Eddie Betts has spoken out against the racism he has continually faced throughout his 15-year AFL career, saying he is "sick of copping it."
The proud Wirangu-Kokatha man was the subject of yet another disgusting racial attack earlier this month, where a Twitter user likened him to a chimpanzee.
He took to his Instagram account to call out the attack, saying that ignoring the abuse is part of the problem.
The , with reports suggesting the user is a club member.
Speaking to Fox Footy on Tuesday, Betts said that the ongoing attacks have led him to question his place in the game.
"It deeply hurts and you think to yourself 'why do I play footy, why should I keep playing footy if I'm going to keep copping this' but I want to make a change, and the way to keep hurting these guys is to keep playing great footy and keep smiling and that's what I love doing." he said.
I think the only problem they have with me is that I was born Black,
"I'm just sick and tired of it and what I want to say to Australia is open your eyes up and start to listen and learn and educate yourselves because I'm sick of copping it."
The incident was the latest in a long line of disgusting acts directed at the 318 game veteran.
Last year, while playing with Adelaide, a user commented 'monkey see monkey do' on an official Instagram post showing Betts arriving for an AFLX fixutre.
In 2018 a similar comment was posted on Betts own page.
In 2017, he was racially abused by a fan during the Crows' regular season clash with Port Adelaide.
And in 2016, a Port Adelaide fan was filmed throwing a banana at Betts.
The 33-year-old said while he is "sick and tired" of the continued abuse, he is committed to making change within the game and wider society.
"If I have to take the full brunt of all that and try and educate people so that the platform is a safe place, I am happy to cop the brunt," he said.
"I want the AFL to be a safe platform for young Aboriginal kids to come and enjoy and play footy without being racially abused."
Betts also had a message for the racists, saying that the way to hurt them is to keep playing great footy and "keep smiling".
Last weekend he was the match winner in the Blues 2-point victory over Geelong.
