AFL boss Gill McLachlan has backed Lewis Jetta’s war dance in support of Sydney teammate Adam Goodes and called for the unprecedented and “sheep-like” booing of the dual Brownlow medallist to stop.
Jetta courted controversy on Sunday when he imitated throwing a make-believe spear towards West Coast fans moments after scoring in the final quarter of the Swans’ 52-point loss to the Eagles.
McLachlan said he had no problem with the emotion-charged dance and indicated the AFL would not be taking any action.
“He was supporting Adam, and I think we have to cut through the noise,” McLachlan told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Monday.
“I don’t believe this is about inciting the crowd, it was about a statement to support Adam who’s been habitually booed for many weeks now.”
McLachlan called on crowds to stop targeting Goodes, suggesting they no longer even understand why they’re doing it.
“I don’t know that we’ve ever had the issue that we have with Adam now about him being booed for 15 or 16 weeks,” he said.
“I do think there comes a point where we need to call out this behaviour and go enough’s enough.
“It is draining on Adam. This is something that’s not been going on for a few weeks, it’s months now.
“And I just don’t know that it reflects well on the game and people have had enough of it.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of different people and there are a lot of different attributes to why it started, and it’s now sheep-like behaviour and people don’t know why they’re doing it.”
Jetta explained his actions were a way of expressing his frustration over the constant booing that had been building up throughout the season.
“He’s a superstar of the game, a superstar for us the Swans. And fans need to show more respect for what he’s done for the game,” Jetta told the Swans website.
“All this booing and stuff needs to be thrown outside the window.”
Goodes said he was proud to know Jetta was acting in support of him during what has been “a continual battle”.
“It’s frustrating just to have all that bad energy targeted towards me,” he said.
“It’s disappointing. I’m coming towards the end of my career and if I leave the game this year and that’s the aftermath of my career then I’ll be really disappointed with that.”
Brisbane legend Jonathan Brown said the booing of Goodes is now “bordering on the edge of ridiculous”.
“It’s obviously got some racial connotations to it, we’ve got our head in the sand and we don’t think it does.
“But I think it’s more the polarising figure Adam Goodes has become since becoming Australian of the Year.
“He has promoted his cause for reconciliation, but there is a minority of the crowd that want to do it for racial reasons, others because they go for the opposite team, and others have just followed the leader.”
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Stupidity. Because a firearm hasn't been a part of anyone's culture. Ever.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
That's idiocy. Look at my comments I've replied to a number of people like you are using a number of different excuses to justify the booing of Adam Goodes. Jetta wasn't "recruited" to do the war dance he wanted to do it in Indigenous round but never kicked a goal. He probably hoped for better in his home town of Perth and realising he was incorrect, wanted to do it then and there. If you can tell a 13 year old girl from a mile away I'm shocked and suggest perhaps you take a think about that statement and why I don't think you're a genius at knowing people's ages. The idea that Goodes incited the crowd is idiocy. In any case, he did that to Cartlon. How many Carlton supporters have been at the other 16 games the Swans have played when he has been booed?
Axle an the Guru
Guest
Humans did evolve from primates after all. If that girl thought he looked like an ape,so be it,his wife thinks he is a good looking fella,so who cares. I wonder what sort of an outcome it would be with this spear throwing thing if someone had of made a firearm action in return???
Paul Schlanger
Roar Rookie
I am not about defending anyone or what they say and I don't know where you live but I can tell a 13 year old girl a mile away. Of all the points I made here that's all you can comment on. Read it again, make some constructive comments and earn you guru status.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Oh so we'll just let 13 year old girls who yell racist abuse at people roam free. What she yelled comes from somewhere. There is a source, she hasn't just made that up. Then there is the issue that Goodes would not have known her age, if not not have actually seen her before he pointed to her. We ask our kids from pre-school age to stop bullying and speak up. She would know better by her age - I know it was taught to me. Racism is just an upgraded form of bullying that needs to be stopped. N
Paul Schlanger
Roar Rookie
The guy is being booed because he started the war dance. He brought out the racist card against a 13 year old and caned for it. He started this and now she is crying foul. He is a sook. Suck it up and it would probably go away. Recruiting other swans players do copy your war dance just perpetuates it. You wanna incite the crowd,....... Well this is how they react. What did he think was going to happen. As a crown, there are very few weapons they can use. Booing is about the only non-violent way to respond.
Gyfox
Guest
Alex - AFL attendances are not plummeting. In fact they have increased in Melbourne. Remember the average AFL attendance is 32,000. This is not only very good for a country of 23 mill with 2 major winter codes, but it is 4th highest of any league in the world. The attendances that are declining in Australia are NRL (down 1,600 this year to 15,300 a the lowest since 2012) & A-league (down 1,000 this year to 13,000). Given their lower crowds the % decline in those 2 is far higher than any perceived decline in AFL.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/jul/28/adam-goodes-why-his-critics-arguments-just-dont-stack-up?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Jools Ferguson
Guest
Regarding the booing of Adam Goodes. Since he was given the honour of being named as Australian of the Year in 2014, Mr Goodes has behaved like a spoilt child at every opportunity - The booing has NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS ABORIGINAL HERITAGE AT ALL. It is his attitude that "I am so great - look at me!" He has become an UNASHAMED exhibitionist and it is THAT AND ONLY THAT WHICH HAS PROMPTED THE BOOING. I have the greatest respect for my Aboriginal "brothers and sisters" and I truly believe most of them would be proud of Mr Goodes' sporting ability, but NOT his embarrassing behaviour.
Shygui
Guest
I posted this else where as well but for what its worth, I have booed the following players for years at every game they played against the Bombers: Carey Kouta Buckley Ricciuto Goodes – since about his 3 or 4th year in the AFL Hodge & Lewis – since about 2008 Stevie J – circa 2007/08 Why???? well because they rubbed me up the wrong way at some point with their conduct on the field, (nothing to do with their off field actions, for example I actually really like Carey’s view of the game now) but in my eyes they all have an arrogance on field that I didn’t / don’t like they all played marginally within the rules of the game constantly pushing the boundary’s and finally they are all happy when its going their way but whinge when its not. So I will continue to boo all these players (as is my right) and I am sure that over time I will add more new players to that list (I already have my eye on a couple), also if it gets under the oppositions skin I think I will be more inclined to continue, the swans have shown its effecting them so why not help my team in some small way. Without the fans there is no game anyway and I am sick of the AFL (I could go on a rant about the AFL Commission ruining the game, but that is for another topic) trying to control every aspect of my Footy experience I hope that makes sense, they are all probably great blokes but I like to have a villain to hate :)
Shygui
Guest
Hi Darren, I can answer for myself I have booed the following players for years at every game they played against the Bombers: Carey Kouta Buckley Ricciuto Goodes - since about his 3 or 4th year in the AFL Hodge & Lewis - since about 2008 Stevie J - circa 2007/08 Why???? well because they rubbed me up the wrong way at some point with their conduct on the field, (nothing to do with their off field actions, I actually really like Carey's view of the game now) but in my eyes they all have an arrogance on field that I didn't / don't like they all played marginally within the rules of the game constantly pushing the boundary's and finally they are all happy when its going their way but whinge when its not. So I will continue to boo all these players (as is my right) and I am sure that over time I will add more new players to that list (I already have my eye on a couple), also if it gets under the oppositions skin I think I will be more inclined to continue, the swans have shown its effecting them so why not help my team in some small way. Without the fans there is no game anyway and I am sick of the AFL (I could go on a rant about the AFL Commission ruining the game, but that is for another topic) trying to control every aspect of my Footy experience I hope that makes sense, they are all probably great blokes but I like to have a villain to hate :)
cm
Guest
Great article on Long's stance. http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/an-accidental-leader/2006/06/09/1149815316647.html?page=2
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Long was the first step, Goodes' is the second and people aren't sure if they like it. Goodes profile has hurt him a bit ironically I agree.
jax
Guest
Well he can and some people will will view that as inflammatory. I have no problem with it but some people will. it self-perpetuates. Goodes is booed by a small minority every week - Goodes naturally gets upset as does Jetta - crowd boo's them for their on-field behaviour - they get more upset - crowd boo's more.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Spare me!
Alex DeLarge
Guest
Agreed. Did not even realise this was such a major issue. I would have thought the uneven matches we see weekly, the plummeting tv viewers and attendances plus the lousy style of game that has evolved over the past 25 years to be a far greater problem that we should be talking about. If I was a kid growing up today with all the options, I wonder if I would be into AFL or something else.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
This.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
You know what was a one way street? Invasion day....
Darren
Guest
So who are the players you boo every time they run out on the ground and touch the ball? I assume if it is based on 'players who do dirty things' it must be a long list. And if you do boo all these players at every game they play, every time they touch the ball have you ever stopped to think why it is only Adam Goodes that seems to consistently have a bigger booing section of the crowd?
Reed
Guest
Great players have always been boo'ed, to say it is entirely race motivated is a bit of an overreaction. As a swans fan I find it a bit excessive at times but as an AFL fan I get why it happens. In saying that I was stuck next to a group of Aussies overseas who where referring to Goodes as a monkey and saying the only reason he won AOTY was because he was black, so as much as I believe the majority aren't dickheads, there is definitely a minority out there. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.