Leading First Nations support service Dardi Munwurro have dumped Collingwood Football Club "effective immediately" in the wake of the latest racism scandal to impact the club.
The Indigenous family violence group - led by former AFL player and 2023 NAIDOC Elder of the year, Alan Thorpe - have long advocated community and reconciliation as being at the heart of their ethos, and released a statement on Thursday saying they were discontinuing their partnership with Collingwood.
It comes as Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly has been accused of causing an unsafe work environment through a pattern of behaviour.
"Dardi Munwurro has had a partnership with the Collingwood Football Club since 2017. This partnership has seen Collingwood support our Ngarra Jarranounith First Nations Men's Residential program," a statement read.
"Throughout this time, we have attempted to be as supportive as possible with the club as they have navigated their way through issues involving racism and their culture that led to the Do Better report.
"However recent media reports involving Collingwood have left us no choice but to terminate our partnership with them effective immediately."
Court documents reveal Kelly allegedly suggested putting a live possum in a room with Indigenous players, called Mr Thorpe's wife – Elder Aunty Carol - a "dumb old b****", and failed to financially compensate Dardi Munwurro, who were allegedly owed $500,000 by the club.
Code Sports reported Mr Thorpe said the financial aspect had now been resolved.
The allegations were made in court documents filed Monday with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia by the club's former head of First Nations strategy, Mark Cleaver.
Collingwood first engaged the Palawa consultant in the wake of the Do Better report, and documents alleged Cleaver was the target of multiple attacks from Kelly, including physical altercations.
The Dardi Munwurro statement said the organisation, which supports Indigenous people attempting to move out of the cycle of violence and rehabilitate, wanted to be make clear they were not "passing judgement on any individual at the club or the club itself".
"We understand the media reports are based on unproven allegations that relate to an ongoing court case and we respect this process," the statement said.
"By making this statement we are in no way suggesting that the allegations are true, only that they have been made in documents before the court. However, the media coverage of this case has unfortunately included the naming of Dardi Munwurro and a highly respected Elder in the community.
"The unfortunate public exposure of some of these allegations also calls on us to reiterate that Dardi Munwurro is a family violence service for the First Nations community.
"Furthermore, we are deeply committed to supporting all women to feel safe and respected in the community. We encourage everyone in the community to take this stance. Dardi Munwurro will not be making any further comment about this issue."
Collingwood President Jeff Browne said on Wednesday the club "totally and absolutely" supported Kelly.
"We're backing in Craig Kelly," Mr Browne said, "and we intend to fight these proceedings and see them through to a judgement".
The case is listed for a court hearing on August 27.
