Goodesy Again

[Mug Punter]

Stan Grant should be utterly ashamed with that speech. The fact is that there is very little racism these days and labelling all current Australians with the tag of what happened 200 years ago is a disgrace and extremely offensive. An absolute MISS for every Australian, especially Swans' fans.

I don't know which little world you live in but your post is nothing short of delusional

[YvonneH]

I had hoped that this sort of conversation was limited to the likes of Herald Sun 'comments section', Big Footy forums etc, but it seems not, especially as Adam is no longer is playing.

If I wanted to read things like this I would go to those sites. I want to read about my Swans and their football on this site.

[Bloods05]

I had hoped that this sort of conversation was limited to the likes of Herald Sun 'comments section', Big Footy forums etc, but it seems not, especially as Adam is no longer is playing.

If I wanted to read things like this I would go to those sites. I want to read about my Swans and their football on this site.

Just give this thread a miss, Yvonne. Topics like these have their place in this forum, but obviously not for you.

[Xie Shan]

I don't think Stan Grant or Adam are calling every white person in Australia a bigot, they are just asking for a bit of understanding. You've only got to spend a little time in central Australia to realise the circumstances a lot of aboriginal people live in are not ideal. There is something not right about that level of poverty existing in a country as well off as Australia. Highlighting issues like they do isn't damning the whole country it is just saying things could certainly be better and maybe people shouldn't kid themselves that everything is going swimmingly for every group in the country.

Nicely put, KTigers. For those who haven't seen it, Stan Grant's speech was very good, by the way. I thought he was accurate in the way he highlighted the issues, but concluded on a note of optimism by saying that we can do better, and I felt he spoke out of genuine love for Australia. Having said that, as much as I think the suffering endured by Aboriginal people is a travesty and that it is important for us to understand their plight, today's Australians should not be made to feel guilty or ashamed over what happened in the past. Up to the mods if they want to move this to Current Affairs -- it's an emotive issue that's for sure but passionate, informed debate is good too

[AnnieH]

Stan Grant should be utterly ashamed with that speech. The fact is that there is very little racism these days and labelling all current Australians with the tag of what happened 200 years ago is a disgrace and extremely offensive. An absolute MISS for every Australian, especially Swans' fans.

Really?
Did you get called a w.o.g. on Australia Day?
I did.

[S.S. Bleeder]

I had hoped that this sort of conversation was limited to the likes of Herald Sun 'comments section', Big Footy forums etc, but it seems not, especially as Adam is no longer is playing.

If I wanted to read things like this I would go to those sites. I want to read about my Swans and their football on this site.

+1 Yvonne. They need to post this crap under "Non-Footy Forums".

I'm sick and tired of RWO contributors pushing their political beliefs on a footy website. This is why I rarely get access this website anymore. Part of the reason footy is so great is because you can follow it regardless of your racial, economic or social background. Footy is supposed to unite people, not segregate them (like soccer).

[Bloods05]

+1 Yvonne. They need to post this crap under "Non-Footy Forums".

I'm sick and tired of RWO contributors pushing their political beliefs on a footy website. This is why I rarely get access this website anymore. Part of the reason footy is so great is because you can follow it regardless of your racial, economic or social background. Footy is supposed to unite people, not segregate them (like soccer).

Come on mate. That is ridiculous.

[AnnieH]

+1 Yvonne. They need to post this crap under "Non-Footy Forums".

I'm sick and tired of RWO contributors pushing their political beliefs on a footy website. This is why I rarely get access this website anymore. Part of the reason footy is so great is because you can follow it regardless of your racial, economic or social background. Footy is supposed to unite people, not segregate them (like soccer).

... yet you're disgusted with what Stan Grant has to say.
Go figure.

[mcs]

+1 Yvonne. They need to post this crap under "Non-Footy Forums".

I'm sick and tired of RWO contributors pushing their political beliefs on a footy website. This is why I rarely get access this website anymore. Part of the reason footy is so great is because you can follow it regardless of your racial, economic or social background. Footy is supposed to unite people, not segregate them (like soccer).

If you don't want to read threads such as this, you could always just ignore it stop trying to stir up trouble and read the threads about footy that you do want to read - its not rocket science.

[Ludwig]

I noted this last sentence in an article from The Age about the likelihood of Andrew Newbold becoming a AFL commissioner (Andrew Newbold set to join AFL Commission ):

'Retired Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes has been touted as a future commissioner but it is considered premature for him to join the commission now.'

I think they should have added..............due to his being an Aboriginal Australian.

The way I look at it is, if you're good enough to be Australian of the Year and you're one of the greatest AFL footballers of all time, then why would it be premature to join that group of wankers on the AFL Commission? Who considers it premature? What qualification is he missing?

[aardvark]

Um...he's probably not considered a "wanker".

[Ludwig]

I can't think of a more qualified person in Australia to be an AFL commissioner than Adam Goodes, as well as a leading candidate to replace Mike Fitzpatrick when he retires. I don't know if Adam would want the job, but it has been mentioned before and he hasn't ruled it out publicly. I actually think it's a good job for him. And good for the AFL.

How many parrots does Eddie McGuire need to have on the Commission anyway. I think 2 should be the maximum allowed. The Commission has an appalling record under Fitzpatrick. I don't know how he keeps his job.

And when will it be time for the AFL to have and Indigenous Australian as a commissioner, or will it always be 'premature'?

[Doctor]

I don't think going straight out of the game and onto the Commission is a good idea, no matter who you are. Make your way outside footy and bring that, plus your footy life, back into the game. I hope that's what Newbold means. I'm not guaranteeing that of course.

[jono2707]

Would Adam want to be on the Commission anyway? Surely he's got bigger and better things to do and I would guess he doesn't want to be around the AFL for a little while.

[Meg]

Goodesy Again

I don't think going straight out of the game and onto the Commission is a good idea, no matter who you are. Make your way outside footy and bring that, plus your footy life, back into the game. I hope that's what Newbold means. I'm not guaranteeing that of course.

I think Adam has already had plenty of 'away from football' experience which, along with his long football career, would eminently qualify him to be on the Commission.
Things that he is, or has been, involved with that I know about (which would not be an exhaustive list) are: the GO Foundation (set up to assist indigenous children gain quality education); member of the Indigenous Advisory Council for 4 years (appointed by the Howard Government); a director on the board of 'Supply Nation' (an organisation that assists indigenous businesses win federal government procurement contracts); chairman of the AFL Players? Association?s Indigenous Player Advisory Board; an ambassador for 'Recognise' (organisation set up to work towards recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution); a Qantas ambassador (appointed to assist Qantas with their reconciliation and indigenous education and employment programs); a David Jones ambassador (appointed to represent the DJ's brand and to assist them to develop a reconciliation action plan); multiple speaking engagements at diverse organisations; and of course his work as 2014 Australian of the Year.
I loved the following quote so much (from an article published in 2012) that I have kept it bookmarked:
?Former magistrate Sue Gordon, who chaired the National Indigenous Council, loves Goodes like a son. She sees his future as limitless, saying he could be an AFL commissioner or politician if he wants those things.?

?I know they bandy around this term, role model, but he is one of those true Aboriginal role models in football,?? Gordon says. ?We?ve got a lot of Aboriginal footballers, but some of them have heads bigger than watermelons. He has such a wide respect from not only the Aboriginal community, the Sydney Swans community and wider Australian community.?

?He is a responsible person and Adam Goodes puts other people first. This all is hard for me to say given he is a bloody Sydney Swans player and I am a Western Bulldogs fan.??

And further on Gordon said:

?I have a lot of respect for the man. He is very intelligent. I am not one to push Aboriginal people into parliament or politics, but that is another area he could go into. He has statesman-like qualities.??

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