The player has since been handed a life ban from Ardmona following a club investigation.
More than half-a-dozen senior netballers advised the club on Thursday night that they would no longer be involved at the club due to the racist comment.
In a joint statement, the players called for an end to racism.
“As strong indigenous women we make our stand today as we want to make a change for our next generation, we are paving the way,” the statement read.
“We felt the committee and coach was not dealing with this issue seriously enough, so we thought that taking a stand in what we, as a whole and community, believe in as we feel this needs to stop.
“This is why we have had our say and taken the steps into stamping out racial discrimination within the whole of the football and netball leagues.”
In its club statement, Ardmona declared racism would not be tolerated.
“The Ardmona Football Netball Club takes any racist behaviour very seriously and has a zero-tolerance policy of this behaviour,” the statement read.
“The club has clear guidelines around player and member expectations and behaviours.
“The (club) will continue to do everything necessary to stamp out racism in sport and within our community.”
Ardmona's statement revealed that a letter of complaint was presented to the committee on Wednesday night, July 14.
The letter identified a player had used a racial slur toward an indigenous player and had repeated the slur after being told it was inappropriate.
Following the letter of complaint, the committee contacted the accused player and placed them on suspension immediately — pending an investigation into the incident.
The club contacted the netballer who experienced the racial slur the next morning on July 15, to explain an investigation was under way and to reassure her that the club takes racist behaviour seriously.
The players then informed the club that evening of their desire to leave.
“As players we loved the club . . . it's a real shame due to one player using racist slurs that (they) thought were acceptable, we will not take that,” the players’ statement read.
“Growing up as children with our colour was hard enough, then to have thesehurtful words said to us is not right.
“(With) racial discrimination still continuing, we feel, as strong indigenous women itwas time to take a stand and start making some change.
“So we don’t have our Aboriginal families and community staying quiet and showing them the courage as well to make a stand.”
The club said it was saddened by the exodus of its indigenous players.
“On Thursday (July 15) the committee was informed that all of the indigenous players were intending to leave the club. We as a club are shattered by this decision,” the statement read.
“We love and support our indigenous players and feel that racism has no place in sport.
“We as a committee would have loved to continue to work closely with them to stamp out this sort of behaviour and show a united front against racism in sport.
“Ardmona has a long history of supporting our indigenous community and sought the input of senior indigenous community members to ensure our investigation was appropriate.
“The club was looking forward to the Indigenous Round that was scheduled for last weekend and had supported our indigenous committee member to sell over one hundred ‘Always was, always will be” shirts that the whole club was planning to wear in solidarity with our indigenous players.”
Ardmona's investigation concluded at the weekend, with the offending player acknowledging the racist behaviour and expressing deep regret for their actions.
The club strongly recommends that the player attend cultural safety training.
The incident comes after the Bush Cats’ A-grade outfit won its first game since the 2018 season earlier this year.
The KDL declined to comment on the club's incident, but says it does not tolerate discrimination of any person.
More local sport
Seymour product makes debut for Essendon
Cobram Roar awarded AWFA semi-final hosting duties
16°C