Another marvellous round of footy (unless you follow North, who in coach, Brad Scott’s words lost the un-loseable, or Melbourne, who were barely competitive) was marred with the off-field controversy of the racial slur against Adam Goodes who had produced his best form of the season in the Swans’ smashing of Collingwood.
Goodes took offence, and rightly so, to being called an ape by a teenage girl in the crowd late in the match.
With it being Indigenous Round and well into the 21st century, this remark really stuck in the champion’s craw, forcing him to leave the ground before the siren and go down to the change rooms.
He missed celebrating Sydney’s best display of the season after the game with his teammates.
The fact that the teenage girl didn’t know that calling Goodes an ape is racist proves how far we have to go in educating our children, especially those aged between 11 and 15, about how wrong it is to racially abuse someone anytime, anywhere.
There was a talkback caller to Grandstand’s AFL coverage on the weekend who is a school teacher. He was very strong strident in his view that these sorts of education programs should have been implemented many years ago. I don’t think there would be too many who would argue against him.
As Goodes said, gone are the days when the Indigenous community and players on a football field should have to tolerate racist rants.
Now the girl’s comment was a long way from a racist rant, but one word that denigrates someone because of their race is one too many.
It was great news that she had the courage to write him a letter and that Goodes accepted her apology straight away, but the fact that her mistake, as a member of a crowd supporting the highest profile team, has been and will continue to be highlighted is still a big punishment that may take her a while to overcome.
She will need plenty of support and will get it if she wants it, particularly from the League. I hope she takes it.
I don’t know where she had heard people being called an ape, but she said she didn’t know what it meant or what racism meant.
She’s still young, but must be taught about it straight away, because committing the same mistake again in the same environment is completely unforgiveable.
Goodes wants the girl to move on from this, comfortable that she will become a better person because of it. It proves what a special individual he is that in his press conference on the issue on Saturday he was genuinely worried about her after he got over the initial shock of the slur.
Collingwood, as expected, were also reeling from this. President Eddie Maguire was absolutely shattered and got on the front foot knowing that Friday’s incident could permanently harm his club and what it stands for.
Maguire has, in his own words over the years, worked hard to make the Magpies a powerful entity off the field since taking on the top job in 1999. He is very professional in all their business practices and can’t afford controversy to ruin or damage the brand of the AFL’s most popular club.
He showed superb leadership, like Goodes, in seeking out the dual Brownlow Medalist in the Swans’ rooms immediately after the game.
He now has to deal with another spectator spotted on a mobile phone picture yelling abuse from the stands at Lewis Jetta and Goodes getting free kicks because of the colour of their skin.
What is wrong with these people?
It appears that the days when barracking for your team in the crowd was about old-fashioned humourous banter between fans of the two teams doing battle are gone. The public have to be mindful of who is around them in the crowd at games, particularly children. A line has to be drawn as to what can or can’t be said.
Veteran St Kilda small forward Stephen Milne said in the media on the weekend that he has copped some vicious abuse over the years, as has his family. I know he’s the Saint all opposition supporters like to give a hard time to, but they can’t be too personal.
I hope that Friday’s incident is an isolated incident and we can continue marvel at the skill and talent of all players. We are so lucky to see them play and Adam Goodes, after 328 matches in 14 and a half seasons, is close to the top of the tree.
It was a night that should be remembered for Goodes exhibiting his outstanding talent with a performance that will live in our minds forever, instead of being remembered as the night that some people embarrassed themselves.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
A sacraficial lamb to the slaughter if you will
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Sacraficial Lamb to the slaughter i you will
Matt from Singapore
Guest
Totally agree Nathan. Sheedy's comments offended, end of story, doesn't matter what he intended.
Reason
Guest
Maybe start with the most powerful, highest ranking members of the AFL world and work down. It'll be a big job. http://www.news.com.au/national-news/eddie-mcguire-makes-on-air-gaffe-about-adam-goodes-and-king-kong/story-fncynjr2-1226652776987
Nathan of Perth
Guest
No, ape is not in and of itself a racist term - it is an animal, after all. But if you are applying it to a black person then you can rest assured that 99% of the time it is racial vilification. And as you say, she wasn't saying it because she thought Goodes was a pretty top bloke, but to get back at someone who was in the process of pummeling her team.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
It absolutely does not matter what the person intended it to mean - what matters is what was actually said and the effect.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Umpires can go home and change out of their uniform, or quit if it becomes too much. The difference is - you can't quit your skin colour.
Steve
Guest
It's actually a bit of a tricky one, because 'Ape' in itself doesn't have to be a racist term, and we get into a tricky conversation about how it's fine to caricature George W Bush as an ape, but illegally offensive to do it with Obama. I do understand why people are urging caution on this. HOWEVER, it's a bit of a moot point, because although I don't think the girl is necessarily a racist as such, I'm pretty sure she shouted it to be hurtful, and the racial connotations were not irrelevant at all: case in point, with so many big burly dumb men on the pitch in front of her, and in the crowd behind her, why did she go for Goodes?
Billy Bob
Guest
My last comment relates to the suggestion of Goodes visiting the girl as a gesture of solidarity. For some reason the editing placed it above it above the comment i was agreeing with. Lets remember that this young girl has apologised. There is a unique opportunity here to create a bridge over the issue whilst at the same time protect a young person from a high level of negative public scrutiny.
Billy Bob
Guest
It's a great idea. It was just a silly word probably in the mind if the girl who said it. She sure did not count on all this fuss about it. How many people commenting here have spoken a regrettable word since last weekend? Probably all of us. There is a unique opportunity to take the heat off a contrite young person here. And to educate both those in Andrew Bolt's camp and those in the 'stamp out inhuman racial references' camp as well. At the end of the day it was just a word. But it was spoken to one of a minority who were declared inhuman 225 years ago and robbed. So it is a little complex. At the end of the day the issue is one of dignity and respect. Aboriginal Australians deserve it as do 13 year old children who make mistakes and are sorry for them.
Milz
Guest
So Simon I take it you find it alright for someone to abuse someone about height, weight, hair colour, sexual orientation - so long as it isn't racist?
BigAl
Guest
Very good question ! - Collingwood ruckman Darren Jolley had an article in The Age a few days ago expounding the value of sledging on the field. He recounted an episode when he was at the Swans where he gave '...a good sledging...' to Josh Frazer? of Collingwood. When he himself moved to Collingwood, Jolley was 'surprised' to find that Fraser refused to speak to him ?????
Bunny Boy Marty
Guest
-- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Bunny Boy Marty
Guest
Dan, I applaud Goodes for his leadership and concern for the girl. No place for this behaviour; but I would say the crowd behaviour has improved markedly since i was 13. That can only be a good thing. Vigilance to keep it improving, combined with forgiveness when clueless people show contrition, is the way to go. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Brad
Guest
Ultimately whats the difference?
Jay
Guest
And she learned a tough and valuable lesson, like many 13 year olds have throughout the years.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
look at all the big tough bloggers here laying into a 13 yr old girl. Have any of you ever had kids? 13, 1st year of high school
Rob McLean
Guest
Oh, no, a football fan boos opposition shots at goal. Oh, no, a football fan boos a decision that goes against them. Hurtful. The AFL would be better off without Collingwood altogether? Yeah, right. Who do you support? What do they bring to the table? The only thing football would be better off with out of this, is a better understanding that racial intolerance will not be tolerated. The rest of your post, except for your bit about Goodes (he's a gun), is partisan rubbish.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Maybe she called him him an Ape becuase hes big and Hairy, Most kids are colour blind unless blinded by thier paents hatred which by the grand mother doesnt sound like the case. I dont know exactly what she said apart from the word Ape, but to autimatically link it to racism when itcomes to a 13 yr old kid then i think they need a new book in schools called political correctness for minors.
Simon
Roar Guru
We're not talking about personal abuse. We're talking about racial vilification, mate.