Footy players have now joined climate crusaders urging Fremantle to cut ties with their main sponsor, energy giant Woodside, but an AFL Hall of Fame legend has criticized them for doing so.
Dockers stars Bailey Banfield, skipper Nat Fyfe, Alex Pearce and the now retired David Mundy are among those players expressing concern that their club is being sponsored by Australia’s largest exporter of natural gas.
It comes from the backs of 10 high profile Fremantle fans who wrote an open letter to the club urging the organization to cut ties with Woodside, who have been with the club for nearly 13 years.
Banfield, who has played 61 games for the club since he was drafted ahead of the 2018 season, supported the letter’s claims but did so with the ease of a slick, seasoned PR professional.
Dockers players including Bailey Banfield (left), Nat Fyfe (second from left) and David Mundy (far right) have expressed concerns about the club’s partnership with energy giant Woodside.
Banfield, who has the Woodside Energy logo on his right chest, has spoken out today in support of high-profile fans questioning the partnership
‘We do very strong work in space. It is about more than a logo on the jersey. We are trying to grow as a club in this space,” he told the Western Australian on Wednesday.
Brownlow medalist former Bulldog superstar Brad Hardie, however, wasn’t in the mood, warning the climate crusaders to “be careful what they wish for.”
The decidedly cynical term “washing sports” may not quite capture everything a company like Woodside has to offer.
“They (Woodside Energy) took Freo executives to Woodside and taught them leadership skills and good governance; they took the players to courses that gave them skills for when their footy was ready. They did a lot more than write a check,” Hardie said the Australian.
“If a company like Woodside is forced out the door, is a betting agency more acceptable to them?”
Brownlow medalist, AFL Hall of Famer Brad Hardie, has urged Fremantle players to think more deeply about what Woodside has to offer the club
Since re-committing to the Dockers in October last year, Woodside has merged with BHP’s oil and gas assets to become one of the 10 largest independent energy companies in the world by manufacturing.
According to the Clean Energy Regulator, Woodside’s production of 9.1 million tons of greenhouse gases made the company the ninth largest emitter in Australia for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The 10 Crusaders who attacked the energy giant and called on the club to cancel the contract included former Western Australian Prime Minister Carmen Lawrence, Freo legend Dale Kickett and prominent author Tim Winton – all Dockers fans.
“Climate change is already creating catastrophic and deadly conditions for communities here and abroad, in addition to massive damage to natural systems that support our economy and well-being,” the open letter read.
“All responsible institutions have a duty to signal that we must accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and stop all new fossil fuel projects.”
Fremantle legend Dale Kickett is among the high-profile supporters who have objected to the partnership with the energy giant
Woodside Energy has been a major sponsor of the club since 2010 and their contract, worth more than $2 million a year, will run until the end of 2023.
The gas giant’s logo features prominently on the chest of both the men’s and women’s home jerseys and is featured on the back of the away jersey. They have also contributed a significant amount of time and resources to the club’s indigenous programs.
Banfield and his climate-crusading teammates are far from the only elite athletes to sign a significant partnership, despite bringing in millions in salary from their respective sports.
Australian cricket skipper Pat Cummins expressed ‘ethical concerns’ over Cricket Australia’s $40 million deal with Alinta Energy, which now expires after next season.
Pat Cummins (pictured in December 2021) is photographed in a Range Rover, considered one of the world’s most carbon-polluting SUVs
Australian netball players refused to wear a uniform sponsored by Gina Rinehart’s company – Hancock Prospecting – despite her sponsorship of the squad at the cost of $15 million through the end of 2025
This is despite the fact that the climate crusader regularly flies first-class around the world, drives one of the world’s most polluting luxury vehicles (Range Rover), and enjoys a lucrative $2 million contract from the organization as the nation’s top male player.
Just days earlier, Aussie Diamonds netball players refused to don a uniform sponsored by Hancock Prospecting, mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s company.
Australia’s richest woman contributed $15 million to rescue a struggling Netball Australia after the organization nearly went bankrupt, in a state of constant infighting and deteriorating relationship with fed up players.
Dockers president Dale Alcock said the club was open to listening to players’ concerns, but was far from done with cutting a long-term sponsor.
Dockers star Nat Fyfe, who has the Woodside logo across his chest, is one of four players strengthening the club’s partnership with an energy company.
The club’s figurehead also confirmed that they would continue working with Woodside until it was reviewed, as is always the case with sponsorship towards the end of the contract.
“We are committed to Woodside until our current contract expires at the end of 2023 and we are committed to that as is Woodside … and we are committed to delivering on that,” he said on Wednesday when news of the open letter first leaked.
“(But) We respect and appreciate the comments posted.”
His dignified and logical response to the open letter and Banfield’s subsequent comments received high praise from a number of industry figures who supported the club’s stance.
Federal Government Resources Secretary Madeleine King came into the fray for both Woodside and Fremantle.
Woodside Energy is both attending the 2022 World Gas Conference in South Korea. The company is the 10 largest independent energy companies in the world in terms of production
Woodside’s LNG Gas Storage Tank in Northern Western Australia
“Companies like Woodside play a vital role in achieving net-zero emissions targets while ensuring the energy security of Western Australia and our regional neighbours,” King said. Western Australian.
“I think, like me, most, if not all, Freo fans and players and Woodside employees agree that the world must aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 to halt climate change.” .
“The Dockers and Woodside support this cause. I support this cause. We have to work together to achieve that.’
Fremantle’s AFLW team also has the Woodside Energy logo
In addition to their longstanding support of the Dockers, Woodside also sponsors a number of different arts and entertainment companies such as WA Ballet and the WA Symphony Orchestra.
After the uproar on Wednesday, Woodside reaffirmed their commitment to climate change initiatives.
A company spokesperson said they aim to invest $8 billion in new energy products and a number of low-carbon services such as hydrogen and solar by 2030.
The Dockers players are four of the 260 AFL stars who have signed to a ‘Players for Climate Action’ group, which calls on clubs to only work with partners who ‘create a secure future for our planet’.
Founder Jasper Pittard, who has played 157 games in a long career with Port and North Melbourne, was right behind the Fremantle players taking a public stance.
That said, the former Power star did admit that elite athletes who accept the incredibly healthy salaries that come with living in a public sport need to balance their ideals.
“We understand the difficulty professional athletes can experience when talking about their teams’ sponsors and their sport, and the conflicts this sponsorship can have with the values of some players,” Pittard said.
“We recognize the revenue that major partners provide to sports organizations and we hope this sponsorship aligns with a secure future for our planet and our game.”