After another outstanding round of AFL footy, the Indigenous Round was once again overshadowed by an issue that, like most things in football, was blown out of proportion.
Adam Goodes is one of the greatest players to play the game. He will go straight into the AFL Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible, which is four years after retirement.
He is also very proud of his heritage and of the Indigenous Round. He was so proud to wear his Swans jumper for this occasion, which was specifically designed by his mother, Lisa Sansbury.
To honour the round, Goodes and Lewis Jetta had decided before the match against Carlton on Friday night that whoever kicked a goal first would do a dance. Or, as has been described, albeit unfairly in my opinion, a war cry.
Goodes did and then celebrated as promised towards the crowd, with what he has admitted was a war cry that he learnt from the Under-16 Boomerangs team.
Maybe the war cry was a poor choice of words, but I don’t believe the action was. Goodes has been racially abused by AFL crowds throughout his career, like many Indigenous players sadly. Most of them have said nothing and suffered in silence and been embarrassed to embrace their culture, but Goodes has continued to lead from the front.
In many ways this was his version of one of the most famous forms of entertainment performed by a sporting team before a sports event, the Haka by the New Zealand All Blacks, which is a Maori war cry. There’s that phrase again. As I have said I don’t like it, but what’s the old saying?, when in Rome do as the Romans do.
The Haka is always applauded by rugby union fans and I suppose that’s because we know when the All Blacks are playing an international they will always perform it.
Critics in the media of Adam Goodes on Friday night thought he looked aggressive and it offended some supporters. What about all the Indigenous players who have been offended by comments because of the colour of their skin? How do you think they feel?
Goodes is proud of his heritage and what indigenous footballers have done for this great game.
What Goodes did was new and unexpected. How good would it be if it became a regular fixture of the Indigenous Round. This has become an integral part of the AFL calendar and if war cries, jigs, dances or whatever you want to call them were part of it, so be it.
Congratulations to Adam Goodes. Not only is he a great footballer, he is a special person that we should all be proud of, so can we please talk about the wonderful footy being played on the field and not make mountains out of molehills?
julian noel
Guest
Anchorman, sorry, mate, I have to challenge you here: your lack of exposure to indigenous culture is glaringly obvious. You are a victim of your own cultural system, so few Australians have any knowledge of the indigenous culture. It is a great enduring shame that Australians are not exposed to, or given a grounding in the ways of Aboriginal culture. I am of Maori heritage, and Maori culture is part of mainstream New Zealand culture... from early childhood schooling through to university level Maori culture is made available and honoured. New Zealand passports are bi-lingual, Maori art, and cultural influence are obvious in virtually every facet of life. Most new Zealanders know and perform the Haka. How many Australians know an Aboriginal dance, song... word? Aboriginals are the forgotten people of Australia. And when they express themselves woe betide them! Choruses of white Australians ringing out, "back in your hole, Adam, that aint culture'. Australians like their blacks, drunk, dumb and silent. As for the dance not being indigenous, or traditional.... are you really qualified to make that call? I would bet London to a brick those 16 year old kids were guided by their elders... that's how it works in indigenous culture.
Peter
Guest
Well put Dan. Adam Goodes is a champion. Unfortunately there are still racist elements in AFL crowds.
anchorman
Guest
From listening to Goodes talk about it, it was not coming from the elders but just the kids wanted to do it themselves. I may be reading it wrongly but that is the way I see it. One thing for sure it is not traditional. It is not of the aboriginal culture. Though maybe 50 years down the track it could be seen as part of a newer culture.
julian noel
Guest
Anchorman. You raise some good questions. What is culture? Who participates in creating it? 16 year old kids make up Hakas. I'd bet London to a brick those kids Goodesy mentioned were guided by their elders in creating their dance. Traditional cultures are guided by protocols, usually instigated and guided by the elders
anchorman
Guest
The dance isn't culture. It is a made up dance from a group of 16 year old kids. It is wrong for people even Goodes to say that it is culture,it isn't. The Haka is culture.
julian noel
Guest
Dan, as the old saying goes, 'Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder'. So too does understanding. Well written piece. Thank you so much. It is such a relief to hear a deeper response than the knee-jerk reactions from the tabloid section of the media. As a Pies supporter I was livid to hear Eddie's comments post match. He is a truly dangerous person to comment on these issues. I love him, But he doesn't have a clue about the complexities of racism. The general response to Goodesy and his 'dance' shows how little most Australians know about the indigenous culture of their own country. People saying it is 'aggressive' and asking why was it 'aimed' at the Carlton supporters? May I offer a little something.... as a Maori, when we perform the Haka, it is well known the more ferocious the delivery the more respect you are showing your adversary. Suck it up Carlton, that an indigenous man should dain to share his culture with you, what an honour.
AlanKC
Guest
"Congratulations to Adam Goodes. Not only is he a great footballer, he is a special person that we should all be proud of, so can we please talk about the wonderful footy being played on the field and not make mountains out of molehills?" Well said.
TomC
Roar Guru
I wholeheartedly agree. Good article, Dan. Although is it true to say that Goodes has been racially abused throughout his career?
JM Bondi
Guest
6 articles about it rather than footy - it seems to be a big deal to writers.
Momentbymoment
Guest
the only trouble with your argument is that the booing increased ten fold after Eddies gorilla statement. No one talked about the booing before that.
Nordburg
Guest
I had no problems with the war dance nor was I offended,but the same must go for the media in regards to crowds booing him.I suspect if such a big deal wasn't made of the booing or people suggesting it is race related,the war dance wouldn't be making such headlines.How anyone can say the booing is based on the colour of his skin is ridiculous.Buddy Franklin was getting booed at by Hawks supporters but that was due to the colour of his jersey.Not sure what the problem is with booing in general really,have we become too PC? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Daws
Roar Rookie
mountains or not, at least it exposes an underbelly in Australia that is, if not racist, at least confused.
Sam
Guest
The fact this wasn't put to bed straight after Goodes' on-field interview (where he would have no idea what commentators or keyboard warriors were saying) highlights the fact that there are racists trying to make the most of this to sport their nonsense as loudly as possible. Would have been like Christmas for someone such as Andrew Bolt. Perhaps if we grew up with an education that included our Aboriginal heritage, a large portion of the population wouldn't be so surprised over a goal celebration and feel the need to resort to such bigotry which highlights the black underbelly of Australian 'Anglo' culture.