Joel Wilkinson Biography

Joel Wilkinson is preparing a legal case against the AFL, claiming his career came to an end because he spoke out against racism.

"We have very clear evidence that demonstrates Mr Wilkinson was excelling in his career," Shine's Will Barsby, Wilkinson's lawyer, told reporters.

"And as soon as he raised with his superiors some direct discrimination that he experienced on field during a game at the hands of another player, he was shortly let go, thereafter.

"He was shunned. He was silenced. He was then further mistreated by other players.

"He continued to be heckled by the crowd then he was not offered a renewed contract as a result of speaking up about why it's not right."

Transformed and full of confidence after a stint in the NFL, former Gold Coast defender Joel Wilkinson wants another crack at the AFL.

After leaving the Northern Blues towards the end of 2015, Wilkinson was signed as a cornerback with the Arizona Cardinals in February after five months training as he sought an opportunity before being cut in May.

Wilkinson continued to train with other American football professionals in their pre-season, fielding interest from multiple NFL clubs, but his visa circumstances forced him to return to Australia.

"I literally trained at the best facilities with the best coaches in the world, among the best sportspeople in America, learning techniques and movement that are very similar and directly correlate to a lot of AFL patterns," Wilkinson said.

"My cutting and explosiveness from cornerback allow me to move in ways that I know isn’t trained often in Australia. Route running and pattern are very similar to forward and midfield patterns in AFL.

"In regards to what I was at the end of playing AFL/VFL [in 2015] to now, I laugh at how much more improved I am compared to then. It can’t be underestimated what being with the best athletes in the toughest sporting environment has done for me."

Former AFL player Joel Wilkinson has been signed by the Arizona Cardinals, with the team eyeing the athletic 186cm tall 24-year-old to play in the defensive cornerback position.

Former Sun Joel Wilkinson speaks about being racially abused by then-Western Bulldog Justin Sherman in his first AFL match in round 14, 2011.

"My first game, and I'm out there playing and I heard the remark from a player, an opposition player, 'You black c***,'" he recalls in the video.

"I remember just thinking, 'How do I go about this?'

"I was at the point where I actually was prepared to fight him, just to put the spotlight on the issue and make it a big issue.

"I remember being in the rooms with the captains and the coach. They said to me, 'Joel, what do you want to do?'

"I remember saying that I want something to happen, because I could actually feel him thinking he was superior to me, and he felt like I was worthless.

"I actually felt like he was trying to make me feel like I was a little kid, a little black kid, a little piece of dirt. And he was just a superior being."

Gold Coast delist five players including Max Weller, Jacob Gillbee, Kyal Horsley, Liam Patrick and Joel Wilkinson.

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien says he feels more pity than anger for the fan who racially abused Gold Coast's Joel Wilkinson.

"You may have anger [initially] … but trying to fight that back with more anger results in nothing," O'Brien said.

"[Joel and I] both feel really sorry for a person of this level of awareness and ignorance. It's really unfortunate to be that way."

Racially vilified Gold Coast Suns player Joel Wilkinson praises Collingwood star Dale Thomas for taking a stand against racism.

"I was shocked when the incident took place and it was extremely upsetting at the time, but the actions of Dale Thomas and a number of Collingwood supporters in the area certainly demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of society finds this behaviour to be unacceptable," he said.

"I hope standing up and raising awareness of this issue goes a long way to ensuring that no other player or spectator will be vilified at sporting events or in society in the future."

A Collingwood fan's membership has been torn up after making racist remarks to Sun Joel Wilkinson at the MCG.

Collingwood CEO Gary Pert says the remarks were witnessed by Magpie midfielder Dale Thomas.

"[Dale] made it clear to Joel that if he wanted to take this further, he would support him on that," Pert said.

"Once he advised the club, we instantly prepared the next day to try and find who was the supporter that racially vilified the opposition player.

"That was made easier because of the response of the supporters and members in the area, who were equally disgusted."

Bulldog Justin Sherman has apologised for an on-field racial slur against Nigerian born Gold Coast player Joel Wilkinson.

"I'm extremely ashamed and embarrassed by my actions on the weekend," Sherman read from a statement.

"I recognise that what I said was offensive, degrading and very hurtful, and for that I sincerely apologise.

"I am devastated and want everyone to know that this is completely out of character and it will never happen again."

Joel Wilkinson's manager Alastair Lynch is concerned other players may not make a vilification complaint after his client was named by the media as the target of racial abuse from Bulldog Justin Sherman.

"Joel is comfortable with the ramifications, but I think he and everyone else would prefer his name stayed silent," Lynch said.

"We don't want to discourage guys from coming out and making complaints."

Joel Wilkinson makes his AFL debut for Gold Coast with 10 disposals (2 kicks and 8 handballs), 2 marks and 3 tackles in a 22-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.