The AFL has denied responsibility for alleged on-field racism against Indigenous players, declaring the risks were akin to those in the wider community.

The league has lodged its defence in the Supreme Court of Victoria in response to a landmark class action brought by former Indigenous star players Nicky Winmar and Phil Krakouer.

The statue of Nicky Winmar’s famous stance against racism stands outside Perth’s Optus Stadium. Credit: Getty

In a 33-page submission presented by the AFL’s lawyers Gordon Legal, the league says “devising, putting in place and maintaining any relevant ‘safe system of work’ was not the responsibility of the AFL”.

The AFL says “that risk of racist abuse occurring in the course of matches within the AFL competition was comparable to the risk arising in other

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