Shae McNamara Biography

Former Collingwood-listed player Shae McNamara has called for key club figures to speak up and acknowledge Heritier Lumumba's experience with racism.

"I have bitten my tongue for far too long and I can no longer stay silent in what has really bothered me," McNamara said on social media (Twitter).

"The interpersonal racism happened (i.e. racist jokes, nicknames, stereotypes etc.) (Lumumba's) not bitter because he was traded - he was traded because he wouldn't stop addressing the toxicity in the club.

"You need to honour the effects of trauma - he felt racism his entire life, in the club, against opponents and through media/social media - everyone has their breaking points. This isn't about destroying the club - this is about making sure this is the last time anyone at CFC experiences what he did."

Just days after the season ended for Collingwood's VFL team, American Shae McNamara becomes one of five delisted rookies that also include Irishman Paul Cribbin, Daniel Farmer, Lachlan Smith and Trent Stubbs.

"Football, at this level, has to be a way of life and all of the boys committed to that, which we thank them for," Collingwood director of football Geoff Walsh said.

"We certainly hope they find success with whatever it is they choose to take on next."

Collingwood's American recruit Shae McNamara believes the United States could become a major recruiting ground for the AFL.

"It's all predicated on how much they want to do it and how much they want to sacrifice as much as I've had to," he said.

"Obviously I would like to set the world on fire eventually but until then, I'd like to think I can be that bridge over the gap between the States and here, to hopefully bring in new and better talent than myself in the near future."

Collingwood's US international rookie, Seamus McNamara, says the challenge of doing something unique drew him to Australian football.

"I'm all about doing something new and unique - for Americans, not too many people know about Australian football, unfortunately," McNamara says.

"To be the first to actually do it, I think that's pretty cool in my book - my goal at the end of the day, besides just kicking some tail out on the field, is to bring the sport over to America."