A novice's response to the Adam Goodes debate

Goodes is/was an incredible player that we have all applauded or booed many a time throughout his wonderful career but in the end it was his own actions that caused the furore. Adam Goodes has bought most of this upon himself with his on field carry-ons. No racism involvled. It did not matter if he was black , white or brindle it was purely Goodes actions and the crowd did not liking what they saw. Then the dogooders get hold of it all and put race front and centre, wrong. Then to top it off and to make it right for poor Mr Goodes he is then made Australian of the year. It only made matters worse.

Penguin Thanks for that That is the greatest comment I’ve ever read on the afl tab and probably ever on the roar .

Wrong. Goodes was booed relentlessly by Hawthorn supporters throughout the 2014 Grand Final. This was the first time I became aware that he was being targeted. When I asked a booer at the ground why he was booing Goodes he said “Because he is a prick” I found the behaviour of many of my fellow Hawthorn supporters mean spirited and completely lacking in perspective. The fact that my club probably started the whole sorry, shameful saga is not something I am proud of believe me.

I saw it tonight with my 11yo girl it's a fabulous piece of documentary. beautifully paced and edited. and just heartbreakingly depressing to see the dark side of this beautiful nation. Goodes not being able to do a lap of honour on GF day - it shames us still.

I wasn't saying that your article was superficial at all. I never saw it before I had kids. Now I see it all the time, at airports, in stores, on public transport, at pubs, everywhere. It's systemic, and all Goodes did was come out and say "Racism. It stops with me" And this happened. And Bolt is at it again today. Read the comments! F me! I really hope that you see the film because it will make sense then. And thank you for the article!

Yeah, Winmar didn't lift his shirt and point to the colour of his skin because he was feeling loved.

I saw it last night. And as a disclaimer, my son, who is a dark kid, and I, an old white male, set up the "Adam Goodes Stand" sign at the SCG. Here is a comment I made on a recent article in the Roar entitled "The AFL’s uncomfortable relationship with racism"… Your article is well meaning but it has a number of serious errors. The Goodes booing occurred far earlier then 2015, from mid 2013 onwards. I attended every Swans home game and many away games and it became normalised after Eddie’s comments in mid 2013. Originally I think that it was partly a joke, but then it became as much about bullying as about racism. It was obvious that it affected both Adam and the Swans so it continued. It became more racist throughout 2014 after Goodes was named Australian of the Year. His speech in January 2014 was that of a proud Indigenous man upholding his culture. But it became part of the newly reinstated culture wars, and was politicised by the Murdoch press opinion writers. Goodes was an ambassador for the Australian Human Rights Commission, and was roundly supported by Gillian Triggs, amongst others. I also remember the outcries from the alt_Right websites, and the racist memes that followed. The worst example I saw was at a pub in Balmain during the 2014 GF. My family and I could not get tickets to travel to Melbourne. The Hawks destroyed us. Yet there were several Hawks supporters who constantly booed Goodes in that game in the pub, one calling him a “vicious dog”. When I asked him “why”. his answer was that he was a dirty backsniper who played for frees and slid in knees first. What codswallop! Throughout 2014 and 2015 Goodes was subjected to the worst racism against an individual that I have ever seen. It was systemic bullying, with only the Swans coming out in support of Adam. The AFL was complicitly silent, as was the Melbourne media. And not once was Adam Goodes cited or suspended. Why did this happen? Partly because of the times – the free speech warriors and the “It’s ok to be a bigot” idiocy. Partly because of the rise of the alt-Right and its influence on social media. Partly because of the weakness of the AFL hierarchy in not calling it out. Much because of the blatant bigotry of News Ltd, Sky and its followers. But mainly because here was a proud man speaking out for his people and we Australians didn’t like the truth that he was telling us, or to be reminded of our past treatment of Aborigines. I can’t do anything about what happened in the past, but I can try to change the future and I can help Adam and the GO Foundation make a better life for our indigenous kids. And I can call out racism when I see it, which is often. And to change the future you have to understand the past. I hope that is some context for you! Most of the guys on here just don't like their racism being pointed out, or being told what to do. Don't believe a word that most of them say. Watch it when you can.

First step - watch the documentary and make your own mind up. Sam Newman is a coward with a platform, as are Andrew Bolt and Miranda Devine. Eddie is just a casually racist idiot who does some good things but blots his life with a moronic need to be liked. Mark Robinson and Gerard Whateley got it, as did Caroline Wilson. Dill McLachlan is the worst AFL CEO in living memory, as can be seen from the current behaviour scandal. Again, watch the documentary The Final Quarter. There is no commentary at all, just archival footage of what happened. Make up your own mind, and don't listen to the commenters here, none of whom have seen the doco.

Andrew Bolt has just decreed (from on high) that the booing of Adam Goodes had nothing whatsoever to do with racism. Proof positive therefore, that it does.

It's time to put it all to bed. I'd be pretty sure the start of the booing wasn't based on anything racist otherwise why (in recent times when everyone is on tenterhooks about racism, sexism, islamophobia, genderism) don't other indigenous players suffer the same fate? Or the few Muslim players? Or Nic Nat? And so on. The booing possibly became racist as it went on as there are always dickhead racists who will hop on the bandwagon if they think it's approved behaviour by the mob. Once it started, like playground behaviour, it rolled on. What fun to stick it to Adam Goodes and 'what can anyone do about it?' Sport crowds are renown for picking victims and going after them for any reason at all. Recently, Ablett has been continually booed presumably for giving Foleau's comments a like on Facebook. Or is it because he's done a few nasty chicken-wings on the field? Or is it because he's a Christian? Who knows? What fun to give it to Ablett. The Australian cricketers involved in the sandpaper affair have been unmercifully booed especially by the Indians. Is it because of the cheating (which they have paid their dues for), is it because they are white Australians? Probably both. Somehow they have to put their heads down and keep playing...sticks and stones etc. Like many indigenous people, Adam was probably on the receiving end of discrimination and name-calling as a child and young man. He may have been aware that his mother suffered the same fate. Wounds like that last a long time. Just before the booing started he said in an interview that Australia was a 'racist' country. Like all countries Australia has racists living here but most Australians aren't racist, nor are our laws and institutions racist, and in recent times genuine attempts have been made to make up for the past and to do everything possible to make life here fair for everyone. Calling Australia a racist country didn't help his cause. I hope he feels vindicated and that the doco brings him peace. I also hope he has moments of wondering if there are better ways to reconciliation than labelling everyone in Australia as racist. Whatever happened in the past, we are all in this together for the future.

Winmar copped the same treatment as did michael long at the time. History is now rewritten as if they were universally embraced from the start so everyone can feel better about themselves.

he wasnt booed in his first 10 years because he didnt shine a light on the casual and not so casual racism that aborigines and other minorities cop every single day in australia. the booing started because white australia much like white america like their coloured sports stars when they stay quiet and just entertain the masses, they hate them when they become "uppity".

You've nutshelled the Adam Goodes matter. Incite the crowd repeatedly (anointed Australian of the year to celebrate it) you'll be booed, not rocket surgery is it? Adam played to the crowd deliberately. He's no Nicky Winmar but will end up with a statue at the SCG for sure, they'll probably rename it for him. And that's what he wants.

Yes, they did, it was less painful than watching Carlton play.