SHAUN Burgoyne says Saturday night's late-game incident with Eddie Betts provides the AFL industry another chance to reinforce cultural awareness issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players.
Burgoyne released a statement on behalf of the AFL Players' Indigenous Advisory Board on Tuesday morning, saying that while a line had been crossed, the football community's response was encouraging.
"The AFL Players' Indigenous Advisory Board applauds the swift action taken by the Port Adelaide Football Club following the disappointing incident at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night," Burgoyne said.
"There's no room for racism of any form in our game and we are saddened that incidents of this nature continue to occur.
"We want fans to be passionate and cheer for their team, but there's a line and it was clearly crossed on this occasion."
"The AFL industry is taking great strides to ensure Aussie Rules is a game for everyone, but this serves as a reminder that more work needs to be done.
"We are buoyed by the emphatic response from the community and hope this incident provides an opportunity for further education."
Port Adelaide has indefinitely suspended the membership of a female member for throwing a banana towards Adelaide player Eddie Betts.
She has been offered the chance to participate in one of Port Adelaide's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness sessions.
The club's Aboriginal programs team and players will work with her to educate on the cultural sensitivities surrounding Saturday's incident, in addition to broader issues that confront Australia's indigenous community.
