Commentator Matt Russell has apologised for a line he used immediately after indigenous netball star Donnell Wallam’s match winning goal against England.
Wallam scored the decisive goal in the 55-54 victory in Newcastle, after a week of headlines over her stance relating to a $15 million sponsorship deal with mining giant Hancock Prospecting.
Wallam was upset over comments made by company founder Lang Hancock in 1984.
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Hancock suggested that the water should be “doped” so the troubled communities would be “sterile and would breed themselves out in future and that would solve the problem.”
Wallam was brought to tears after the match, describing it as the toughest week of her life. The furore caused Hancock Prospecting to pull out of the sponsorship deal with the cash-strapped Netball Australia.
As Australia’s players celebrated Wallam’s match-winner, Russell delivered a line that caused controversy, with angry netball fans venting on social media. The comment that caused anger was: “In the eyes of some, she’s cost Australian netball millions.”
The following is Russell’s call of Wallam’s big moment.
“Could you have written that if you’d tried,” Russell said.
“Donnell Wallam on debut. Cheered on by a sold out crowd.
“In the eyes of some, she’s cost Australian netball millions. In the eyes of others, she’s just won them a test.”
Russell late on Thursday night posted to social media, apologising for the distraction.
“Spent the day marvelling at @DonnellWallam’s strength and resilience,” he wrote.
“To call her moment, in an instant, I wanted to neutrally portray what ‘SOME SAY’ about her. And how, despite all that, she emerged spectacularly triumphant on debut, despite it all.
“Sorry to those who have been distracted from Donnell’s success and the Diamonds’ win. It was humbling/heartening to speak/message with indigenous leaders/Donnell today.
“I look forward to calling the Aussie men on Sunday in Sydney and women next Thursday in Brisbane. It’s been a privilege.”
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