I had a conversation with a colleague yesterday about the news Adam Goodes had announced his retirement for football. The response I received when I brought up the topic baffled and angered me.
“Oh isn’t he the guy that gets booed all the time?”
Well, sadly yes he has been, but seriously, that’s all you have when I mention the name Adam Goodes.
It’s a sad indictment on parts of our society and what has been happening at Swans games particularly this season, that one of the greatest players to ever pull on the red and white of the Swans is associated with booing.
I know you’re only as good as your last game or your last season, but surely what has been dealt out by some opposition crowds this year, will be smaller than a blackhead on the career of Adam Goodes.
A career which began with three successive losses in 1999, would last a further 369 matches. Only the second Swans player – Sydney or South Melbourne – to play 300 games, joining his close mate Mick O’Loughlin in passing the milestone, and his final mark of 372 may never be beaten.
Toss in two premiership medallions from four grand finals, 464 goals, and two Brownlow Medals, amazingly one as ruckman in 2003 and the other when playing as a midfielder in 2006, and of course a Rising Star medal.
Four times All-Australian, a member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, three-time winner of the Swans’ best and fairest, the Bob Skilton Medal, captain of the Swans for four seasons, the most games ever played by an indigenous player, and, just for good measure, Australian of the Year in 2014 for his work in the community.
But, yeah, you go on and remember him as the guy everyone was booing, whether it be for his supposed staging for free kicks, or because of racism.
Or perhaps remember the night he called out a fan – a teenage girl – for calling him an ape.
Choose what you like, but having spent many seasons covering the Swans, the Adam Goodes I choose to remember will be the one who, during the middle of the first decade of this century, would duel head to head with another of the game’s superstars, then West Coast midfielder Chris Judd.
Two totally different players, but when their coaches made the decision to put them on each other, it resulted in a thrilling contest within a contest, and made for riveting viewing.
Sometimes Judd would get the verdict, other times it would be Goodes, but it was always enthralling and both players conceded they too enjoyed the contest.
Watching Goodes arch his back, and at full speed power away from the chasers, then deliver a pin-point pass or slot a major, that’s what I’ll remember.
Adam Goodes has been a teammate of many of the best players to don the red and white. Legends, stars, icons of the club – Tony Lockett, O’Loughlin, Paul Kelly, Barry Hall, Brett Kirk and Jude Bolton, and more recently Buddy Franklin – to name a mere handful. And Goodesy sits right up there with them, if not, a fraction above.
“I think he goes down as probably our greatest Swan,” said O’Loughlin.
“That’s no disrespect to anyone who has played for us before but I think the influence, and the winning percentage games that he has been able to play… for the longevity. Your superstars play for a long time and he’s absolutely one of those without a question.”
Sentiments echoed by his now former coach John Longmire.
“We’ve had a few great players over the last few years retire – none as great as Goodesy, no disrespect to the others.”
Perhaps the one shame was that while he is receiving the accolades now, he should have been given a better send off. It’s been mentioned that the drama of the past year or so led Goodes to steer clear of making a public announcement and instead make the call in the sheds after what was now his last game.
He deserves much better. He should have been chaired from the ground, and cheered with gusto by every fan at the stadium, and every AFL fan in the country regardless of who you support, for what he has brought to the game over the past 18 seasons.
Adam Goodes? No, he’s far better than good, he was Adam Great.
Aquila the Gorilla
Guest
Get your pitchforks!!!! Get your pitchforks here!! Wookie you want 2 just in case 1 goes blunt?
Surely
Guest
If racism disappears overnight those problems will remain. When nobody has the answers to the problems you listed, accusing people of racism is just an easy way to fell less helpless in the face of racial inequality.
Nick Nack
Guest
I think he plays rugby for the Roosters. You know the sport where you shove your head up men's bums.
AFL MAD
Guest
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Wilson
Roar Guru
Very True
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Id suggest Rick believes that every action has consequences. There have been various ABORIGNAL sports people who have said this as well as non aboriginal. Like Leigh matthews said, you cannot control how the crowd reacts. You do a war dance - by Goodes own words designed to be confrontating - and then wonder why people are hostile. Boggles the mind.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
The "booers" arent some hive mind, whatever the media and certain others think.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
thats because it is and always was a rubbish perception. People didnt care that he was aboriginal, and no one was booing his status as Australian of the Year. Seriously sit in the stands some time and actually listen. I have. nary a word about his awards or race. People didnt like the way he played and they didnt like his actions on the field as a person, and more thaan a few didnt like his handling of situations - including prominent Aboriginals.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Im so glad people like you can read minds.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
or Paul Kelly for that matter.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Rubbish. Adam Goodes has done nothing BUT play the game on his terms - to the point where its taken over the team at times. he sought attention and got it in spades.
First time poster
Guest
Mate, im a 2nd time poster now but that all trivial in the matter, but guess away and be proud of your prodding in the dark but who cares. What i will say is that you obviously dont like to be questtioned yourself..............on anything! And feel need to clarify and argue most points and that TomC and myself have got it wrong on most objctions you have raised! Correct? You jumped on and came back quickly in your reply as you obviously dont like to be wrong and to be judged wrong..........by 2 people. I guess for someone who has so much advice for AdamGoodes as to what he should do, i get the feeling if you are so sensitive to 2 people not understanding you, that you would go to water if thousands were judging you and not understanding your position in your way of thinking. Seems like your a bit hypocritical to me but then again your not "famous" so it wouldnt be fair if you were judged at all, right? Especially by people on the internet who dont know you, that wouod be silly and unfair wouldnt it!
jax
Guest
Really good post Abg. "Brereton bagged the player and Leigh’s ‘protected specie’ gets traction, god knows what else Vic media dished out. Warne bagged on Twitter re not worthy AoTY recipient and criticised playing style." The media and celebrities kick things off, the message resonates with some fans, the booing gathers momentum, then the media blames and shames the fans and calls them racists. There are many responsible parties but they don't get targeted by the media and they aren't held to account for their words or their implications.
jax
Guest
I don't blame him for wanting to avoid it either. I don't think he that he is an attention seeker. I believe some good may yet come out of this in time, that's my wish.
Abg
Guest
PPVII since you asked, I've posted numerous times on treatment from opposition fans. First experience with own eyes and ears was GF14 - worse than 2015 combined. Jax has a point, WCE represented the culmination rather than catalysts. What was saddening about that, it spread to WA, a non Victorian club which the Swans (and Goodes) have/had proud and respectful rivalry. The every touch booing (not anywhere near GF14 heights) re-surfaced Round 4 2015 and incidences more audible and in greater numbers in dominant away crowds. Hawks noticeable at the G in May & ANZ Jul and Cats earlier in the season, pre return game. Astonishingly, I experienced a gorilla parody and boos at the Suns away, small number but small crowd, audible and enough to ruin it for all spectators. Social media in almost every round defamatory and appalling. That's not to say it didn't occur at the SCG such as Carlton, which btw occurred every touch, BEFORE the dance as I was there. Interestingly, there are a few media pieces following Bombers v Swans Indigenous Round 2014 about audible booing every touch (Hudson on Fox) as fan ejected for racial slur at Goodes, the player unaware and not involved. No anti-Goodes sentiment, mostly support if you revisit articles, asking why. Certainly not the Pinocchio of slander that ballooned this season. We know what took place Indigenous Round 2013 v Pies but nothing overt from fans until 2014 (following AoTY) when Hawks and Bombers also joined the circus. Intriguing for Hawks as non-existent booing GF12, although have a major hang-up (may explain the fabled stager/diver) with one non-incident (no free, no report, no injury, no ill feeling) on Gibson May 2013. Brereton bagged the player and Leigh's 'protected specie' gets traction, god knows what else Vic media dished out. Warne bagged on Twitter re not worthy AoTY recipient and criticised playing style. At GF14, tens upon tens of thousands howled every touch. As I had not experienced this level of resentment in 3 decades attending games Vic, Syd, Qld and WA against a superstar, it was baffling as it was disturbing. Canvassed up to 30 fans during and post match - not all out and out racist, reasons race based about his profile and advocacy work. The fabled stager, diver, dirty polled second, as did the racial vilification that keeps on giving (courtesy Pies President 29 May 2013). At this stage, no coaches, players, officials, administrators or public appealing to cease disrespect so that crowd not motivated by being told how to behave and the player and media not yet commented on it. Snuffs out the I boo him cause he called us racist argument. In summary, the first time audible booing at every touch is discussed on air is Hudson on Fox May 2014 (v Bombers) and a few articles published. The events I highlighted May 2013 with the Pies & Hawks respectively explains (doesn't justify) origins for dislike, given it emerged only the past 2 of his 17 year career, together with taking exception to AoTY. All of this pre-dates the dance for which fans and media apportion their new pile of criticism and remember Blues are booing before the dance occurs. Goodes is respected and celebrated by a wide section of the footy community as he thoroughly deserves to be. Boo-gate is a blip that the perpetrators need to reconcile - the player does not need to give Ed and co any more opportunities to vilify or humiliate. No show for the lap is the right decision...
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"I am speechless and this will be my first and only post as this is not the place for me. Cheers" I tend to find first time posters aren't first time posters. Usually they are people that lack confidence in their argument and decide to back it up with another handle to make it look like they have support. It does seem odd for someone to come in and post for a first time on such a topic under such a weird name. “He has to learn the consequences” says who? Says you?" All actions have potential consequences. Goodes made decisions and some of those were bad in my opinion. I've commented in more detail in previous posts about why I feel he has been booed, so I'm not going to reiterate those feelings here. However, what I will say is at no stage have I ever agreed with the notion he is being booed just because of issues not relating to racism. My point about the consequences is in relation to his mental leave from the game. Clearly it has taken a tole and I question whether Goodes could have done anything different himself. I don't believe Australian of the Year incites a crowd in the way he did. I believe Australian of the Year unifies the country and he could have handled the situation much better. I'm simply posing the question as to whether Goodes has thought about this, especially during his absence from the game. I can understand people like you having issues with tough, stern questions being asked of Adam Goodes. But these questions I believe need to be asked in order to move forward on the issue. "in a day and age of drug use, alcohol use ( mostly from those who would boo i imagine)" You are stereotyping there, which is what TomC did also, and that I do have issues with. If you want to have a coherent argument about racism, I suggest you chose your words more wisely. "This guy shouod be put on a pedastal and not torn down from those who dont like the fact he mixed politics with his chosen profession." I believe he will be remembered as a great ambassador of the game and a great player. I think you need to read all my comments thus far to get a better understanding of my views on Goodes.
Malahka
Guest
Any chance of an article not about Adam Goodes with just three matches remaining? Jeez ... Comment bait articles... Just bag Freo if you want lots of comments but atleast it will be about THE GAME!
Smelly Kelly
Guest
Genius! Guy on the internet asks who Adam Goodes is. To cool for school!
First time poster
Guest
"He has to learn the consequences" says who? Says you? And also this pearler " we can judge him because it comes with his fame" If it is only a minority of people in the crowd that boo then why does he have to "learn" the consequences? Seriously, thats half the problem with people like yourself. You cant filter all the good the guy has done for himself and the wider community. I imagine you have never met him, spent time with him and see the passion he has not just for the GAME but for his culture as well. But judge him anyway because to be honest with you mate thats more of a reflection on you and others. The fact you think its your right and then you make it as fact again shows you a refection of your goodself! In a day and age of drug use, alcohol use ( mostly from those who would boo i imagine) this guy should be applauded and praised for his achievements and discipline he has showed you can have over 18 years. Still not good enough for you though? This guy shouod be put on a pedastal and not torn down from those who dont like the fact he mixed politics with his chosen proffession. Unbelievable! I am speechless and this will be my first and only post as this is not the place for me. Cheers
Deborah Harding
Guest
My comment was meant for Tom C.