Swans Chairman Apologises for Omission in Bondi Attack Tribute
Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham has issued a sincere apology and accepted full responsibility for an oversight in the club’s pre-season AFL match tribute honouring the victims of the Bondi terror attack. The tribute, held before the Swans’ season-opening clash against Carlton on March 5 at the SCG, failed to explicitly mention the Jewish community, despite the attack being widely acknowledged as antisemitic.
The initial tribute, led by Sydney CEO Matthew Pavlich, was a moving ceremony attended by families of the victims and first responders. Among those present were hero Ahmed Al Ahmed and Rabbi Mendy Litzman from Hatzolah, a Jewish community emergency medical response group.
The omission came to light following comments made by former Swans player Gerard Healy. Speaking at a pre-match function ahead of the Swans’ round one game against the Brisbane Lions, Pridham acknowledged Healy’s intervention.
“I am grateful to journalist and former Swans star Gerard Healy who called me yesterday to make me aware that our on-field tribute neglected to specifically name the Jewish community as the target of the Bondi shootings,” Pridham stated. “This was not intentional; we apologise for this omission. It was a Sydney Swans initiative, and a Swans-led event, and we take full responsibility.”
Pridham emphasised that the tribute was a genuine effort to express sympathy to all those affected by the tragic events of December 14th. He noted that while many viewers found the tribute moving and appropriate, he understood the disappointment of those who felt the wording was insufficient. “While not dismissing those disappointed in the wording of the tribute, I believe that it was clear to those at the game that we were indeed supporting the Jewish community following the attack on it,” he added.
Community Support and Clarification
The President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, attended the Swans’ pre-match function and voiced his support for the club and its chairman. “The remarks of Swans chair Andrew Pridham prior to the match this evening reflect the unwavering support and care the Swans have extended to the Jewish community in the aftermath of the Bondi terrorist attack,” Ossip commented. “Last week’s tribute, and the care which was extended to victims and their families on the night, was motivated by the purest of intent and was deeply appreciated by the Jewish community.”
However, Gerard Healy, a distinguished former Swans player and Brownlow medallist, alleged on SEN that references to the “Jewish” community had been deliberately removed from Matthew Pavlich’s speech.
In a separate event on Friday night, prior to the Roosters and Rabbitohs NRL game in Sydney, an announcer explicitly stated: “To Sydney’s Jewish community, we stand with you, not just tonight, but always.”
Healy expressed his mixed feelings about the Swans’ tribute, calling it “fundamentally magnificent” but also a “simple error of… judgment.” He elaborated, “I didn’t pick it up, but the reality was that the word Jew wasn’t mentioned at all on the night… and it’s upset a lot of Jewish people.” He felt that while all victims, survivors, and first responders were honoured, the Australian Jewish community, who were also victims and continue to suffer, were denied specific validation.
An examination of Matthew Pavlich’s speech confirms the absence of any explicit reference to the Jewish community. Pavlich’s prepared remarks stated: “We come together this evening to honour those who were injured and to those who lost their lives at Bondi Beach in December. Tonight, we stand with their families and friends united.”
AFL’s Stance and Continued Engagement
Sydney CEO Matthew Pavlich, a Hall of Fame inductee for his extensive AFL career, reiterated the club’s position. “Andrew’s speech tonight and the article covers our position which is the tribute was to honour the Jewish community and the victims and survivors, and we had no intention to omit the specific reference. We apologise and take responsibility. The tribute was a genuine attempt to show compassion to everyone impacted by the events in December.”
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon participated in radio interviews, but did not definitively clarify whether the league had mandated the removal of specific references. He did, however, affirm that Pavlich’s speech honoured the victims.
“My understanding is there was a script. I don’t know what happened to the script, but what I do know is it was a fitting tribute on the right stage for what was, I said before, a horrific antisemitic attack on the Jewish community,” Dillon stated. He also noted his participation on the field during the tribute and his positive impression of Pavlich’s hosting. “I didn’t see the script, I was on the field as part of that, I thought Matthew did a great job of hosting that. It was an appropriate tribute to the victims of what was a horrific attack on the Jewish community.”
When pressed on the AFL’s involvement in any script changes, Dillon maintained his focus on the nature of the attack. “What I will start with are the events of Bondi in December last year were a horrific antisemitic attack on the Jewish community and completely at odds with the Australian way of life and values. I will start with that,” he said. He further explained the AFL’s collaboration with the Swans to ensure the opening game at the SCG served as an appropriate platform to honour the Jewish victims and their families.
Post-Match Gestures of Support
Following their victory over the Blues, many members of the Jewish community, including families who had suffered profound losses in the Bondi attack, were invited into the Swans’ change rooms. The playing group engaged with them, posing for photographs and signing autographs, a gesture that resonated deeply.
Peter Ivany, a foundation chair of the Swans and a member of the Jewish community, spoke about the impact of this post-match interaction. “I was next to them and they were just so happy, they’ve lost their father and they’re under unbelievable difficulties, and the happiness that that gave them, and also the feeling of support that they had … they just felt so appreciated, so understood,” Ivany shared with the Australian Jewish News.
However, Robert Gregory, president of the Australian Jewish Association, expressed his strong disapproval. He described it as “outrageous and disappointing” if a deliberate removal of specific mention of the Jewish community had occurred.
