Gil says sorry to Goodsey

[goswannies]

I expect many will disagree with me, but I felt Goodsey's form last season (especially with the abolishment of the stupid sub rule????) could have justified one final season. Maybe not playing every week, but would be a very handy depth player to cover injuries in a variety of positions.
Gill, you stopped that. Thanks a lot. ????

[annew]

Yes, m p, I enjoyed reading what Ted had to say, too.

Where can I read what Ted had to say?

[Meg]

Where can I read what Ted had to say?

Try this link. I particularly liked this:

"As a playing group we were disappointed that the AFL didn't act earlier," Richards said.

"We really respected and appreciated the support that a lot of the other opposing captains showed throughout the season, especially after things got worse."

AFL's Adam Goodes racism apology too late, says Sydney Swans' Ted Richards - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[Mug Punter]

To be fair, the AFL didn't cause the booing, and despite their disappointing, late and lukewarm response, I doubt anything they could have done would have made much difference. Those determined to boo despite so many in the media and within the AFL clubs pointing out how offensive it was, would not have stopped just because Gilham or Mike Fitzpatrick asked them to stop.

I reckon the voices of some of the players and coaches might have persuaded a few to take a look at themselves. Ziebell was one of the earliest to proactively speak out about it, well before things came to a head in the West Coast - Adelaide - Geelong three game block. Robert Murphy was also especially passionate and eloquent in how he spoke out against it. But there were plenty more who spoke out (or danced out, in the case of some of the young indigenous players, like Walters) and they hopefully persuaded at least a few supporters from their clubs to take a look at themselves, and those who were already anti-booers to speak out more ardently.

To be fair, I expect the AFL to show some leadership on issues like this not just sit there on the fence. Nobody is suggesting they caused it or could have even stopped it but at least they could have tried to make a stand on the issue don't you think Liz rather than making it a written footnote in the Annual Report that nobody reads nine months later.

Their reaction as this disgrace unfolded should have been direct and unequivocal but all we got was silence and weakness. And when Mike Fitzpatrick did finally speak he made it all about him.

IMO this issue was a litmus test for our society, and the reaction of people showed their true colours. You are right that there were people that showed their true colours like Bob Murphy and Robbo on AFL 360 and most of the players were also supportive. Bit for every one of them there was a Gillon McLachlin that sat there like a stuffed animal too sacred to show leadership on the issue and every single member of the SGC Trust who allowed Alan Jones, a current trustee, denigrate Adam without one speck of reproachment.

In this whole instance there were only a few people who could take a real leadership role in the national debate once this ugly incident took off. One was Tony Abbott and political leaders who unsurprisingly failed us. The others were the leaders of our great game and especially Gillon as our CEO. He failed Adam and he failed us and he failed the game. He should hang his head in shame at the weakness he showed on this issue.

I'm sorry but this still gets me so @@@@ing angry!!!!!

[liz]

I expect many will disagree with me, but I felt Goodsey's form last season (especially with the abolishment of the stupid sub rule????) could have justified one final season. Maybe not playing every week, but would be a very handy depth player to cover injuries in a variety of positions.
Gill, you stopped that. Thanks a lot. ????

To be fair, the AFL didn't cause the booing, and despite their disappointing, late and lukewarm response, I doubt anything they could have done would have made much difference. Those determined to boo despite so many in the media and within the AFL clubs pointing out how offensive it was, would not have stopped just because Gilham or Mike Fitzpatrick asked them to stop.

I reckon the voices of some of the players and coaches might have persuaded a few to take a look at themselves. Ziebell was one of the earliest to proactively speak out about it, well before things came to a head in the West Coast - Adelaide - Geelong three game block. Robert Murphy was also especially passionate and eloquent in how he spoke out against it. But there were plenty more who spoke out (or danced out, in the case of some of the young indigenous players, like Walters) and they hopefully persuaded at least a few supporters from their clubs to take a look at themselves, and those who were already anti-booers to speak out more ardently.

[liz]

To be fair, I expect the AFL to show some leadership on issues like this not just sit there on the fence. Nobody is suggesting they caused it or could have even stopped it but at least they could have tried to make a stand on the issue don't you think Liz rather than making it a written footnote in the Annual Report that nobody reads nine months later.

Their reaction as this disgrace unfolded should have been direct and unequivocal but all we got was silence and weakness. And when Mike Fitzpatrick did finally speak he made it all about him.

IMO this issue was a litmus test for our society, and the reaction of people showed their true colours. You are right that there were people that showed their true colours like Bob Murphy and Robbo on AFL 360 and most of the players were also supportive. Bit for every one of them there was a Gillon McLachlin that sat there like a stuffed animal too sacred to show leadership on the issue and every single member of the SGC Trust who allowed Alan Jones, a current trustee, denigrate Adam without one speck of reproachment.

In this whole instance there were only a few people who could take a real leadership role in the national debate once this ugly incident took off. One was Tony Abbott and political leaders who unsurprisingly failed us. The others were the leaders of our great game and especially Gillon as our CEO. He failed Adam and he failed us and he failed the game. He should hang his head in shame at the weakness he showed on this issue.

This still gets me so @@@@ing angry!!!!!

I am not trying to defend the AFL's piss poor response. Whether or not an earlier or stronger response would have made any difference is beside the point. They should have done better. Much better. And even Gil's most recent apology is lukewarm and somewhat qualified.

I was trying to delete my "to be fair" from the post of mine you quoted but something odd was going on with the message that stopped me deleting (linked to the emoticon in the post I had quote, I think). In my efforts to edit my post I reposted it in a new post (and used a different method to delete my original post). That's why the post of mine you've quoted now follows your post, rather than preceding it. Sorry that this makes things a bit confusing for all.

Seeing that you'd quoted me while I was in the process of trying to edit it, I have reposted it as I originally wrote (and you have quoted). If I could start again I try to make it sound less like a defence of the AFL.

[Mug Punter]

I am not trying to defend the AFL's piss poor response. Whether or not an earlier or stronger response would have made any difference is beside the point. They should have done better. Much better. And even Gil's most recent apology is lukewarm and somewhat qualified.

I was trying to delete my "to be fair" from the post of mine you quoted but something odd was going on with the message that stopped me deleting (linked to the emoticon in the post I had quote, I think). In my efforts to edit my post I reposted it in a new post (and used a different method to delete my original post). That's why the post of mine you've quoted now follows your post, rather than preceding it. Sorry that this makes things a bit confusing for all.

Seeing that you'd quoted me while I was in the process of trying to edit it, I have reposted it as I originally wrote (and you have quoted). If I could start again I try to make it sound less like a defence of the AFL.

No worries liz, of all people on here you don't need to explain yourself and sorry if I seemed like I was having a go at you either.

As I said, that whole thing just makes me so angry even now and somehow Gillon's response just gets me all worked up again, he would have been better off saying nothing at all in my opinion because his actions just show how weak and gutless he is.

[liz]

No worries liz, of all people on here you don't need to explain yourself and sorry if I seemed like I was having a go at you either.

As I said, that whole thing just makes me so angry even now and somehow Gillon's response just gets me all worked up again, he would have been better off saying nothing at all in my opinion because his actions just show how weak and gutless he is.

I didn't interpret it as you having a go at me at all. I interpreted it as a very understandable and justified response to some ordinary phrasing/word choice on my part, in a topic that deserves better.

If there is one football related story that really deserves to rile people's passions, this is surely it.

[Meg]

Few more quotes from Ted in this article. And Ted says he is hoping to play in Reserves match.

Swans veteran disappointed with AFL tardiness on Goodes - AFL.com.au

[barry]

To be fair Gill was very busy defending drug cheats last year.

[Mug Punter]

To be fair Gill was very busy defending drug cheats last year.

One of your best barry

Yes, Gillion is a A_Very_Busy_And_Important_Man

[S.S. Bleeder]

Actually, m d, I think that you may have, probably inadvertently, mentioned what I suspect to be the cause of Buddy's depressive mental health issues. Though, as far as I know, neither Buddy, the club or anyone else, has gone into the triggers, I strongly suspected that it had to do with the booing of Goodesy. While depression can have a wide range of underlying causes, superficially it did seem that Buddy had nothing to be depressed about. He was someone who was being paid handsomely to play a game that he loved in a supportive team environment. He was a respected member of the community, in a good relationship, with a very attractive woman.
So what could have been getting to him?
Well to me, the obvious candidate, would be him turning up each week, to witness the spectacle of a large mob of knuckle dragging, racist idiots booing a champion indigenous player. I suspect this would have been even more disturbing to a fellow indigenous player, who had grown up with Goodesy as a hero and then had this respect confirmed, once they had become team mates.
I also suspect that this amateur diagnosis might be supported, by the silence from the club about the causes. I mean, given the choice of silence from the club, or letting it be known to a group of vindictive morons, that you could posssibly force another indigenous champion out of the game, with another mindless booing campaign, then silence is probably the wise option.

That's a ridiculous comment. So in other words, because he seems to have it all and he had nothing to be depressed about the only possible reason for his depression is the boo'ing of Goodsey. People of all demographics suffer from depression, not just poor people or people with unattractive partners.

Making wild guesses (especially stupid ones) on a public forum about the causes of Buddy's depression aren't really appropriate, especially when you clearly have no idea about how depression works.

[Doctor]

That's a ridiculous comment. So in other words, because he seems to have it all and he had nothing to be depressed about the only possible reason for his depression is the boo'ing of Goodsey. People of all demographics suffer from depression, not just poor people or people with unattractive partners.

Making wild guesses (especially stupid ones) on a public forum about the causes of Buddy's depression aren't really appropriate, especially when you clearly have no idea about how depression works.

I've disagreed with S.S Bleeder about many things but I agree completely with him/her here. We have no idea what caused it and whether or not what happened with Goodesy contributed at all. Speculating on a public forum, while not intentionally harmful (I don't think the post was meant that way), certainly isn't helpful.

[dejavoodoo44]

That's a ridiculous comment. So in other words, because he seems to have it all and he had nothing to be depressed about the only possible reason for his depression is the boo'ing of Goodsey. People of all demographics suffer from depression, not just poor people or people with unattractive partners.

Making wild guesses (especially stupid ones) on a public forum about the causes of Buddy's depression aren't really appropriate, especially when you clearly have no idea about how depression works.

So, Sherlock, you reckon that the disgusting treatment of Goodesy, week in week out, would've improved Buddy's mood then?

[royboy42]

So, Sherlock, you reckon that the disgusting treatment of Goodesy, week in week out, would've improved Buddy's mood then?

Poor effort deja.