Booing of Adam Goodes by fans of Melbourne clubs

[Xie Shan]

Get ready for Norf this week. They are a very ordinary bunch.

I was actually pleasantly surprised to see this the other day. We can only hope.

Don't Boo Goodes Kangaroos | BigFooty AFL Forum

[The Big Cat]

what exactly is Abbott meant to do or say? You can't legislate for people to show respect, or even to have good manners regardless of respect.

Agreed Liz. It wouldn't have helped the booing but it would have shown that our PM at least had some sort of a stance on respect for the AOTY (to whom he was happy to present the award) and an indigenous icon. His silence was deafening.

[31 hard at it]

Mob crowd booing is a cheap shot and something our game does not need.
Always been there in a specific case of a player who decks an opposition player behind play etc and of course the Umpires - But to be in the crowd against Hawthorn - It was just sad for AFL.

When you have to explain to the kids with you the reason why a mob reaction occurs then we are drawn to examples throughout history that do not end well.
With this crowd aggression I seriously have to think twice before taking my wife and kids to a game. I have never had to say that in over 40 years of attending VFL/AFL.

To my friends from overseas I used to boast how our game was attended by thousands of supporters who would travel on the same train and sit together in the stands and have very few incidents of aggression - show basic respect for the people around them.

I hope its run its course against Adam.

[dimelb]

I was actually pleasantly surprised to see this the other day. We can only hope.

Don't Boo Goodes Kangaroos | BigFooty AFL Forum

That's a very encouraging thread; the people agreeing with the OP seem to far outnumber those who disagree (I didn't read all the way through,but that's how it was heading).

[erica]

Article here about how the booing of Goodes has tightened club culture.

No Cookies | Herald Sun

[graemed]

Below is an "explanation"(???) of why Melbourne fans boo Adam Goodes. it appeared in the Herald-Sun comments section after an article about how the booing is uniting the swans behind him.

Richard:
"Goodes has played 359 games for which he has NOT been booed for the vast majority. So ask yourself, why is it he is being booed now? Anyone with the smallest amount of common sense will realise it has NOTHING to do with racism. You DON'T become racist overnight but you DO finally react to a person who continually acts for free kicks, is divisive, abuses his position, whinges, etc etc and finally, without warning, does an incredibly divisive "War Dance' against opposition supporters. Booooo"

My response follows:

Chris Judd, great AFL player, 279 amazing games, a Brownlow at 20, Norm Smith medalist. Premiership captain, multiple All Australian. Judd played football in a manner that had us in awe, he lives his life the same way, as a man apart setting his own agenda and answerable only to himself and his family.

Adam Goodes, 359 amazing AFL games, two Brownlows, two Premiwership medallions, multiple All Australian, Club Captain and Champion. Goodes has played in every position on the ground with distinction. He plays his own way, but always with the team in mind. His lives his life the same way. Spokesperson for his people, Australian of the Year and forthright and accomplished in all aspects of his personal life, seeking to improve the lot of others, despite his own poor beginnings and disappointments.

One champion is lauded and applauded throughout the country for his feats and for the man. The other is abused and criticised. Neither have been angels on the field, both have been outspoken and independent off the field.

It is an interesting comparison and one that deserves reflection and attention. Of course people should be invested in this discussion.

I was extremely disappointed by the blatant racism on display in these comments. They are devoid of any rational explanation and tolerance. I am embarrassed for us as a nation that we cannot see and defend ourselves against the bigotry of such spurious arguments.

[ScottH]

Well said Graeme.

"Acts for frees" - He's not the lone ranger there.
"divisive" - educative might be a better word
"abuses his position" - Is Rosie Batty abusing her position by speaking out about the rights of people she who are too scared to speak for themselves??
"whinges, etc, etc" - grapsing at straws.
"divisive "War Dance"" - Only in the eyes of white Australians, appraently.

Based on that criteria, we could probably come up with a huge list of players that fall under some, if not all of the above. Except for AOTY.

[rojo]

I really do think that much of the angst towards Adam comes from his stand, as AOY, in regard to Australia Day, and his statement that he, along with some of the more militant Aboriginals, regards it as Invasion Day, etc. This kind of statement seems to 'highly offend' certain sections of our community. At the time I thought it a bit brave, foolhardy, maybe undiplomatic of him but now I understand that he just says what he believes. He is not afraid to confront us with the uncomfortable. I think he will continue to be booed, and 'disliked', because as has been said by lots of other commentators, he is an Indigenous player in a position to speak out and many don't like him challenging racist attitudes when he has the opportunity. Posters on RWO have said as much. If only he would be like Cyril or Buddy and just play football, people would love and esteem him!

Adam has chosen the pathway of 'representing' his people and in doing so draws attention to Indigenous issues. What is happening now is the price he is having to pay. No doubt he will continue to make his stand, regardless of what the long term outcome is. Hopefully the tide will turn by the end of the season and his supporters will far out-weigh his detractors. Personally, I want to cheer him on.

[dejavoodoo44]

Well put, Graemed, but you possibly could have pointed the vendetta being run against Goodesy by high profile and far too powerful Herald Sun employees, like Andrew Bolt: which I feel sure is a main motivator of the mindless booing. But of course, if you did that, your reply may not have been published.

[mcs]

I really do think that much of the angst towards Adam comes from his stand, as AOY, in regard to Australia Day, and his statement that he, along with some of the more militant Aboriginals, regards it as Invasion Day, etc. This kind of statement seems to 'highly offend' certain sections of our community. At the time I thought it a bit brave, foolhardy, maybe undiplomatic of him but now I understand that he just says what he believes. He is not afraid to confront us with the uncomfortable. I think he will continue to be booed, and 'disliked', because as has been said by lots of other commentators, he is an Indigenous player in a position to speak out and many don't like him challenging racist attitudes when he has the opportunity. Posters on RWO have said as much. If only he would be like Cyril or Buddy and just play football, people would love and esteem him!

Adam has chosen the pathway of 'representing' his people and in doing so draws attention to Indigenous issues. What is happening now is the price he is having to pay. No doubt he will continue to make his stand, regardless of what the long term outcome is. Hopefully the tide will turn by the end of the season and his supporters will far out-weigh his detractors. Personally, I want to cheer him on.

I can fully comprehend how someone that is Aboriginal may perceive January 26 to be invasion day. I wish we would move our national day to 1 January, which would be more reflective of when Australia actually became a nation, note the date of the landing of the first fleet into NSW.

[Meg]

Adam Goodes' AOTY acceptance speech was extremely mild and conciliatory (you tube link below). As far as I am aware Adam never referred to Australia Day as Invasion Day,, although Bolt and Devine and now many others claim that he did. On the contrary the following was reported in The Age after his award was announced:
"Australian of the Year Adam Goodes said on Sunday he had adopted Survival Day, as opposed to Invasion Day to place a positive focus on those aspects of indigenous culture that survived the trauma of European settlement."

The irony is that several much more activist Aboriginal leaders, who do refer to Invasion Day, criticised Goodes' award precisely because Adam is not as strident in his words as they would prefer.
It's a difficult journey Adam is walking. I admire him greatly.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/survival-day-seeks-a-positive-focus-on-australia-day-20140126-31gvj.html

Adam Goodes - Australian of the Year 2014 Acceptance Speech - YouTube

[rojo]

Adam Goodes' AOTY acceptance speech was extremely mild and conciliatory (you tube link below). As far as I am aware Adam never referred to Australia Day as Invasion Day,, although Bolt and Devine and now many others claim that he did. On the contrary the following was reported in The Age after his award was announced:
"Australian of the Year Adam Goodes said on Sunday he had adopted Survival Day, as opposed to Invasion Day to place a positive focus on those aspects of indigenous culture that survived the trauma of European settlement."

The irony is that several much more activist Aboriginal leaders, who do refer to Invasion Day, criticised Goodes' award precisely because Adam is not as strident in his words as they would prefer.
It's a difficult journey Adam is walking. I admire him greatly.

Survival Day seeks a positive focus on Australia Day

Adam Goodes - Australian of the Year 2014 Acceptance Speech - YouTube

Thanks Meg. Apologies to all for not checking the facts.

[dejavoodoo44]

Adam Goodes' AOTY acceptance speech was extremely mild and conciliatory (you tube link below). As far as I am aware Adam never referred to Australia Day as Invasion Day,, although Bolt and Devine and now many others claim that he did. On the contrary the following was reported in The Age after his award was announced:
"Australian of the Year Adam Goodes said on Sunday he had adopted Survival Day, as opposed to Invasion Day to place a positive focus on those aspects of indigenous culture that survived the trauma of European settlement."

The irony is that several much more activist Aboriginal leaders, who do refer to Invasion Day, criticised Goodes' award precisely because Adam is not as strident in his words as they would prefer.
It's a difficult journey Adam is walking. I admire him greatly.

Survival Day seeks a positive focus on Australia Day

Adam Goodes - Australian of the Year 2014 Acceptance Speech - YouTube

Yes, Meg, and in a similar manner of misrepresentation, Bolt claimed that Adam's war dance was a declaration of war on white Australians.

[tasmania60]

Just watched North Melbourne plea to fans , why aren't there more people who actually think in life ! Australians are becoming a cheap Americans with herd mentality !

[Hotpotato]

Any Notth fans who boo will not be welcome in their midst ... The leaders have made their stand . It's certainly a step in the right direction ...