You can mark 2015 as one of the AFL’s most shameful years to date.
Be it the ongoing Essendon drug saga, the treatment of Adam Goodes, the denials that it was racially motivated, or the assault of a women in front of her children, you can rest assured that 2015 will be a year that we can be anything but proud of.
Dissecting this carcass known as AFL 2015, the coroner’s report can be brought down to three issues.
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The continued drug saga
Despite the best efforts of the AFL hierarchy to sweep this up as quickly as possible it is an issue that simply won’t go away. Bombers great Tim Watson has said there will always be a “stain” on Essendon, and that long-time golden boy James Hird’s association with the club will always carry an asterisk.
Even to this day the AFL is facing legal action in the Supreme Court over its handling of the saga, with claims the league “engaged in multiple acts of misleading or deceptive conduct”.
Placing blame squarely at one person’s feet would be unjustified as many parties have ensured that Australia’s only true national sport has been tarnished with the brush of performance-enhancing drugs and cover-ups.
The silent majority ignoring the ugly few
A late contributor but a terrifying one. Australia’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull called on all Australians to make a “cultural shift” and stop disrespecting women, and that “violence against women is one of the great shames of Australia. It’s a national disgrace”.
Days later one Fremantle supporter’s response to this was to hurl abuse at a female off-duty officer who confronted him as his behaviour was disturbing her children and others watching the game. He then followed it up by physically assaulting her. Honourable mention for the mob who restrained the man but the question remains why she was the only person willing to stand up to him in the first place.
Furthermore, on the very same night Hawthorn Hawks players Isaac Smith and Luke Breust were also involved with fans either striking or attempting to strike them. The severity of the strikes or whether they connected is irrelevant, the fact that the fans thought this was appropriate in the first place is reflective of some of the attitudes held in the crowd.
Adam Goodes driven out of the game
This has been the issue that has divided not only the AFL but the whole country. Goodes, a two-time Brownlow medallist, premiership winner, Australian of the Year and proud indigenous Australian has endured some of the most abysmal treatment by elements of the AFL supporter base, leaders and hierarchy.
Rather than getting a job commentating on the footy, Goodes has been met with an unwarranted amount of hatred. I’m all for people being forgiven for their actions but what has Goodes need to apologise for?
Those who claimed it was not racially motivated said that he was a dirty player who played for penalties. This was quickly debunked as the stats showed he was in the middle of the pack when it came to this, no saint but definitely no sinner.
The next reason that popped up was his treatment of the 13-year-old girl who racially abused him. They said he went too far, and I did a double take when I saw the article in which the girl’s mother demanded that Goodes apologise for his behaviour and not the other way around.
At 13 someone is perfectly capable of telling right from wrong, particularly when it comes to racism. Goodes had every right to call her out on it. Attitudes are opinions which are developed early on and if intolerant or racial ones are met with indifference or ignored they can easily grow.
Perhaps Goodes’s greatest crime was separating himself from the silent majority, when he took the podium to deliver his speech as Australian of the Year. Rather than continue the status quo of having our footballers seen and not heard he used the opportunity to challenge our beliefs
“I believe racism is a community issue, which we all need to address, and that’s why racism stops with me,” he said.
“There are always two ways we can look at a situation. We can choose to get angry, or not. We can choose to help others, or not. Or choose to be offended, or not. We can keep our silos, or educate ourselves and others about racism and minority populations.
Unfortunately for Goodes people decided to get angry and rather than help themselves or others they decided it was easier to say the fault lies solely with him. Fans booed, and respected AFL personalities, rather than go against the grain and their loyal followers to defend Goodes, continued to keep the status quo.
Sam Newman called him and idiot, Miranda Divine a pillock, Dermot Bremerton called for Goodes to change his attitude. Whether he was going to retire or not this year, the AFL will be worse off without his presence on the field.
Perhaps the sad and final nail in the coffin is Goodes declining to participate in the lap of honour at the MCG, in what should have been a fitting end to a remarkable career. The AFL was spared the embarrassment of fans booing a retiring player.
Rather than write 2015 off as a year to forget, perhaps it’s an opportunity for the AFL and Australia alike to reflect on how we can ensure that a year like this is never seen again.
For those who disagree feel free to unload in the comments section below.
Abg
Guest
If that's the same school you went to, close the gates, it's done enough harm. Let's celebrate the role models in both Goodes and Thurston, equally deserving of their place in football history.
Aransan
Guest
No need to consult with me, just decide whether you would prefer to be screaming from the sidelines or actually be part of the decision making. Would you prefer to influence people or will you just be content with that warm inner glow.
Mark
Guest
Perhaps they'll rightly consult with you next time.
mattyb
Guest
Lol,I actually thought he baracked for Geelong,after his number one team,hatred of coarse.When I heard the Go Hawks calls after the GF I was gobsmacked,then I laughed,then I nodded.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Aransan
Guest
Perry, the dance was inappropriate in its timing and also because it was seen to be directed aggressively towards a group of opposition fans during what was an away game for them. There would have been no problem if the dance had been performed by Goodes and Jetta at the beginning of the game.
Perry Bridge
Guest
There is sadly - an insular element to Australian Football media and fans. (I'm not quantifying that element by claiming a greater than or less than 50% or anything silly like that). There's still an element who yearn for 12 teams in Melb (plus Geel) playing 6 games on a Saturday arvo. There's still an element who want to drink beer in cans at the footy and hurl abuse at whomever they want. This 'element' tends to be quite loud. (more's the shame). This 'element' have a pretty rigid idea of what footy is or should be, of what it looks/smells and sounds like. For these people - who have never seen the international culture of Australian football (several rungs below the 'elite' level) - when the Australian Flying Boomerangs play against the Oceania or South Pacific junior sides - and the kids from Tonga, Nauru, PNG, NZ, etc perform war dances - the kids who come through this experience with the Flying Boomerangs have a heightened appreciation for their own and other cultures within our S-W Pacific region. And this is something that the majority of AFL fans have absolutely no idea about. And that's a shame. Hopefully future AFL leaders will develop from the pool of talent that have rubbed shoulders with the South Pacific kids. James Aish, a week after performing on the SANFL GF stage was playing amongst the crub holes of Kazza field in Port Vila with his school mates from Adelaides Concordia College against the Vanuatu Volcanos. Kurt Heatherley from NZ has come through the NZ and South Pacific program and seems certain to debut for Hawthorn in the next 12-24 months. These guys and more have the potential to help drive future open mindedness. Was the Goodes dance a mistake? Perhaps more because it appeared directed towards a few Carlton fans? I dunno - where's the sense of theatre?? On the Indigenous Round I thought it was a theatrical gift to be celebrated. Don't many fans complain about the lack of personality on display??
BigAl
Guest
If there is a reason for the AFL to hang it's head in shame it is it's inability to provide a grand contest and spectacle in the biggest game of the year ! What percentage of games (in the last 20years?/ever?) have been well and truly over by 3/4 time - this years effort where it was all over 8 minutes into the second quarter was ridiculous ! Blowouts in general are something that the AFL will have to look at - the old footy catchcry "100 minutes of football" should be replaced by "50 minutes of football 50 minutes of Junk " ! p.s. Didn't Wet Toast blow the Orks out of the water ! - when they last met! - just 2weeks ago ?? SHould not happen
sticks
Roar Rookie
But Justin, anyone can cherry pick, attendance records continue to tumble at Adelaide Oval this year blah blah blah ...see anyone can do it. Facts are, that attendance is not down this year at AFL games, whilst at A league games attendance was down last season from the season before. Grow up.
Aransan
Guest
mattyb, well Jetta did the same dance in Perth after Goodes had been mercilessly baited and I applauded him at the time for sticking up for a mate. Goodes's original dance was still a mistake.
Richard
Guest
The endless booing of Adam Goodes isn't rascism because Rioli, Burgoyne, etc. etc. aren't booed." Is a threadbare and deliberately misleading rationalisation. Be honest, it's not aboriginals per se, it's the uppity ones you can't stand. As to the freedom of speech argument. Freedom of speech is supposed to protect those that make a public stand and say what they think, not those that hide amongst the crowed or behind a keyboard. Anonymous comment isn't freedom of speech, it's cowardice.
Abg
Guest
Thurston thinks Goodsey's a top bloke as do so many highly respected players and leaders. I guess that means you'll need to make up muck to discredit Thurston cause in the Hawks fan book of baseless rules for targeted & prolonged booing of champions, how can he be great if he's mates with Goodes.
Abg
Guest
No booing of Indigenous players in the NRL as no Hawks fans, hence no senseless every touch booing of a champ and no baiting from ex Hawks players, Pies President and Vic media 2013/2014 which fuelled the 2015 spread of hate. To quote Hawks fans they booed the player's every touch with vocal chords protruding from reddened necks cause "they're sick of hearing about his 'issues'..." "he does look like King Kong..." "he stages / dives for free kicks..." Racist is as racist does and we've all heard the defence, any reasoning based on race can't possibly be racist in intent, notwithstanding casual racism & be sure to point out some not all are racially motivated and if someone tells me I'm racist or I'm mixing it with racists, damn you, I'll disrespect the player louder and for longer. Stats don't lie, the player's record is clean (unlike Hawks captain) so invent reasons to hide behind the disrespect that we wouldn't dream of hurling at our club greats, let alone our Indigenous players. Hawks fans, since you set the benchmark let's rally every club in the tens of thousands to howl down Rioli & Burgoyne's every touch, tap, kick, in every state, every game & howl them down with extra gusto from 40000 during a GF, howl em into retirement - hell boo em til their ears ring when they're injured flat out on a stretcher - don't give a damn if kids, parents & seniors are watching, do it for the next 18 months and when you ask fans why - responses may include cause they're just so talented, it puts them off their game, my ex club greats and the footy show said they pull penalties, they don't talk enough about their issues, but we don't boo other teams Indigenous players so it can't be about race. We just don't like how they play, they're are dirty and flogs. And you'll laugh at the preposterous reasons and dismiss every one of them cause they are as baseless and dishonest as the disrrespect and spite piled on a true champion of the game. To a majority of fans and the community, including the international community, this year in AFL is one to forget. As for ratings and growth of the game, Hawks fans and all who blindly followed the disrespect of a champ have damaged their beloved game more than they realise.
mattyb
Guest
I jumped up to and I called the kids.It was good.People dance around on the footy field all the time.Tim Cahill in soccer punches the flag pole and people think it's great.Goodsies peers all did dances the following week which gave me the impression they did approve.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
He's not that proud. Going by what he wrote under the WiG moniker, I wasn't even really aware of what side he supported until after the GF.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
The article seems to be just an exercise in throwing stones from a fan of what they probably see as a rival code.
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
The article is about a not so good year for Aussie Rules, not about the game being obliterated from the face of the earth forever. If you don't think it was a bad year for Aussie Rules, then you are very loyal fans indeed. The opening round of the A-League season last year not only smashed the opening round attendance record, but also topped the records of any previous competition round for attendances, TV ratings and digital audiences, the FFA reported. 93,500 fans turned out at the five matches, beating the previous single-round aggregate record, set in A-League seven, Round 3, of 87,508, or eight percent increase. The TV audience on Foxtel averaged 108,000 per game, an increase of 35 percent on audience averages and 38 percent on the corresponding round from the previous season. Visits to the FFA’s digital network of club and A-League websites were up by 25 percent on the previous record, set in Round 1 last season. They’re very good growth figures compared to Aussie Rules.. “The huge audience growth in attendances, TV and digital is an early dividend for the hard-work by our 10 clubs and the A-League management,” said FFA CEO David Gallop. “The excitement generated by new marquee players and new coaches has been converted into fans on the terraces and viewers on screens. “What they saw was high-quality football, superb sports entertainment and a fabulous football atmosphere.”.
Frank R
Roar Rookie
Did you hear how Hodge and Mitchell were booed at Domain against Freo?
sticks
Roar Rookie
Both the A league and NRL had lower attendances and TV ratings this year, check your stats. In the last 4 years or so the AFL has added 2 teams from areas not traditionally associated with the game and have still managed to keep the AFL the fourth best-attended sports league in the world.
Aransan
Guest
Slane, the dance was not accepted by a large number of people including people who support Goodes otherwise. Goodes has the qualities and talent to be a leader in the community but he will achieve far more by bringing people with him rather than dividing them. It also helps when you recognise and acknowledge your own mistakes.