I was a little taken aback upon my first viewing of The Final Quarter, but not for the reasons most were.
Having perused the reactions of many, I concluded the film must have revealed some secret footage exposing the inner workings of Australia’s racist core.
So many had said it shone a light on what really happened: that they hadn’t realised it was so bad, and that they now realised how wrong it all was.
I was taken aback because this had all happened in front of our very eyes.
Sam Newman sarcastically asked for white heterosexual round, Tony Jones smugly told us not one person out of the tens of thousands were booing for racist reasons, Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones said exactly what they would say. None of this was new.
Nonetheless, it appears the documentary has at least shone a light on the what happened in a more focused way.
It forces those who still have a problem with Adam Goodes to justify why.
And I would like to ask those people to do so.
There have been a lot of justifications for the booing and subsequent hatred directed at Goodes for the last four years. But those justifications have been flimsy.
Sam Newman
In the early part of this decade, Newman regularly took aim at the AFL for being too political. He said people don’t want to be lectured, they wanted to enjoy footy.
When he went on such rants on The Footy Show – a show that occasionally talked about footy – the majority of the audience cheered.
Given Newman only has a media voice due to his relationship to footy but has no issue commenting on political issues – just check his Twitter feed – perhaps his supporters can explain why they cheer when he tells the AFL to stay out of politics, but are silent when their hero wades into political matters?
Not all Indigenous players were booed
This is most common argument, even though those who make it never seem to have to go beyond this justification, no matter how many times people point out that Goodes got booed after he moved outside his box and stood up for his heritage.
Perhaps I’ll make another point using the naysayer logic: was it not an act of racism when Eddie Betts had a banana thrown at him? Because according to this flawed logic and using the justification that not all Indigenous players have had bananas thrown at them, the answer would have to be no.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Bullying children
This argument has never made a large amount of sense. Literally less than 24 hours after the infamous incident with a 13-year-old Collingwood fan, Goodes said “it’s not her fault” and “I don’t blame her at all”.
Yet people still hate him based on his supposed bullying.
Feigning for frees
Well, this is an easy one. Why is Goodes doing this so much worse than thousands of other players in history?
I remember Goodes had an annoying ability to run back quickly and pretend an opponent hadn’t returned the ball properly, fooling umpires into paying a 50-metre penalty. I didn’t like it, I’ll admit.
We see plenty of players do their best to manipulate umpires into awarding them free kicks. People are simply trying to find an angle to justify their hatred of Goodes.
Timing of the boos
The most definitive evidence that Goodes was subjected to racism is very simple: the booing started after he stood up for himself, when he decided he wouldn’t accept being called an ape.
Then it became extreme straight after he did a war dance specifically to celebrate his heritage.
Tell me his Aboriginality had no impact the hatred. Then justify why.
Rewriting the history of the saga simply cannot suffice anymore.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Swing and a miss. Try harder.
SeymoreButts
Roar Rookie
You are right, the analogy about the Crimea was ridiculous...and there's no need to thank me.
SeymoreButts
Roar Rookie
'' before you call that a stupid analogy..'' You are 100% correct, technically its called a straw man argument... take one mans argument, and twist it to represent something completely different to what was actually said. See, I didnt say it was a stupid analogy..
Daz
Roar Pro
That is exactly what I meant Macca. Well before this whole issue arose, when Adam Goodes was just a player for Sydney, I didn't particularly like him in a capacity as a player for Sydney. When I said "I don’t like things that I’m told that I’m supposed to like” I meant the way everyone* bangs on about how great players are like Goodes, Hird, Ablett, Dangerfield, Bob Murphy, and Judd turns me off them. Guess what? The same with Beyoncé, or a movie that everyone says is a must see (can't think of one now). I don't necessarily like things because they are popular, and in fact I often dislike them because they are popular. *I know, not every single person, but you know what I mean. For the record, I may have (I honestly can't remember) thrown a boo Goodes direction in his time as a player years and years ago. I don't remember the last time I went to a Sydney match, possibly it's as far back as 2011, and whether Goodes played that day I actually have no idea. So, I never joined in with booing him and certainly would not have once it was identified and publicised as being about race, and do not condone the treatment he received. Just wanted to make that crystal clear.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yes I realise my putting a valid and honest response is inconvenient for you but you have the option of looking at the footage with an open mind or attacking me for my opinion. I am not the only person that has raised the issue of his dirty play on this site but but all means attack me for my opinion.
Davico
Roar Pro
So in other words you actually can't point to any incident so your assertion that he was a "DIRTY" player is just BS!
asd
Guest
this is like who killed kenedy whos gives a rats toss bag
ScottD
Roar Guru
Firstly, I didn’t use the word “blatant” anywhere in my comment. Secondly, if I was inclined to go back several years and put together a montage of low lights I suppose I could but given this is an fan opinion and discussion site I suggest that you watch the footage yourself without the bias. That way there won’t be any debate.
Gee
Roar Rookie
No mention of that war dance? Maybe pretending to chuck a spear at people doesn't fit the victim narrative?
Davico
Roar Pro
Can you please provide all these blatant examples of him playing "DIRTY"?
Davico
Roar Pro
You still have not explained exactly why you think he is a flog!
Zlatan
Roar Rookie
She looks 13 or younger pal - Anyone saying otherwise is an utter liar - Take a look for yourself: http://lillianaanderson.weebly.com/blog/in-the-news-teenage-girl-apologises-for-racist-insult
RT
Roar Rookie
I'm not your pal. It was widely reported that she looked older and he was pointing someone in the crowd from a distance so it would not be easy to tell anyway. And like I said channel 7 kept showing footage until they realised. But you obviously know better, especially if it helps support your justification for your opinion of Goodes.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Incorrect but whatever makes you feel better.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
You made the ridiculous analogy. Please quit while you’re way behind, thanks.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Blame the media, then.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
And then he supported her. But that doesn’t support your narrative does it?
Mark.
Roar Rookie
So?
Zlatan
Roar Rookie
She looked 13 pal.
You'll Never Hawk Alone
Roar Pro
I'll add to this and point out, which no one seems to be aware of, Ablett has been booed since his return to Geelong. Melbourne booed him last year in round one and almost every team last year did the same. It's strange to me. I remember he started getting mocked a lot on social media in 2017 when it became clear he wanted to return home. He cited family reasons. And then everyone mocked him for saying it. Like it was an excuse. Then his sister died... People didn't stop mocking his. They doubled down. Different issue, same outcome. Booing can be fun. But it can also be pretty awful