Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd and iconic cricketer Shane Warne have hit out at Adam Goodes, alleging the AFL legend exaggerated contact on Saturday.
Lloyd and Warne both suggested Goodes, a dual Brownlow medallist and one of the most respected figures in the game, staged for a free kick in Sydney’s loss to Richmond.
“He’s better than that,” Lloyd said on the Nine Network.
“It’s something in the game currently that people are more and more aware of, and absolutely hate.
“I think it’s something (Swans coach) John Longmire should say to him: `pull up, just focus on the footy because you don’t need to do that’.”
Warne was more flippant, sending out a tweet during the game that asked his 1.67 million followers whether they were “annoyed when Adam Goodes always “stages” for free kicks?”.
The St Kilda fan and once-in-a-generation legspinner then said he was surprised Goodes was named Australian of the Year in January.
“Shocked as I just found out Goodes was Aust of the year, wow ! Who votes for that?,” Warne posted on Twitter.
Goodes was chosen for his leadership and advocacy in the fight against racism, in sport and wider society.
The 34-year-old formed the GO Foundation with Michael O’Loughlin in 2009, working with indigenous youth and focusing on education, employment and healthy lifestyles.
Goodes was widely praised for his response to two racial slurs last year, and is actively involved with several community programs.
Goodes replied to Warne on Sunday morning.
“@ShaneWarne thanks for your support mate maybe ask @gilly381 (Adam Gilchrist) who votes for it he is the chair of the Australia Day Council,” Goodes posted.
Warne replied on Twitter, saying Goodes should “just stop staging for free kicks”.
Speaking earlier on Sunday, Goodes admitted he was disappointed at the commentary and scrutiny, but unswayed.
“Until you’ve been out on the footy field and you cop what happens out there, it’s hard for them to make judgement,” he said.
“It’s disappointing from the players who are ex-players, because they’ve been out there. They know what it’s like.
“Is it going to affect me or the way I play my footy … definitely not. That’s their criticism … it doesn’t bother me.”
Jake
Guest
Yeap, the whole 2 more weeks of Freo's season
Leapin Leo
Guest
Amen
Axle an the guru
Guest
Dont say sticks and stones Jason whatever you do. I did that once and ended up in a full on barny and on permanent MODS. That one was about Goodes too.
Kev
Guest
It would take you all of 30 seconds to watch a video of the incident but you didn't and yet you're quick to reel off a list of things Warne has done wrong. Warne certainly wasn't a saint but just because he has a long list of indiscretions doesn't make Goodes' actions any better.
Jason H
Roar Rookie
"Your momma so fat her high school picture was an aerial photograph" I don't see a problem with it, sledging is part of the game. Sticks & stones etc etc Having said that though, we're talking about Goodes and his staging not ancient Warne history.
Aransan
Guest
You can't just dismiss illegally accepting money from a bookmaker as an off field issue. This is how criminals start to infiltrate the game and eventually where game results actually come into question. It is OK to make derogatory comments about an opposition player's mother? Come off it!
langou
Roar Guru
Hi Don, if you look at the chain of replies, my reply was in response to your suggestion that Shane Warne's "issues were off field, relationship issues surrounding filandering. He played the game with delightful humour and mutual respect." I would certainly disagree with this.
langou
Roar Guru
Don't know, haven't seen the incident. Which is why I have avoided commenting on it. If he did dive then I think on the bad sportsmanship scale it is a minor issue in comparison to what Shane Warne has been involved in.
conchie
Roar Rookie
I love Warnie, great cricketer and gets some good women as well, likes a beer and a pizza, what is there not to like.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Pity it is not St Kilda playing this week, would be good build up :)
conchie
Roar Rookie
Goodes is a great player and has been for many years, but IMO he has been getting his share and more of soft free kicks. Some of that has to do with his status IMO, champions who have proven themselves over the journey do sometimes get a easier ride from the umpies. What tends to happen though, if you cry wolf or over stage it could come to bite you at a important moment of a game ....maybe a GF !.
Kev
Guest
Did Goodes dive? Yes or no langou?
Kev
Guest
Answer this question, did Goodes feign being hit in the face in order to draw a free kick on the weekend?
Connor
Guest
1) yep, unsportsmanlike 2) no, he can fool the umpire if it looks good 3) off field issue 4) yep 5) not unsportsmanlike, but wrong (also probably only happened once) 6 and 7) absolutely nothing wrong with that
Don Freo
Guest
And that makes it ok for Goodes to dive against the spirit of the game? 'Cos you don't like Warnie? Very strange.
langou
Roar Guru
1) Taking performance enhancing drugs 2) Appealing when he knew it wasn't out to put 'pressure on the umpires' 3) Illegally accepting money from a bookmaker 4) Making physical contact with a player. 5) Abusing rather than supporting a teammate in their debut test match 6) Referring to an oppositions player's mother in derogatory fashion 7) Admitting to doing research into the personal lives of players in order to "sledge" them more effectively. All things that happened, most of them he coped a fine or suspension for
Axle an the guru
Guest
Warne played the game harder than most which is why he is the champion he is and who dont swear around changing rooms or have a beer for that matter as far as arguing goes,it happens in all team sports from top to bottom. So what.
Don Freo
Guest
Why the attack on Warne? Do you really think what Goodes did is skilled, courageous, statesmanlike...a credit to the game? It is not even wily or clever. What is wrong with saying we don't want diving in our game? Why try to deflect the conversation?
Don Freo
Guest
You are projecting tall poppy stuff here. The only correct bit was the suspension and that was about vanity. It had nothing to do with how he played cricket. Both Murali and Lara name Warne as the player they most respected and they count him as a very good friend. How is drinking and swearing at Lords pavilion anything to do with anything? Refusal to do physical training...pfff!
Jake
Guest
I love Warnie, but he was a pig of a competitor. The best cricketer I've ever seen and close to best athlete (talent/game changing) aswell. But let's not kid ourselves. If your not Australian, this guy was a disgrace. Got booted off a would cup campaign for a drug suspension, in house fighting with the team, refusal to do physical training, drinking and swearing on the pavilion at Lords, then the arrogance he showed other nations, his dummy spits and verbal abuse if things didn't go his way, his constant over the top appealing for everything, and the condescending and intimation he treated umpires with. This is hardly the man to question Goodes' sportsmanship