The AFL’s initial reluctance to label the booing of Swans’ legend Adam Goodes as racism has backfired dramatically.
Up until Wednesday, CEO Gillon McLachlan was still unwilling to use the ‘r word’ when referring to the ugly jeers directed at Goodes.
While McLachlan has since penned his disappointment at the vilification directed at Goodes, his tardiness in doing so has epitomised the AFL’s inherently flawed process in dealing with the issue.
And so, almost nine weeks after the league celebrated Indigenous Round, and Goodes launched an invisible spear into the crowd, Australia’s inability to confront racism has once again reared its ugly head.
There has been nothing more disappointing this season, or indeed for a very long time in football.
Weren’t we past all of this? Didn’t we learn something from the strength of Michael Long and the bravery of Nicky Winmar?
Our memories are short and apparently impervious to consider that what has transpired since Indigenous Round – or even since Goodes was named the 2014 Australian of the Year – is yet another chapter in Australia’s complex relationship with issues of race and identity.
The AFL thought that by avoiding the issue this latest chapter would fade and people would once again forget.
But by choosing to give the benefit of the doubt to those racists that masquerade as supporters, the AFL may have lost more than just Adam Goodes.
Michael O’Loughlin, a Swans premiership player and a proud Indigenous man, has said that he will no longer take his children to Swans’ interstate games because of the vitriol directed at Goodes.
In his eyes, an attack on Goodes is an attack on an identity, not just one person, and therefore an attack on him too.
If you were a young Indigenous Australian with a dream to one day play in the AFL, would you now reconsider that dream?
If you felt strongly about your heritage and wanted to advocate for Indigenous rights, then perhaps you would.
AFL supporters have had no trouble barracking for Cyril Rioli, Eddie Betts or Paddy Ryder because they have been mercurial, like so many of their Indigenous forefathers who played our great game.
But when it comes to advocating Indigenous issues, these players haven’t been anywhere near as vocal as Adam Goodes.
It’s a personal choice and one that no one has the right to dictate, judge or discourage. But what it tells young Indigenous Australians is that if you want to be a footballer who is loved by crowds, then you must choose between your football identity and your Indigenous identity.
Or risk being booed.
The invisible spear that Goodes threw hurt no one, but there is now no hiding from the hurt weeks of jeering has had on the 2014 Australian of the Year.
The AFL chose the eleventh hour to intervene and in doing so may have lost a two-time Brownlow Medal winner in Adam Goodes, who has taken leave from the Swans to contemplate retirement.
But they may have lost much more than that.
He may be a future Rioli.
He may be a future Franklin.
Or he may even be a she.
While that loss is currently no more than an intangible, what is certain is that the AFL has lost much more than Adam Goodes.
Gecko
Guest
The point was clear to me. In a modern world that requires cultural sensitivity, we're still a fair way behind.
Gecko
Guest
I read the link but my overall impression is that, of those indigenous people who do speak up, the vast majority support Goodes. In fact, the particular writer you've referred to seems to be from the 'I want my kids to be white' group, so no wonder white supremacists love him. That kind of attitude has not solved the problems of low health, literacy, and income levels amongst indigenous Australians.
Anto
Guest
I've been to Bali and I behaved just fine. Your point is...?
MichaleJ.
Guest
The AFL continues to deny that indigenous Australians inspired the game via "Marngrook". They even hired Geoffrey Blainey to do a hit piece, disclaiming Aboriginal influence on Australian Rules football (see "100 Years of Australian Football", Penguin Books 1996)
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I would boo my lungs out at Pocock if he was playing against the Waratahs. Most Australian rugby fans would boo Richie McCaw. I'll cheer on Ma'a Nonu as long as he isn't playing against the Waratahs or Wallabies. Does that make me racist?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The Haka is also a team ceremony performed before the game not during.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
AGO, sadly someone has come out with that line.
Anto
Guest
There are always two sides to every coin, Gecko. http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/
Gecko
Guest
I just signed the petition. Thanks Don. Maybe we need a white Australia petition for ferals like Harsh Reality but because their spelling is so poor (survey's ?? less then ???), they may have trouble signing their name.
Common Sense
Guest
Satirists shouldn't have to dumb themselves down because some people 'don't get it'.
Gecko
Guest
Dougie, racism is not the 'personal cause' of one individual. It's a massive issue that has centuries-old roots and our pressure on indigenous people to remain quiet and 'be more like us' remains an embarrassment to Australia. Sport is absolutely an important arena for raising awareness about social issues. I didn't see you complaining about indigenous round, Cathy Freeman's carrying the indigenous flag, ANZAC round promoting appreciation of the sacrifices of war, or the AFL's war on drugs. If you don't want sport to intersect with the real world and make our society better, try sports like pig-shooting.
Gecko
Guest
Anto that's some helpful research but it's just more evidence that rednecks don't like Goodes because he's outspoken. He's presenting a valid argument and it's a debate Australians should have. Thanks Goodesy for showing leadership at a time when indigenous leadership is lacking, both amongst sportspeople and politicians. As for your equal status as a first Australian, have you and your ancestors suffered the same amount of abuse that Goodes and his ancestors have suffered? Has your ancestral culture been trodden all over?
Mark
Guest
You have no idea.
Basil
Guest
what gives you the right to talk on behalf of all Indigenous Ozzies?
Basil
Guest
it is pretty darn obvious what the intention is behind throwing bananas, however with booing, that is not the case.
Anto
Guest
Gecko, Quite the opposite - I don't like Goodes because he is the racist. Just look at some of the comments he's made: * "Europeans, and the governments that have run our country, have raped, killed and stolen". * "The history of our country is based on so much lies and racial policies and things like that that have suppressed my people and lots of minorities in this country." * "[The Constitution is] a lengthy document, but there are some areas in the document that are very, very racist towards indigenous people." * "Aboriginal people have been here a lot longer than anybody else, so just remember whose lands you are on and maybe pay a little bit more respect to that." He's essentially saying that we are all visitors in his country, we're racist, living under a racist Constitution, and that we've been suppressing "his" people and other minorities. Far from trying to bring together all people, regardless of their race, Goodes is saying that "his" people are better than the white-fella oppressors. That's why people don't like him - they don't like being told that they don't belong in their own country and that they're racists. Goodes is no more a "first Australian" any more than I am. In fact, I'm 10 years older than him, so I've been on this continent longer than he has. Just because his great, great, great, great, great granparents were here before mine, and that my ancient ancestors might have done some bad things to his ancestors doesn't make me responsible for it, nor does than make me racist. I'm not. Goodes, however, is damned by his own words.
Ringo
Guest
How boring this all is!!!
GoGWS
Roar Guru
The 'is it racism' question is a distraction. What it is is bullying...pathetic schoolyard variety bullying. People attending should not only make a decision not to boo, they should also be make life hard for those web do boo. Just like we teach school kids not to silently witness bullying and do nothing, we should not stand by and witness bullying of Goodes and so nothing. The non-booers vastly outweigh the booers - time for the silent majority to stand up and put the heat on the moronic minority.
Gecko
Guest
MH that's a half-decent effort to defend the booers. But irrespective of what they believe their own motivations are, perception does matter. Aussie rules footy supporters are being viewed by outsiders as full of racists; Australian society is now being viewed by outsiders as full of racists. It's damaging. People can exercise their rights until those rights do damage to broader society. Their excessive booing IS doing damage.
Gecko
Guest
Anto you'll need to be more specific than 'People just don't like Goodes'. Some have said that he's dirty, but far dirtier players have been lauded by crowds and, because of their popularity, now occupy prime positions in AFL media. Some have said that he's a sook, as if it should be okay for him to accept racial abuse. Come on, say it Anto. You don't like Goodes because he's outspoken. You want him to be quiet like other indigenous players.