- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
I’ve never really been a fan of Nathan Buckley. However last year, around the time when the booing of Adam Goodes was at its most fervent, Buckley shared a story about taking his kids to the footy.
According to The West, “When one started booing an opposition player, Buckley told him in no uncertain terms that he could barrack as hard as he liked for his team and the players he loved, but that booing was taboo.”
I admire Nathan Buckley for that excellent piece of parenting.
When watching the football at home I’ve hurled all types of abuse at the television. When attending matches, I’ve abused umpires, opposition players and players on the team I support.
I’ve decided to stop doing that. I should be better than that, and I want my two-year-old son to understand that booing isn’t acceptable. If I can’t get it right how can I expect my son to?
The booing of Adam Goodes was inappropriate if for no other reason than the one Buckley provided. Booing should be taboo. We should all be better than that.
If only the context under which Goodes has been abused were so simple.
To begin with, to imply that the booing of Goodes is not in part racially motivated is ludicrous. He was never subject to that kind of treatment consistently until the Indigenous round of the 2013 season, when he called out a member of the crowd on a racist remark they had made.
The abuse of Goodes by crowds across the country escalated after he was chosen as Australian of the year in 2014. Goodes used his profile to highlight Indigenous issues and racism in Australia. Predictably, the average Aussie punter didn’t like this one bit.
Of course, racism is not the only reason people abused Goodes.
His behaviour on the footy field has been highly questionable at times. He has often been accused of being a dirty player. This reputation is the result of a habit of sliding tackles targeting player legs and a history of questionable high contact. This, along with a reputation as a player who stages for free kicks, combines in a way which makes it all too easy for many football fans to dislike Goodes for reasons that are not racist.
Furthermore, Goodes is an extremely talented player. He has won two Brownlow medals – the game’s highest honor. In pure footballing terms, he is excellent. This is, of course, another reason for people to boo him, as Australians are well known for our love of cutting down tall poppies.
This week, Gillon McLaughlin apologised to Goodes for the treatment he received from crowds around the country during last season – a belated and largely meaningless gesture. I’m still thoroughly unconvinced the AFL acted appropriately on this issue.
But this is the perfect opportunity for the AFL, Goodes, the coaches and the fans to show some real leadership by agreeing on a solution which is inclusive.
Simply, discourage booing for any reason. It doesn’t matter if it’s racist. It doesn’t matter if people are booing because of any other -ist or -ism.
Don’t boo, simply because we should all be better than that.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.