Chief executive Gillon McLachlan his hit back at allegations the AFL is "incompetent" at dealing with racism, saying recent responses have made it a "leader in the country".
Former Collingwood star Heritier Lumumba painted a frank picture of his old AFL club in a recently-released documentary, saying he was nicknamed "chimp".
Lumumba also opened up about the aftermath of Magpies president Eddie McGuire's racial vilification of Adam Goodes in 2013.
Lumumba has since told Guardian Australia he raised "concerns with various levels of administration and management about racism within the club and how I was affected" but the "AFL is incompetent in dealing with and addressing" the issue.
Former Collingwood players Leon Davis and Andrew Krakouer have thrown their support behind Lumumba in recent days.
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McLachlan, who is yet to speak with Lumumba about the recent revelations, says the AFL has been "very strong" on the issue of racism.
"Our industry has been a leader in the country on racism," McLachlan told reporters in Sydney.
"It doesn't mean we get everything right. We're a work in progress. We listen and learn.
"I've got (Torres Strait Islander and social activist) Tanya Hosch on my management team, who I take a lot of advice from.
"We're all on a journey to do the best we can but I think our history is pretty strong."
When asked if he would reach out to Lumumba, McLachlan replied "Tanya has already met with Heritier".
Hosch, the league's general manager of inclusion and social policy, briefly talked with Lumumba last week on the set of the Marngrook Footy Show.
"Despite media reports, which state that I recently met with the AFL regarding these issues, I have not had any meaningful contact with the AFL, including their general manager of inclusion and social policy," Lumumba wrote on his Facebook page.
"I've spoken to myriad players and staff who understand just how systemic and far reaching racism is within the AFL."
The AFL was widely criticised for its response to the Goodes incident in 2013, but also the ensuing widespread booing of the indigenous icon during games.
More recently it has denounced crowd vilification of Paddy Ryder and Eddie Betts, who had a banana thrown at him during a game in 2016.
"There is a history of not competently dealing with systemic racism - not just at a club level, but the AFL," Lumumba told Guardian.
"This issue should have been eradicated from the game.
"But even when we had the situation with Adam Goodes - the AFL didn't know how to address it effectively.
"Their response to my concerns further speaks to a culture of incompetence."
