All those who were nominated for the ‘Australian of the Year’ were amazing individuals, it goes without saying, however Adam Goodes was the most deserving.
And, in a way, it should prompt us all to reexamine our attitudes and reflect on what makes Australia great and how we can make it better.
Growing up in Melbourne I learnt about how Aboriginal people have a very long and proud history in this great land.
However, I had no idea that my attitudes and knowledge in regards to all things Indigenous had such serious shortcomings.
Safe to say for many of us the most recognisable Indigenous people in Australia are predominately sports men and women.
Being a sports-mad youngster who played every sport under the sun, I naturally admired their grace and amazing sporting talent.
What I didn’t/don’t admire is the manner in which these amazing Australians at both the professional and local level (as I moved away from the comfort of Melbourne) are often denigrated with abuse.
I have witnessed some horrific racism on and off the sports field, which obviously has no place and for which there can be no excuse.
Australia’s psyche is so intrinsically linked to its rich sporting culture; a culture that makes us world beaters, but a culture that is still yet to shake off its prejudices and acknowledge the past.
People have gone out of the way to question the validity of awarding Australian of the year to a ‘sportsman’.
When Pat Rafter was named, it barley caused a stir. When our many crickets were named everyone said bravo!
It is truly ordinary at best that people would find it so hard to congratulate Adam Goodes on all the amazing work he has done in the many communities around Australia, while also bringing into the light the scourge of racism that still unfortanetely exists.
Congradulation Adam, you are an amazing Australian who stands up for what is good and decent in this great country we all call home.
Here’s hoping we all celebrate the amazing contribution that Indigenous people have made to sport.
Olivia
Guest
Beautifully said @SS. Others may also be deserving, and no doubt are, but that in no way makes Adam anything less than an inspiration to many even outside the football arena, and a gracious and worthy recipient of this honour
SS
Guest
to have a professional sports career, sit on the AFL players association board, head an anti discrimination board, captain a top three club plus more in officcial capacitys, than after all of that uses his personal time to do more at a grass roots level, I cant think of a previous winner who achieves more with their time, top bloke
Pedro
Guest
I thought Shane Crawford should have been nominated for his effort for raising money for cancer research
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Yes, the Timing couldnt have been planned any better
lyn
Guest
I agree and not only did he stop play after he pointed out the girl he then sooked to the locker room and said he was so upset that he couldn't play any longer. (sticks and stones and all that). Give the AOYA to a low profile person who does a lot of good for the benefit of the Majority of the people of Australia and not for just a minority
Mark
Guest
Which is exactly what he called for the day after it all happened. Many people conveniently forget that.
Punter
Guest
Wow, I have upset you!!! My apologies. I think it was AR who has said that Steve Waugh was the last sportsman to win it in 2005!!! Not sure if the Roar was around then, if so I'm not sure I was.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
When you call other peoples comments ridiculous becuase you dont like them or agree with them with out so much as a comment to clarify why they are rdiculous then what do you think your comment implies ?
Chocco
Roar Rookie
It's actually not reading between the lines when it comes to you, its like reading the same page of a book again and again. I would imagine because you have been posting the for years on this site, you could point me in the direction of your tirade against those same sports stars receiving AOTY awards, where are all those posts ?. My guess is they don't exist, becdause it was only Goodes AOTY award that really got your back up enough to post.
pope paul v11
Guest
lols
Penster
Guest
With all that scientific research under his belt too.
Punter
Guest
Yes you have this great ability to read in between the lines, read again. Point 1. Should a sportsperson get the AOTY? IMO, NO!!!! Unless he has done something exceptional, I did not agree with Steve Waugh, Pat Rafter, Cathy Freeman, Mark Taylor, Rob De castella, Kay Cottee or even the great Alan Border getting it & I love sport. Maybe 1 sportsperson in the last 30 years, a Kay Cottee, say. Point 2.If a sportsman does get it, is Adam Goodes a good choice. I have no issue with it. I know little of Goodes performances on the field, but AFL is the highest profile sport in Australia, so big tick there. He also stood up & from what I have heard does alot of work against racism, another big tick there. Read between those lines Chocco!!!!
ciudadmarron
Guest
Why should the Australian of the year have an international profile? Goodes was not in control of the media storm that followed. He should not have to apologise for calling out racism wherever and whenever it occurs. Afterwards he told the media to back off. On top of this the award was not given for this. It was given because of his other community work, including anti-racism work. Possibly it was given because he is someone now best placed to draw attention to the issue, just as other recipients have drawn attention to the arts or medicine. Now, I'm still not convinced that he is any more worthy than a lot of other people. But comments like yours and similar ones make me glad he's got it.
pope paul v11
Guest
How did James Hird miss out?
Penster
Guest
It's obvious isn't it? Look at the recipients. If it's not criteria for selection then it's a massive coincidence year after year. And you iterate my point exactly - We should definitely discus what an individual has done to be awarded that honour rather than what their day job is. Adam Goodes is probably one of the better recipients of that award (and I'm a huge fan of the guy on and off the field).
jamesb
Guest
Goodes was a good choice. But I just think there were better choices out there that may not be recognised. The people that achieve the most, are the people that remain anonymous.
Marcus Halberstram
Guest
additionally he has no international profile at all and the thing he was best remember for was getting upset about something a twelve year old girl said and then pointing her out to security and camera men alike. He has never apologised for that (I guess because bizarrely, the media made a hero out of him for it).
ciudadmarron
Guest
Fellas I've seen this same discussion occurring in a number of places... the sensible parts of the discussion are coming out here just as they are elsewhere, along similar kinds of lines... and there isn't nearly the same amount of vitriol directed at Goodes here as I saw the other day, with the possible exception of Grrr and maybe Sandbox... neither of whom I think are the usual suspects you refer to? And the usual suspects are simply making a case that a sportsperson shouldn't get AOTY.... which is a very common argument every time a sportsperson gets the award, no matter the sport they play. I think if anyone was having a go at Aussie Rules there's a rather obvious line which would be trotted out and I don't see it anywhere. If you read what I said which was a completely honest post about my feelings on it, you'll see I'm actually happy he's got it...
jamesb
Guest
Choco, Stavros, I am always keen to find out what our medical researchers are up to. Especially when you lose a loved one to cancer like I have. And If anything, I wouldn't care in the slightest if a medical researcher won the AOTY award every year. They deserve recognition. If some AFL fans think that as Choco pointed out " snide comments would be forthcoming from the chip on shoulder brigade, disguised of course, as social commentary about sports stars winning AOTY etc, Goodes heritage etc, when of course we all really know it is about Goodes playing Australian football." Well from point of view, it couldn't be further from the truth.
SandBox
Roar Guru
So you are saying his stance against the 13 year old girl was courageous compared to Symonds who had large numbers of fans and another team hurling abuse? Our shame is that Symonds wasn't supported enough by his country. Can Goodes say the same thing?