Stand by Goodes

[Doctor J.]

Well said.

I too have learnt plenty over the last 12 months. I can remember arguing on here after the Essendon game (at Etihad) last year. I was saying that there wasn't any racism attached to the booing - how wrong I was.

It is comments such as this that gives me hope that eventually some good will come from all of this.

Well done Plugger46, and even bigger of you for admitting that you may have been wrong. It takes a person of character to admit error in their ways.

Same for you Jono2707

[Industrial Fan]

Had an argument with my parents last night about this. They trotted out the 71 players, invasion day etc. they said he'd gone the wrong way about it and got people's back up.

My response was to say that maybe he had - but only from your perspective. If he'd taken a softer approach it wouldn't be a national issue and there may not be an outcome.

No doubt Adam has brought this about. But he brought it about because he is a strong an principled man, has stuck to his beliefs and told people what they didn't want to hear. Sometimes people need to hear what they don't want to hear.

We were lucky to see him win a few flags and do some great things for the club. But I think his legacy will be far greater than that.

From a selfish point of view I hope that we see him I the football field again, even if only to remind him that he is our hero.

[PerthSwannie]

Arguments and comments from both sides of this issue in the media and blogs seem all to be coming from the privileged "Whitey" types... Here`s an article from the other side of the racial fence. Dallas Scott on his blog (The http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/Black Steam Train)

[magic.merkin]

Geez, this woman....

Mother of teen who sledged Adam Goodes says fans should not boo, but still wants an apology

[jono2707]

Snajik, don't forget the NRL (!) and Bob Murphy. If you are going to have arguments about this be armed with the facts. I attach the actual quotes that Adam made after the Collingwood 13yo episode and on Australia Day (I hope, it's a pdf).[ATTACH]1346[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]1347[/ATTACH]

Thanks for posting this - very useful - a good tool for those who haven't let the truth get in the way of a "good story" thus far.

Do you have direct sources from where these quotes were lifted? That would be hugely helpful too.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Had an argument with my parents last night about this. They trotted out the 71 players, invasion day etc. they said he'd gone the wrong way about it and got people's back up.

My response was to say that maybe he had - but only from your perspective. If he'd taken a softer approach it wouldn't be a national issue and there may not be an outcome.

No doubt Adam has brought this about. But he brought it about because he is a strong an principled man, has stuck to his beliefs and told people what they didn't want to hear. Sometimes people need to hear what they don't want to hear.

We were lucky to see him win a few flags and do some great things for the club. But I think his legacy will be far greater than that.

From a selfish point of view I hope that we see him I the football field again, even if only to remind him that he is our hero.

Yes. If he plays next week, I think I'll make the trip to Geelong?although it's likely a sell-out. Anyone want to chip in for a chopper from Tullamarine?

[jono2707]

Arguments and comments from both sides of this issue in the media and blogs seem all to be coming from the privileged "Whitey" types... Here`s an article from the other side of the racial fence. Dallas Scott on his blog (The http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/Black Steam Train)

Can I respectfully ask that you take it elsewhere? This is not the forum for posting sentiments that are negative to what Adam stands for. There are plenty of other places for that. Most of us here are tired of arguing or seeing all of that stuff. Happy for you to believe in that point of view if you like, but don't post it here.
Thank you.

[CureTheSane]

After getting past my disappointment that the booing is continuing and in some of the public in general, I am left with this.

Adam Goodes will likely retire at the end of the season. With his form at the moment, I'd love to see him play another year, but even without the 'scandal' I dare say this is likely his last season.
His challenge is to finish off on a high note.
I bet he is torn between furthering indigenous cause and just playing footy and retiring on a high. Surely he's done enough already and deserves to think more of himself?

As for the issue at hand, I think there are two sides.
Moral crusaders (most Swans fans and a vast majority of the general public) and everyone else (which includes racists, casual racists, subconscious racists, ignorants, and unfortunately a few in the media who have chosen to align themselves with this side - Allan Jones, Brereton, Ross Greenwood etc) Also included are those who genuinely dislike Adam for various reasons such as his roles on the field)

I have disliked players before.
I found it really hard to watch Garry Lyon years after he came out and said "we played down to their level" after a downtrodden Swans team conquered the high flying Demons 20 or so years ago.
I dislike James Hird because of the way he handled the drugs scandal.
I dislike Dermott Brereton because his personality is not very likable.
Many many people used to dislike Wayne Carey because of what he did while at NM, but today he seems quite well liked.

But these are just stupid feelings based on not knowing the person.
For anyone to 'hate' a player without ever having met them is silly.

I think the players have the power to lead the way here.
I'm sure many AFL players don't like Goodes, for a range of reasons, but that is irrelevant,
What is relevant is standing together, united as a group of people to support each other for the good of the game.

Richmond are doing so, the Swans have a few things planned, and the wider sporting community is showing its support as well.

I think he will be back for the Cats game, and geez, will those supporters be under the spotlight....

[O'Reilly Boy]

After getting past my disappointment that the booing is continuing and in some of the public in general, I am left with this.

Adam Goodes will likely retire at the end of the season. With his form at the moment, I'd love to see him play another year, but even without the 'scandal' I dare say this is likely his last season.
His challenge is to finish off on a high note.
I bet he is torn between furthering indigenous cause and just playing footy and retiring on a high. Surely he's done enough already and deserves to think more of himself?

As for the issue at hand, I think there are two sides.
Moral crusaders (most Swans fans and a vast majority of the general public) and everyone else (which includes racists, casual racists, subconscious racists, ignorants, and unfortunately a few in the media who have chosen to align themselves with this side - Allan Jones, Brereton, Ross Greenwood etc) Also included are those who genuinely dislike Adam for various reasons such as his roles on the field)

I have disliked players before.
I found it really hard to watch Garry Lyon years after he came out and said "we played down to their level" after a downtrodden Swans team conquered the high flying Demons 20 or so years ago.
I dislike James Hird because of the way he handled the drugs scandal.
I dislike Dermott Brereton because his personality is not very likable.
Many many people used to dislike Wayne Carey because of what he did while at NM, but today he seems quite well liked.

But these are just stupid feelings based on not knowing the person.
For anyone to 'hate' a player without ever having met them is silly.

I think the players have the power to lead the way here.
I'm sure many AFL players don't like Goodes, for a range of reasons, but that is irrelevant,
What is relevant is standing together, united as a group of people to support each other for the good of the game.

Richmond are doing so, the Swans have a few things planned, and the wider sporting community is showing its support as well.

I think he will be back for the Cats game, and geez, will those supporters be under the spotlight....

I take exception at the 'moral crusader' label. Is it really extreme, a 'crusade', to want to call out racism? Is that what I'm doing when I help my children to understand the problems associated with using insulting stereotypes with the intention of humiliating, demeaning, or otherwise affecting another person, no matter what you think of them? Is it 'crusading' to disapprove of and to resist bullying? I also think that there is a risk in setting out two extreme positions (crusaderism v intolerance) as the only possible positions in the issue, and making it look as if there is some kind of equivalence between them. There's not.

[Bloodthirsty]

Geez, this woman....

Mother of teen who sledged Adam Goodes says fans should not boo, but still wants an apology

LOL. "She?d only turned 13 five days beforehand. She was technically still 12." What a moron.

Anyway, not to cross-threads here but....I totally agree with boycotting Swans games as long as Goodes is out because of this, live and TV - hit them where it hurts - but....why doesn't everyone do this to call action against the VFL's trade restrictions and woeful transparent attempts to drag Sydney down the ladder? Should be boycotting games for both reasons. People keep going, nothing changes. If the club gets hurt, it's either the AFL's fault or the club's fault. Where is this boycott sentiment for the trade restrictions?

[KTigers]

It's disappointing that Goodesy is not playing this week, but completely understandable. I think he knows this issue is unsettling the team a bit, and I think he has put the team first. It's not the first time he done this, he dropped himself earlier this year.
Ultimately Australia is a "tolerant society" as long as minority groups know their place. The minute anyone speaks out, and it really doesn't matter if it's on indigenous issues or asylum seeker issues or any number of so called minority issues, the tolerant Australian becomes the ugly Australian very quickly.

[Bindo]

For those that are going this weekend (I am one of them) here is the security SMS number to call, if you encounter any aggression or offensive behaviour. SMS 0421 267 567 and give your location details. Like others, my fear is that this may transfer to Jetta and we need to stamp that out straight away.

[KTigers]

Support for Adam.
Someone yesterday mentioned wanting to wear the number 37 to the Adelaide game on Saturday.
I own a screenprinting factory and I would be happy to donate 1,000 red T-shirts with the number 37 printed on them,
if someone else or a few people would be interested in handing them out to people outside the SCG before the game.
I don't know how many of you folks know each other, or how organised you all are, or if this is something that should be run by the club.... but anyway, I'm happy to do it.

[Go Swannies]

Support for Adam.
Someone yesterday mentioned wanting to wear the number 37 to the Adelaide game on Saturday.
I own a screenprinting factory and I would be happy to donate 1,000 red T-shirts with the number 37 printed on them,
if someone else or a few people would be interested in handing them out to people outside the SCG before the game.
I don't know how many of you folks know each other, or how organised you all are, or if this is something that should be run by the club.... but anyway, I'm happy to do it.

Great offer - you'd need to put 37 on both sides or the TV effect might be muted. I guess you don't have red and white ones?

If you wanted to hand them out in front of the SCG you'd need to let the club know in advance or security might move you on. Bear in mind that there's a club member recognition event on before the game - if the club say it's okay I'd be more than prepared to hand them out at that, knowing we'd only be reaching long term, keen fans.

100 t-shirts wouldn't be light - you'd need to get a few people to carry them over unless the club lets you access Driver Ave in front of the gates. Again, I'd be prepared to help carry them over.

It's a very generous offer.

[Conor_Dillon]

That woman is a complete imbecile...if you want to be technical about it you're closer to 13 than 12 as soon as you are 12 years, 6 months and 1 day old.