Suspended Adelaide Crows star Taylor Walker has delivered an emotional public apology over his racist comment targeting another footballer.
The Crows have released a video of Walker sitting alongside North Adelaide's Robbie Young, whom he racially targeted on July 17.
Walker was last week suspended by the AFL for six games and fined $20,000 over the incident, which sent shockwaves through the club and has led to further self-examination within the AFL about the prevalence of racial bigotry.
Walker issued a statement last week, but today the Crows released a video of him sitting alongside Young.
"Robbie expressed his feelings to me to sit next to me today, I'm so thankful that you're here mate," Walker said, fighting back tears.
"Thank you for accepting my apology. You've shown huge courage and support for me."
The former Crows captain then expressed his remorse to Young and the broader Indigenous community.
"I want to apologise to you and your family, to the Adelaide official [who reported the incident] and his family, to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their communities for the pain, hurt and disappointment I've caused," Walker said.
"I'm going to take some time away from the football club to let people heal. I'm now going to educate myself which is going to take some time, because I want to be better for it.
"There's no place for racism in society."
Young, who is Indigenous and played for AFL side St Kilda before joining the Roosters, remains silent throughout the video but provides Walker with a comforting pat on the back.
The video ends with the pair shaking hands and Walker uttering: "Thanks, mate."
Walker missed his side's Showdown defeat at the hands of Port Adelaide on the weekend — a match that was also marred by racism.
Showdown medallist Aliir Aliir was the target of a racially motivated social post following the game.
AFL social policy and inclusion manager Tanya Hosch today said attacks such as the one against Aliir were alarmingly "pervasive" in society.
"There are people using that opportunity to be anonymous, but there's also people who don't even bother to do that."
Ms Hosch said it was "extremely troubling" that people could use social media to vilify others while thinking it was an "inconsequential act".
Last week, Indigenous Players Alliance (IPA) chairman and former AFL player Des Headland heaped praise on the Adelaide Crows official who reported Walker's comment, describing it as a "courageous" act.
"You see something, you say something. We need more people in the community like that," he said.
