of all time, has endured many dark days in his life.
"It was like a shock, you know, and then reality hits and you've got to go into jail. That's life, life isn't easy, so you just got to keep getting up and going."Mr Dunn was a once-in-a-century player in the Northern Territory, kicking more goals than any other player in the history of the Northern Territory Football League .
"It was a very special honour to get the award named after me. There's a lot of pride in it," Mr Dunn says. "During AFLNT's deliberations, the conviction for the attempted supply of prohibited drugs into an Aboriginal community was considered, as well as the prominent role our game plays in supporting strong, healthy, and active communities across the NT."
"All that's come out of this situation is very negative. Negative towards Dennis and the Tiwi islands," Brian Long, the brother of Michael Long, who grew up with Mr Dunn on a Tiwi mission, says. "We felt pretty hopeless … it actually felt like somebody had passed away in the family, to be honest with you," former AFL player Russell Jeffrey, who was once a teammate of Mr Dunn's, says."Football has shown that it can forgive … he's been stripped of this magnificent honour that he totally deserves, in my opinion."Mary Dunn, Mr Dunn's sister, who is also a Tiwi Islands Football League board member, says she was disappointed.
"We find the reasoning behind the decision, particularly the mention of protecting remote Aboriginal Communities, to be insensitive and misplaced."In a statement, AFLNT says it acknowledges the decision "should have been made earlier" and that it has received "widespread support".
Northern Territory Dennis Dunn Medal Award Aflnt Afl Northern Territory Tiwi Islands Brian Long Russell Jeffrey Ntfl Goalkicking Award
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