The newly rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium has left some fans disappointed before construction even finishes, after an apparent decision not to honour the legacy of footballing legend Arthur Beetson.
The names of four of the stadium's grandstands, each picked in honour of a sporting great, were leaked over the weekend, with honours for Roy Coote, Nicholas Shehadie, Johnny Warren.
Controversially, one of the grandstands will be named in honour of British army soldiers from the 1850s who were based at Victoria barracks and played sport on what is now the SCG.
Though spokespeople from both the state government and the SCG Trust, which governs the stadium, emphasised that the decision is not final, the NRL great's snub has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many First Nations fans.
Beetson is remembered as one of the finest players the game has ever produced. The Queensland-born man played at both the club and representative level, notably for the Sydney Roosters.
An artist's impression of the new Sydney Football Stadium. Grandstands around the pitch will be named in honour of sporting greats. Source: NSW Government
His style of off-loading changed the way the way starting forwards played, and the prop made history when he became the first Indigenous person to captain a national Australian sporting team against France in 1972.
Anaiwan man and fellow Rooster's forward Dean Widders said Beetson's influence on the game, the community and him personally, was significant.
"He was like a father figure to me," he told NITV News.
"He gave opportunities to so many young Aboriginal people from all over Australia... and [was] someone we all looked up to, someone who made Blakfullas proud."
Widders questioned the decision by the SCG heritage committee, headed by businessman Maurice Newman, former politician and SCG Trust chairman Rodney Cavalier and media director Phillip Heads, not to honour Beetson's legacy.
"He's a legend of the Roosters (the stadium is located in the team's heartland of eastern Sydney)... and he won a lot of premierships playing in that area.
"He certainly broke down a lot of doors and allowed a lot of opportunities for people. So [he could] definitely take on that role as someone who's a prominent presence in that stadium."
Dean Widders says Artie Beetsons legacy should be honoured. Source: AAP
In a statement, Venues NSW said it would "recognise and honour the contribution of past champions" when the names are officially revealed once construction is finished.
"The new SFS can have up to eight names around the grandstands, as well as recognition of other prominent athletes and contributors in the stadium’s many rooms and public areas."
Beetson had great public support to take one of the grandstands, with a News Corp poll revealing last year he had three times the backing of any other option.
Widders said the significant contributions of First Nations players to the game could be more faithfully celebrated and honoured.
"I can't think of many Indigenous people who've got prominent names on stadiums," he said.
"We have been contributing to sport for a long time... I think it also links into what we can look to as a better Australia, with everyone coming together and celebrating Indigenous culture and making our history part of everyone's history."
The Sydney Rooster's have been contacted for comment.
