Adam Goodes story comes back to one question: Why?

Well Craig your club is certainly battling a brave fight this season. KT hasn't had a great time with us, controversial, bundled up with 2013/14 trade restriction, etc. but hope he finds consistent form, although expected to do more than achievable by most talls. Btw, go Tex, when not playing us. And, if we do meet in a final, I'll take your boo/s and raise you two... Good luck for rest of season.

Cheers for the discussion ABG and Aransan. It has been great to talk about the issue in a civilised manner, and I think by doing so it has shed some light as too why this topic has been so hotly debated. In regards to the Marngrook Footy show it is a cracker. I haven’t been able to catch it over the last few weeks as I have been out of the country. But always has the good laughs, good banter and most importantly and above all else, a good insight into the game. Good on SBS for giving it the second chance it rightly deserved. As for the weekend. It was definitely one of the more unique feelings watching the game on Saturday. For some the lesser booing was a good result, whilst to others it carried a weird sense of censorship that until then had not been present in our game. There was always a nervous sense of the unknown to how the crowd would act. Something that was a little unfair to be placed on the Geelong fans in the first place. It will be interesting to watch as the remainder of the season is played out as to how other crowds will react. If the more boisterous booing raises its voice again, I ask what then? Do we just start the discussions all over again, in another never ending media circus? Or is there, like Saturday, a tolerance level to how loud the booing can be without offending? Which in itself is very strange when you think what the booing supposedly represented. I guess only time will tell. ABG I hope for your sake and mine that our two clubs don’t make it to a final together because I unfortunately will be one of the many fans booing. Not at Adam Goodes. But some friendly, ex-club rivalry directed at the big number eight standing next to him.

Thanks Craig, the if you boo your a ****** message is obviously one the AFL felt may resonate with fans who actually do it for reasons of race. I see how you and others may be offended to be lumped in with that and wishful thinking dislike for the player and expressing that dislike may subside - although Cats made a positive gesture and it was easier to watch the game, depending on what side of the debate you sit on. If I could erase what I sat amongst at GF14 (and not due to the horrendous loss) it wouldn't be so troubling. It was a shock and really sad for kids and oldies also bewildered at the treatment. It wasn't easy to ask fans why but had to as honestly had no clue where the resentment stemmed from. Not living in Vic (and stopped watching 9 Footy Show a decade ago) didn't realise the extent of it. Have since read articles in the lead up in early September and it was around the time of the Warnie Twitter sledge re "staging" and the public were weighing into that and commenting much the same as now, re appropriateness of AOTY, bully, et al. If you don't already watch Marngrook Thursday nights - give it a go - no nonsense preview of the round often with legendary guests. They broke silence on this issue a few weeks back and was interesting to get perspective from ex Indigenous footballers and greats such as the Tiges KB.

I don't have a problem with what you have written Craig. The use of the r-word is best avoided as it polarises opinion when what is wanted is an acceptance of a range of views, and rather than winning an argument we want to create good will between people with opposing views. We should ask to be forgiven for our trespasses and be prepared to forgive those who trespass against us. Eddie McGuire should be forgiven for his unthinking King Kong remark and Adam Goodes should be forgiven for his inappropriate spear throwing dance.

Hawks (or Pies) fan by any chance? Were you at the game? Maybe you were one of the 26 I chatted to Paul. What possible reason would I have to lie about the reasons Hawks fans gave in real time at the game, important in the context of why we are discussing it now. If disliking the player, right to boo, etc is what you want to promote then The Roar is a goood forum for you and your position is clearly shared. I on the other hand believe the player is not the issue here. Btw quoting others re reverse racism. The Dalai Lama says we should take pity on our enemies - I only hope Godes has enough pity to deal with it cause Swans fans are out.

Cheers for the response AGB. It is great to be able to have a civil discussion with someone on the matter, without immediately being labelled a racist for not sharing the same views. I got no doubt that some of the points you make are true and think this is the very reason why not a great deal of good can come from the whole situation for Adam. Yes the booing may lessen or even stop, best result, but for some his legacy to the game will always be slightly tarnished, worst result. There is now no way around this as there are far too many elements to the whole situation, and as the entire issue is opinion based there will never be a way to agree on what was the cause. I can only speak for myself and say why I personally have lost some respect for Adam Goodes. As can you when you write and base your opinion on what you have experienced and believe to be true. As I mentioned in my previous post it is impossible to determine why everyone is booing, and if people are proven to be booing due to race they need to be reprimanded accordingly. As I will mention shortly there is still one main reason as to why Adam has lost some respect from more than he should have; but firstly I will touch on a few of the other reasons why I don’t think he has. His treatment towards the young Collingwood supporter whilst harsh and maybe not perfectly handled by all involved; too call out clear evident racism despite of age was the right one. His Australian of the Year acceptance speech was also one that only spoke true on many issues still present in our country. His 'war dance' was a great showing of his Indigenous pride, and should have been remembered for something special for the years to come (but at least expect some response from the crowd you aim it at, it is after all a challenge). But in response to a few of your other statements and your question as to why Adam is now being “demonised for making it about him”. I feel it is because he along with his “peers, coaches, team mates & any fan worth their membership” that you mention, have stereotyped an entire crowd as racist. I would like to mention that it is implausible to think that of the nearly 850 senior AFL players, plus coaches and club officials, not one of those people would hold an opposing view to Adam’s. Why don’t they come forward people ask? Because Adam, along with his defenders in the media and general public have made it impossible for a person in their position to do so. As someone that has not booed; I find it hard to find reason as to why a person holding the views that I do are labelled by many as a racist, or ‘a fan not worthy of my membership’. There is no other reason than for simply not agreeing with Adam or accepting that crowds are entirely racist. This is why I stated that he forced the issue of race to stand up for him when it wasn’t needing to, or meant to; and why I make the point that he has helped create a ‘false racist v non-racist’ battle. People such as myself that just hold an opinion are now dragged onto the wrong side of a racist debate. That is the thing the AFL, Adam and the large collection of his fanatical defenders have done wrong. They need to remember that by holding these opinions you attack a large portion of people that have no animosity towards race, but do have a dislike towards being labelled a racist for merely having a different opinion to a person. This is not his fault entirely, something that I should have mentioned earlier, however he has not helped the situation as he has never succumb to the idea that some fans may boo him or dislike him for any other reason than race. People like myself are not ignorant enough to think that racism does not exist in Australia, but we also see a land which is successful in creating a multicultural equality where people of all backgrounds can prosper. We only have to look around the world, to know this is fact. For people similar to myself to then be told we are racist is what really stings.

Turn it up! You asked 26??? It might have been believable if you weren't so specific. Reverse racism is when you hate your own race btw.

Craig your well measured opinion and experience of the game makes more sense then most who dismiss the player as an alleged reverse-racist, bully, victim, sook, stager, etc. In my 30 years of attending games across 4 states what I witnessed at GF14 was unrelated to on field or umpiring. The relentlessness of it, in such numbers was motivated by more than putting the player off his game and I needed to know what the hell he had done. I asked 26 of them during and after the match. Spoiler alert responses included race and the Collingwood president's infamous gaffe (aka racial vilification) on 29/05/2013. Sure, only a sample, not all race based but same reasons hotly debated during 2015. This treatment and disrespect did not occur in GF12 from the same rival nor did the player attract defamatory or derogatory comments (particularly diver/stager/flog) on social media - as we have seen in large numbers this year. We need to be honest why only the past 18 months of the player's 17 year career is when his character came under attack. Two key events is where fans took their position - one the fallout and subsequent smear campaign from Collingwood president including Channel 9 footy show on the handling of the ape slur. The other AOTY speech. The response from the player in these events is often misquoted and misprinted out of context by critics. The divisiveness is in the debate, ie, crowd, media, fans re-actions to his actions. A collective theory for Hawks fans that booed at GF14 is that Buddy left as he wanted to play alongside Adam Goodes, AG stole the flag in 2012 and an alleged knee incident on one of their players in season 14 - however no report, no free kick so fans usually don't harbour resentment or demonise a player enmasse for an ad hoc incident. The crowd hostility surfaces again round 4 2015 and spreads to all states then off field debate ramps up after the dance in opening game of Indigenous round. I was there, audible booing at a home game, crowd scuffle, fan removed, spear, in that order. Sat amongst it at GCSuns with one booer mimicking gorilla chest beating, claiming it's just a bit of fun. The West Coast game is where the footy community said enough is enough - peers, coaches, team mates & any fan worth their membership. The player is then demonised for making it about him...? Didn't bring it on himself, isn't a bad man, isn't a racist but has to live in a country that wants him to take responsibility for our ignorance.

You sir, nailed it!

Whether it be racial or not, we will never be able to understand why every individual booed Adam Goodes. If it is racial then I couldn't agree with you more, those fans should not be apart of our game. I have grown up AFL and local footy grounds my whole life, and I have seen players and umpires booed and cheered in all fashions. I have always admired Adam Goodes and never booed him, but I now in recent weeks disagree with his actions. I can obviously not speak for all those booing but I dont feel that it was racially motivated, but 'bullying' or heckling yes. Something that in my years of attending and playing at various levels of football has been forever present. At local games, where the players are there for the love of the game, not earning the six or seven figure contracts of the professionals, and putting more at risk by taking the field each week. It is not out of the normal for a player to be heckled and ridiculed an entire match by opposing fans or lower grade players, with language and comments that are not fit for display.The aim to affect their performance and concentration on the game. This is no different to what I think happened to Adam. He initially stated that he saw the "booing as a mark of respect", but when he made everyone aware that it affected him, opposing crowds used it for their teams benefit. I'm not saying that is the greatest thing about footy, but it has been present since the first ball was bounced. In a society that so proudly stands for freedom of speech we try and censor everything around us, at the fear of offending someone. The AFL are now trying to do the same. It is amazing how our views on booing in society could have changed so much since 2001, when the very club Adam plays for ran a 'Boo a Roo' campaign. Unfortunately for Adam, he probably will have this hanging over his head at the end of his career. Not because he stood up for his heritage, players such as WInmar and Long have done this in the past and will be remembered in AFL folklore. But Adam has forced the issue of race to stand up for him when it wasn't needing to, or meant to. The way Adam, the AFL and many media personalities can suggest they know the motives of everybody booing is outright laughable. In your article, you are one of the few people that addresses this differently.The majority however have stereotyped crowds, which has caused the 'us v them' mentality to return to our game. Not white v black, but those with the differing opinions towards Adam Goodes. The AFL for years has been guilty of turning the game into a 'political platform' when is not capable of handling the repercussions that come with it. Sam Newman in his own way, like it or hate it, hit the nail on the head by asking the question why do we have rounds for some minorities and not others. By doing so we yes, highlight the importance of the cultures in our game, but more importantly, and negatively, continue to label them as something other than an AFL footballer. By continually giving them titles of Indigenous or Muslim footballer, it focuses on the differences and not the similarities. Adam Goodes is also personally guilty of this. Creating a false 'racist v non-racist' battle amongst the spectators. He is now asking for different treatment from others. He is asking to not be booed, but all others are still left open to be booed. This is an unprecedented request from an individual in a game which hundreds of players are apart of. He has helped for our game to become a primary school playground. This is my main reason for the loss of respect for Adam, as he now thinks he is bigger than the game.

No, 60 to 70% percent don't care and aren't even racist. The other 30 to 40% like you feel the need to fell offended for everybody all the time over every little thing. It people like you who want to ignore the fact that we are one of the (if not the most) most racially tolerant, multicultural society in the world (and its not just me saying that). To me this like most first world problems, you make it out to be the worse thing in the world, yet it doesn't mean squat compared to the real problems the world as a whole is facing, and is quickly forgotten when faced with a serious challenge.

And ?

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Absolutely this.

Rubbish Mark. Mitchell Johnson and the English crowd exchange friendly banter, the booing of Goodes has a nasty edge to it and is anonymous bullying which can't be responded to. Usually in life bullies can be taken on but here we have cowards hiding in a crowd.

Spoken like a punter whose chosen to ignore the truth nor witnessed with your own eyes, ears and heart what has occurred since the dirt campaign of 2013 & like too many would rather stick the boot in. You go girl, must be empowering to sprout hate.

Apparently he now plays cricket too - what more can this revered Australian and champion AFL superstar achieve?

Seriously why does he even care if the crowd boo him, they pay for their ticket and if that's what they want to do who cares, he should just concentrate on his own game. Do you see Mitchell Johnson have a big cry when the Poms give it to him on the boundary rope as has happened more than few times, no he doesn't it's all part of the show. He comes across as a bit of a sook to be honest.

Thank you Devout Saint

Thankyou