Goodes and booing

[Doctor]

AFL seemingly doesn't get our shameful history

This artlcle by Caro takes aim at the AFL hierarchy's response to this week and I think she has it spot on. Not the AFL clubs' response, but the supposedly leadership of the competition.

I have to say that I was mightily disappointed by Gilham's Open Letter, published today on the AFL site. It basically tells AFL fans how wonderful they are, and almost as an afterthought asks people not to boo Goodes because it hurts its feelings. It completely fails to address the basic standards of behaviour that the competition expects of its fans. Nor does it suggest those incapable or unwilling to abide by those standards are not welcome at games. It effectively panders to those who think the whole think is a beat up by Goodes, the Swans and sections of the media.

I'd also like to add that the silence from the AFL regarding the events that led two supporters to be evicted from last weekend's game has been deafening. On the few other occasions where a fan has been reported for a racist sledge, there has been a condemnation from the media and the AFL, and usually a comment from the club the fan "supports" implying said fan is at least contrite. But this time, close to nothing. And that is despite the fact the two people ejected have appeared to show no contrition and, indeed, received support from others around them at the ground. West Coast came out with a strongly worded statement condemning the overall crowd behaviour last week, and I don't really expect them to say more. But those two events surely demonstrate, beyond anything, that there is still a core of supporters who aren't just casual racists, or bandwagoners, or generally ignorant, but are the real deal and aren't ashamed of it. Why have we heard nothing from the AFL specifically about them?

And this piece, from Malcolm Knox, uses humour (on the surface, anyway) to unravel the layers of denial that so many use to excuse their behaviour towards Goodes. And nails it.

Racist? Some of my best friends are like Adam Goodes

I LOVE this bit. Nails it.

The Fair Play Boobody: I boo Goodes because he stages for free kicks and tries to con the umpires. I'm not sure why I only started booing him last year. Admires: Shane Warne.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I love this band, and recall this song. As a youngster. Never really got it until now. Rings truer than ever, Frenzal Rhomb - Racist - YouTube

[Plugger46]

You'd be hard pressed to find a bigger dud than Gill. Honestly, what a lot of tripe.

[cherub]

You'd be hard pressed to find a bigger dud than Gill. Honestly, what a lot of tripe.

And his lack of ay type of moral fibre will come back to bite him. You can bet all those down at AFL headquarters are quietly cursing Goodesy. It's all over the media, even the international media. What impact will it have on media rights negotiation? What effect on the AFL's attempt to engage with other countries? What effect in their expansion markets. The cartel of businessmen who all sit on each other's boards, or work in each other's companies-Maguire, Fitzpatrick, Kelty et.al. will be cursing, having supported Gillon's lack of stance. Yet, this has exploded beyond the AFL, and paints the AFL in a very poor light, showing how superficial are their efforts at contributing to a harmonious, socially advanced Australia . Yep, the insular VFL got it wrong on this one.

[Ludwig]

Generally speaking, when problems like this arise in a business, community or organisation, there are 2 ways that the administration can approach it:

1. How do we get to the source of this problem and resolve it once and for all.
2. How do we make this problem go away.

The AFL administration has chosen the second solution. But it's not just them. Every time something like this comes up, the second approach is always the one of choice, because the first is too hard and will find too many obstacles in powerful positions. That's why racism just goes on and on. There's a flair up from time to time. We put the fire out, until the next time.

There's no real effort to stop racism. The objective is just to stop the booing of Adam Goodes.

The AFL community and Australia as a nation seem deeply divided on this particular incident. There are heavyweights on both sides of the matter. Many seem to be thinking about it on a more profound level for the first time. It will be interesting to look back on these days in a few weeks and a few years hence.

[dejavoodoo44]

Umm are you kidding me Joanne?

Joanne is still angered at how her daughter was treated by MCG security and police, blaming it on Goodes' reaction to the racial sledge.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Adam didn't conduct the interview. How can he be blamed for her treatment during said interview? Why not blame the guy at the turnstile who let her in? If she wasn't let in, she wouldn't have had the chance to racially vilify Adam.

"Picking on a 13-year-old child I thought was absolutely ridiculous and having her questioned by police without an adult being present was absolutely disgusting on the part of himself and the AFL," Joanne

Umm when your daughter is taken away, should you not insist on accompanying her instead of continuing to watch the game?

Joanne said her daughter did not want to re-visit the issue.

Well, Joanne, you approaching the national media should allow your daughter to keep a low profile.

"I do think people shouldn't boo him at the football, they should be trying to encourage him to be a better person than what he is," Joanne said

Oh, I'm sorry Joanne, extensive community work, founded the Go Foundation, Australian of the Year, dual Brownlow medalist, dual premiership player, 4 time All Auatralian ... how much better does Adam have to be?! I'd love to see your CV madam!

Joanne acknowledged Goodes was entitled to be upset at being called an "ape" but should have ignored the comment because of her daughter's age.

Oh, I understand. Fair enough Joanne. But, what age do you suggest is actually unacceptable to racially vilify someone?

"He probably should apologise because maybe he should have picked his target a little bit better.

You mean he should have picked someone near your daughter who didn't abuse him?? No, I think Adam his the target that night better than he hits any of his targets by foot or hand these days!

"She'd only turned 13 five days beforehand. She was technically still 12. She had no idea what she was saying."

No, no, Joanne, technically, literally, factually ... no matter how you do the maths, if she turned 13 five days beforehand, she's still 13. But you're a Collingwood supporter. Maths probably isn't your strongest point.

Joanne, the only thing that Adam should feel sorry about in this instance is that your poor daughter had to go to school the next day with the rest of Australia knowing your ignorance.

Excellent bit of deconstruction! Certainly gave me a few laughs.

[Primmy]

And a Boom from up above.

People's emotional and empathetic growth has atrophied, including some (very sadly) Swans followers who say they are fans;.........ok, Im out of here, there is a ressie game to make lunchtime sandwiches for, another legends game that Jonnie Stevens as well as Fitzy (no doubt Luffy too) is playing in......and then we can make a statement big time. Can't miss me, I'm the one with the red hat.......

[stevoswan]

My daughter tried to explain to her 6 yr old footy mad son why Goodsey wasn't playing this w/e. He had already asked many times why Adam was being booed constantly but can't understand all that, so she said Adam was very sad about the booing and thought he would have a rest. My grandson was shocked. He said "He must be very, very sad because I could never be too sad to play footy".

Now, that is sad.....poor kid. I feel for him. The tenticles of racism and bigotry effect everyone. Really sad.

[dejavoodoo44]

Now, that is sad.....poor kid. I feel for him. The tenticles of racism and bigotry effect everyone. Really sad.

Hi, Stevo, I'm assuming that you're the same stevoswan that has also been doing a bit of racist baiting on the same Telstra sport site as me? If so, good for you, as you've given me a few good laughs.

[stevoswan]

Hi, Stevo, I'm assuming that you're the same stevoswan that has also been doing a bit of racist baiting on the same Telstra sport site as me? If so, good for you, as you've given me a few good laughs.

Indeed I am. It's been both fun and frustrating. I must say, your posts have been great too, well done. We must keep fighting the good fight, in the hope we can effect positive change on those who fight it with weakness and lies.

[dejavoodoo44]

Indeed I am. It's been both fun and frustrating. I must say, your posts have been great too, well done. We must keep fighting the good fight, in the hope we can effect positive change on those who fight it with weakness and lies.

Well, I'm not sure if we can effect too much positive change, on those people who spend far too much time consuming the offerings of Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones? But I certainly enjoy increasing their anger levels.

[stevoswan]

Well, I'm not sure if we can effect too much positive change, on those people who spend far too much time consuming the offerings of Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones? But I certainly enjoy increasing their anger levels.

Yes, and those anger levels soar when confronted with sensible, well worded, arguments. I picture imminent faraway brains explosions, while I'm sitting at the PC calmly dissecting the 'cannon balls' heading my way but arriving as tiny ping pong balls. I confess, it's a bit like a guilty pleasure! Pity the issue is not......keep up the good work.

[barry]

Jones, bolt and aker all have one thing in common: they are headline seekers. That's all they are. They don't need facts, they seek controversy for their own self benefit.

[Ludwig]

There seems to be no stopping Mark Fine of SEN in his support of racial vilification. He pretty much supports the Warne and Aker position that just because some player doesn't like getting booed, the AFL has no right to stop the fans who pay their money to go to a game to do whatever they like. He's been relentless about it, even with some of his colleagues, like John Ralph, trying to get him to reconsider his position. There still are a lot of public figures in the industry that are maintaining their stand on booing, so it will be interesting to see what ensues if Adam plays next week.

It's been so encouraging to read all the wonderful comments of this forum and if RWO was representative of the country as a whole, things would change very quickly. And to see the overwhelming support for Adam at the game was fantastic.

The Drum (ABC) devoted its last program to the issue and made an excellent presentation about how Adam must be feeling, much along the lines of Stan Grant's article.

There's a real chance here to make a nation defining change for Australia. Minds do seem to be changing. I hope it translates into something of real substance. All of Australia's children deserve to grow up with fair chance in life and without the pain racial discrimination.

[barry]

The big test is next weekend.