The league filed in the Victorian Supreme Court its defence to the racism class action led by former First Nations players Phil Krakouer and Nicky Winmar.
The class action claims the AFL should have protected the players from risk of harm, alleging they suffered physical, psychological and psychiatric injuries as a result of the racist abuse.
In court documents filed this month, the AFL admitted Krakouer, Winmar and other Indigenous players were from time to time subjected to physical and verbal racist abuse from other players and spectators.
But the league denied specific allegations made by the lead plaintiffs, including that they were routinely spat on and had bottles of urine thrown at them during matches.
The AFL also rejected claims it owed a duty of care to the players, arguing it was not the players' employer and maintaining a "safe system of work" was not its responsibility.
The league also noted that while there was a risk that some players would experience racist abuse, the risk arose from the broader social conditions and attitudes of the time.
The state of the medical knowledge also meant it could not have been foreseen that any injury would arise from the racist abuse, the AFL claimed.
Krakouer said the AFL's defence "hurts".
"We couldn't defend ourselves against racism in the AFL. We were in an impossible position - if we fought back, we were often reported and suspended," he said in a statement.
"The AFL could have done something and they chose not to."
Margalit Lawyers, who is running the class action, said the racism suffered by many First Nations players was extreme and had left many players with permanent traumatic injuries.
"For the AFL to shirk responsibility in circumstances where they were aware of the racist abuse and failed to act, contradicts the stated goals of the league to fight racism and create a more inclusive sport for everyone," managing principal Michel Margalit said in a statement.
Ms Margalit said she would continue to invite the AFL to engage in realistic settlement discussions with her clients.
The league has acknowledged and apologised for the racism and marginalisation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players faced throughout its history, saying it will continue to address the harm.
"We do not agree with the Margalit Lawyers claims that the VFL/AFL has been conducted negligently over the past 47 years and we will defend those claims," an AFL spokesperson said in a statement.
"The AFL respects and values all people in our game and is continually working to improve and promote football environments that reflect that respect and maintain standards that are unaccepting of discrimination, in all forms."
The racism class action was previously open to all people of colour who played VFL or AFL between 1975 and 2023, but now only First Nations people who played between May 1980 and October 9, 2025, and their family members are allowed to join.
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