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Top AFLNT women's honour to be renamed after Colleen Gwynne's racist comments aired in failed court case

Racist comments by Colleen Gwynne, the namesake of the women's league Best and Fairest Medal, were reported last week. (Supplied: AFL NT)

The top honour in the AFLNT's women's league will be renamed following revelations of racist comments made by league legend Colleen Gwynne, who is also the Northern Territory Children's Commissioner.

Warning: This story includes racist and offensive language.

A call for "strong action" on the issue was made by ABC sports broadcaster and Gurindji man Charlie King on Friday morning, a week after the comments were aired as part of evidence in a court hearing.

Earlier this week Ms Gwynne was found not guilty of abusing her office as children's commissioner after the surprise withdrawal of the case against her.

Before the case collapsed, the jury was played a recording of a secretly taped conversation, in which Ms Gwynne uses a racial slur to describe acting commissioner Nicole Hucks, who is a Larrakia/Wadjigan and Eastern Arrernte woman.

Speaking outside court, Ms Gwynne said she was mortified by her use of "extremely offensive" language "at a time of great frustration and anger".

Ms Gwynne apologised for her use of the slur and acknowledged it was extremely offensive. (ABC News: Felicity James)

The women's league's Best and Fairest Medal was named the Gwynne Medal in 2016 in honour of the coach and player's contribution to the development of women's football over many years.

She was an assistant coach with the AFLW 's Adelaide Crows and coached the only Indigenous owned semi-professional football club in Australia, the Tiwi Bombers.

Speaking in a regular ABC Darwin radio segment, Mr King said he had sought a meeting with the AFLNT board after Ms Gwynne's comments were reported.

"There's no room for racism in sport, anywhere," he said.

"I'm so sick of a lifetime of having to sit here and explain my way through what happens [with] racism in sport.

"It's a hurtful and an unacceptable thing."

Charlie King called for strong action from the board of AFLNT. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

In a statement sent on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson said the AFLNT board decided to remove Ms Gwynne's name from the honour.

"The Best and Fairest Medal for the Women's Premier League Division in the NTFL competition will now be referred to as the Women's Premier League Best and Fairest Medal," the spokesperson said.

Prior to the league's decision, Ms Gwynne reiterated her apology in a statement sent to the ABC.

"I have dedicated much of my life to working with First Nations people and I am devastated that this may overshadow the work I have done," she said.

"I have spoken to AFLNT and if they decide to rename the award I will accept and support that decision."

AFLNT chairman Sean Bowden, who represented Ms Gwynne during the now-aborted trial, told the ABC he recused himself from today's decision by the board.

Mr King confirmed to the ABC that he was due to appear as a character witness for Ms Gwynne before the case was withdrawn. 

The awards night will be held on Sunday and is a major event for the local competition held six days before the grand final.

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