Let me start this by saying that there are few players in the modern era of the game who would be more deserving of having some sort of medal named after them than Adam Goodes.
In fact one of the most unfortunate aspects of the racism saga that Goodes has endured for several years is that the football public has largely forgotten what a truly magnificent player he was.
Twice a Brownlow Medallist, twice a premiership player (once as co-captain), three times a club best and fairest winner, and four times in the All-Australian team – those achievements stack up against the very best players in the history of our game.
Make no mistake, I’ll someday be telling my grandchildren about what an experience it was to watch him play, in the same breath as Chris Judd, Gary Ablett or Matthew Pavlich.
Naming a relevant award of some kind after Goodes would be a fitting way to commemorate one of the best footballers of this very young millennium.
However, establishing the Adam Goodes Medal as according to Eddie McGuire’s vision, which he detailed earlier in the week, would be nothing more than a farcical monument to McGuire’s self-serving desire to preserve his own media image.
This whole thing surrounding Adam Goodes started as I’m sure many of you will remember when Collingwood hosted Sydney at the MCG on Friday night in Round 9, 2013. It happened to be Indigenous Round.
Goodes was playing an absolute blinder – 30 disposals, 11 marks, three goals. And when a Collingwood fan decided to call him an ‘ape’, he rightly took exception to that, famously pointing her out to security at the ground.
Well after the incident McGuire was more than happy to step in and make the token steps that always seem to be taken in situations like this – ban the offending individual, make a public statement. He had no trouble finding some strong words to say.
“This club doesn’t stand for it, the football world doesn’t stand for it… Everyone knows the rules at Collingwood: if you racially vilify anybody, it’s zero tolerance; you’re out,” McGuire said.
Strong words, but talk is cheap. It was less than a week before McGuire ventured the idea live on the radio that those behind the King Kong musical should get Adam Goodes down to Melbourne to promote the event.
Now to be fair to McGuire I don’t believe he intended for his comments to sound the way they did. In what he said immediately after there’s a clear impression of a man who realises he has just unintentionally put his foot in his mouth and is desperately trying to backtrack.
We’ve all said something stupid once or twice, myself more than most (remember when I tipped Carlton to win two days ago?), but the disappointing thing in this situation was McGuire’s unwillingness to own up to his mistake.
Instead he repeatedly insisted that he had not racially vilified Goodes with these comments. Because, of course, it is always up to person who makes a potentially racist comment to decide whether it was racist or not (that’s sarcasm, by the way).
It’s not like McGuire was willing to afford the Pies fan who he banned from the club that same right to decide whether or not their own comment was racist. So maybe it’s just up to the rich white men of the world to tell us what is and isn’t racist? That seems like a good system (sarcasm again).
Unfortunately for McGuire, racism isn’t about intent, it’s about damage. If you’re playing with matches and accidentally burn your house down, your house isn’t any less burnt down just because you didn’t mean to do it.
The bottom line is the McGuire was happy to take a hard line stance on racism… when it was someone else’s arse on the line. When it was his, he flip-flopped without hesitation.
The really damning moment for McGuire only hit the news last August when Richard Colless – who at the time of the original incident was the chairman of the Swans – revealed that McGuire had said to him, “You and Horse have f**king ruined my career,” after Colless and Longmire took a public stance denouncing his comments at the time of the incident.
Goodes said some time ago that the incident had ended his friendship McGuire. “Friends don’t make jokes about their friends like that,” he said, and he’s right.
McGuire’s actions through these events have always been those of a man looking to preserve or enhance his media image. A fan vilifies a player? Have them banned, make strong statement against racism. You vilify a player? Publicly apologise (but don’t actually punish yourself), deny it was racism, privately attack those who disagree.
What’s the next step? Well apparently in McGuire’s mind it’s to organise a yearly blockbuster against the Swans where the best player on ground will win the ‘Adam Goodes Medal’.
Are we to believe that McGuire just picked that name out of a hat? Why not a blockbuster against Carlton for the Chris Judd Medal, or against St Kilda for the Lenny Hayes Medal?
No, this seems to me to be just another shameless attempt by McGuire to get his name in the papers and undo some of the damage he did to his reputation years ago.
By all means, if the AFL or the Swans someday create an award that it would be appropriate to name in Goodes’ honour, and Goodes – a humble bloke, really – is willing for that to happen, he would be as deserving as any.
But let’s not build another monument to Eddie McGuire’s ego. That’s all this would be, and believe me, we already have more than enough of those.
peter
Guest
The Age ran a profile on Adam Goodes when he won the Brownlow in 2003. You may find the following quote illuminating "Lisa May, (Adam's Mother) a product of the Stolen Generation, raised her three sons alone after she parted with her former husband Graham Goodes when Adam was four. "I've been mum and dad for Adam," she said yesterday. "I was with them 24-7. I never had a holiday myself. I put them first. Adam had to be the man of the family. He had to grow up quickly."" Having had the misfortune to witness the racial abuse of Adam Goodes I can assure you that the abuse had nothing to do with Scottish DNA.
Alanna
Guest
I agree one hundred percent. As much as I believe he is definitely worth having an award named after him, it screams 'this idea is nothign more than an attempt to salvage my image in the media'. People are then just expected to be all 'Awww, Eddie. You aren't so bad afterall.' The fact that he even suggested this himself just goes to show how much HE is not willing to let the incident slide. There's no doubt in my mind that it was a mistake, but the fact he is STILL trying to redeem himself is bringing the issue to the surface once again. No on else.
Alanna
Guest
He was being racially vilified. What was there to laugh over? He didn't laugh when a crowd member did it, it wouldn't be expected for him to laugh when a friend, and experienced media personality, did just that either.
MerryGerry
Guest
Pull it out? What Kind of bitter and twisted mind would think that way and then decide to share that view? Instead of applauding people who are proud of there heritage we have miserable people like yourself who have a hate on anything they don't understand or care to understand. Miserable people just making the world even more miserable.
Fiddlesticks
Guest
I especially loved how you referred to rich white men - the easiest target in modern day journalism The only group that is safe to attack
Fiddlesticks
Guest
Considering he won't be playing I think goodsys flag is not appropriate
Fiddlesticks
Guest
Well the Scottish card doesn't have the same impact when you pull it out does it?
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Nah,I don't think Eddy's that smart.He reminds me of an Antipodean Donald Trump, the hair ,the ruddy complexion, the buffoonery. Trump argues for eminent domain when it suits him and against when he's going to suffer. McGuire argues for racial equality and tolerance when it makes him look good and it's at a distance, but dislikes an honest expression of culture and colour when it's under his nose
Frances
Guest
I have no respect for Eddie. Apart from the Adam Goodes blunder, his relentless childish Swans-war about the salary cap, Swans Academy etc was pathetic. Why on earth anyone in the Swans would want some medal that has anything to do with him is beyond me. The idea of an Adam Goodes medal inspired by Eddie is nauseating. And last night's smashing of Collingwood was fantastic.
p.Tah
Guest
Anyone else think Eddie is creating a distracting headline to take the Pies' drug controversy off the front page.
Don Freo
Guest
It is quite possibly a judgemental article, Rick...but it shows sound judgement. You, on the other hand...
Maggie
Guest
As the wording says "the player judged best on ground" I interprete it to mean it could be from either team. The Swans' announcement is titled "Goodes & O'Loughlin to be honoured" and then uses the words I have quoted. But I see on the AFL's site the news item is headed "Goodes-O'Loughlin medal forged for best Swan in Doug Nicholls Round" so that implies it is for the best Swans' player. However the article itself still refers to "the best player" so I suspect the heading is wrong. But I don't know anymore than has been reported. This is the Swans' announcement: http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2016-03-26/-goodes-oloughlin-to-be-honoured
Maggie
Guest
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"who even you can’t deny is doing this to try to make himself look better from a number of issues" Yes, I can deny that. I have no idea his motives, nor am I going to try and explain what he was thinking when he came up with this idea. This article is turning out exactly how I expected it...an Eddie bashing thread due to a heavily biased negative opinion from the author. Great - not sure what it achieves though Davico.
Chuznut
Guest
The other thing that hasn't been mentioned on here about Eddie, is that Eddie was commentating during the Sydney vs Carlton game last year when Goodes did the war dance towards the fans, and (if I recall correctly) of all the commentators that night, he was the one leading the chorus that Goodes' actions were inappropriate and shouldn't be tolerated. It seems hypocritical that the man who publicly condemned Goodes the most on that night, is the same one who now wants to celebrate him. Arguably, if Eddie had let it go on that night, rather than continuing to to bring it up even after the game was over, maybe Goodes wouldn't have copped as much ridicule as he eventually did?
Maggie
Guest
And I think tonight's announcement about the Goodes-O'Loughlin medal, agreed by the Swans' Board in February, is confirmation that Eddie dreamed up his idea and announced it without he courtesy of talking to either Goodes or the Swans first. Leaves McGuire looking particularly foolish.
Davico
Guest
Your having a laugh right? Your attacking a "professional" who has attacked a "professional" who even you can't deny is doing this to try to make himself look better from a number of issues which lets be honest cast him in a bad light
Davico
Guest
Why not make it the McLeod/Goodes medal for the best and fairest between Sydney and the crows? Goodsey is from SA and they are arguably the 2 greatest indigenous players ever! And then tell Eddie McGuire he can go jam it up his clacker!!!!
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I'll take some of the comments from Paul and matty on board. My comments were harsh - perhaps too harsh, but I still believe you got this one wrong. I enjoy reading your articles, and respect you more than most here. That's why I'm quite disappointed with this article - that's all. Nothing personal, but professionally, I felt you could have done better.
Josh
Expert
Welcome to your own opinion RD, but I'm comfortable knowing that I've made what I feel are strong arguments for the conclusions I've drawn.