In his new documentary series, End Game, ABC presenter and former AFL player Tony Armstrong is making a tough analysis of racism in Australian sport. The three-part series, which begins this week on ABC and iview, explores the lived experiences of athletes and their daily fight against discrimination in the country’s sporting culture.
Watch the official trailer for End Game with Tony Armstrong on YouTube.
The last Reckoning: a National Discovery
End Game represents a personal and professional milestone for Armstrong, who provides a platform to confront the long-existing culture of silence on racism in sport.
In an open-minded way, the series reveals the intricacies of race, identity, and belonging in one of the most renowned arenas in Australia, the sporting field, through frank interviews with players, coaches, and administrators.
Armstrong explained that the inspiration for the series was his observation of recurrent cases of racial abuse being downplayed or disregarded. There is nothing to see here, people say; however, that is one of the problems, he said in an interview with ABC News.
The Bigger Picture of the Struggle
The voices of various sporting codes, such as football, cricket, and athletics, are represented in the documentary. Athletes are telling stories of maltreatment, of marginalisation, and institutional neglect, of things that influenced their professional paths and their identity.
When Armstrong said he wanted to sensationalise, he meant to establish understanding. We are not referring to words or gestures only. What we are talking about is mechanisms that make some individuals less likely to belong, he pointed out.
An Ex-Athlete in His Reflections
Armstrong has a special insider perspective since he has been a professional AFL player in several clubs and later shifted to broadcasting. End Game is very authentic and well-rounded due to his own experiences of racism in the sport.
Tony Armstrong at the Sydney premiere of End Game, calling for change and inclusion in sport.
Armstrong, being a proud Kamilaroi man, strikes a balance between his own story and those of others who have gone through challenging situations, providing the viewers with a candid account of strength and activism.
Impact and Reaction of the Audience
Preliminary audience and reviewer response has been favorable to End Game because of its boldness and brevity. Social commentators have noted the value of Armstrong’s approach, which was more interested in empathy and truth than in confrontation.
ABC executives claimed that the series was a critical addition to the national discourse on race and equity in sport and could impact forthcoming diversity programs in Australian sporting institutions.
Extended Implications on Australian Sport
End Game is released in an era when understanding of inclusion and representation in sport has been given a second wave of debate due to recent scandals in the AFL and NRL.
When they broadcast such discussions on national television, Armstrong hopes that it will trigger institutional accountability and change. When launching the series, he said: We can not fix a problem we do not confront.
The documentary challenges sports organisations to look internally and to work more actively with the Indigenous and multicultural communities.
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Final Thoughts
End Game is not just a documentary, but it is a call to action. With a compelling narration and experience, Tony Armstrong provokes Australia to face some unpleasant realities of its sporting culture.
The show not only reinforces the theme of racism being persistent, but also glorifies those who ensured the cause of fairness and equality. By doing that, Armstrong will not stop the mission of making his voice a meaningful change both inside and outside the workplace.
FAQs
- What is End Game with Tony Armstrong about?
The series follows Tony Armstrong as he investigates racism in sport at both elite and grassroots levels. It explores how discrimination impacts athletes and examines real solutions to promote equality and inclusion. - Who is Tony Armstrong and why is he hosting this documentary?
Tony Armstrong is a former AFL player and Indigenous Australian broadcaster. His lived experiences in sport and advocacy for inclusion make him uniquely placed to explore the topic of racism in Australian sport. - How many episodes does the series have?
End Game is a three-part documentary series that explores different aspects of racism in sport and how it affects athletes’ careers and lives. - When did the series premiere?
The series premiered on 21 October 2025 at 8:30 pm on ABC, with all three episodes available for streaming on ABC iview. - Where can I watch End Game in Australia?
The series airs on ABC TV and is available for free streaming on ABC iview. - Can viewers outside Australia watch the series?
Currently, the series is available only through ABC iview, which may require viewers outside Australia to use region access tools such as a VPN. - Which sports and athletes are featured in the series?
End Game features voices from various sporting codes, including football, cricket, and athletics, with appearances from athletes such as Usman Khawaja, Adam Goodes, and other sporting figures who have spoken out against racism. - What makes End Game different from other sports documentaries?
Unlike most sports documentaries that focus on individual athletes or teams, End Game investigates the systemic issues of racism across multiple sports and levels of competition, offering solutions rather than just raising awareness. - Why did Tony Armstrong decide to focus on racism in sport?
Armstrong has personally experienced racism as an athlete and broadcaster. His motivation for creating End Game stems from a desire to challenge the denial of racism in sport and encourage meaningful dialogue. - What major themes are explored in the series?
Major themes include systemic racism, online abuse, institutional accountability, allyship, and the resilience of athletes who continue to push for equality and change. - Has the series been supported by industry or production bodies?
The series is an ABC original production developed in partnership with key Australian filmmakers and cultural organisations focused on storytelling, inclusion, and social impact. - How long is each episode of End Game?
Each episode runs for approximately 48 minutes, making the total runtime for the three-part series around two and a half hours. - Will End Game lead to changes in Australian sporting organisations?
While no immediate changes are guaranteed, the documentary aims to inspire reflection and policy reform within Australian sporting organisations to promote greater diversity and accountability. - Are there educational resources linked to End Game?
The production team has developed an impact campaign and discussion materials designed to engage schools, sporting clubs, and community groups in conversations about race and equality in sport. - Who produced and directed the series?
End Game was directed by Dean Gibson and produced by Steve Bibb under Barking Mad Productions, with Tony Armstrong as the presenter and creative contributor.
