The Final Quarter / The Australian Dream (AG documentaries) and related discussion

[Bloods05]

Doubt it. Hawthorn supporters I have spoken to are unrepentant. Have a friend on Facebook from Perth and some comments on there show that they too are the same. One idiot posted that he is the dirtiest player he had seen. Obviously hasn't watched much footy. Hhmm, choke, choke, cough, cough.......John Worsfold anyone.

It's amazing what mental gymnastics people are capable of performing when they're racists but know they have to pretend (to themselves and others) that they're not.

[dimelb]

Great articles both: The Guardian revue and the Trailer for the doco.

Thanks neilfws and ScottH.

[liz]

There is a raft of articles in the Fairfax papers (SMH, Age) yesterday and today addressing the two films, but mostly the impact that The Final Quarter has had on people who have seen it. I believe the same articles are in both papers. The links below are a mixture because after accessing the first in the SMH I realised that I am close to my limit of free articles I can access in that paper and so switched to the Age.

The are all pretty different so it's worth reading them all. One is Des Headland reflecting on his response to the film, his thoughts about Goodes and about the racism he and his family have encountered. Two are from Jake Niall but are different. One focuses mostly on issues around making the film - specifically Alan Jones' refusal to allow media footage of him to be used in the film. And the final one, written by Wu, recounts McVeigh's thoughts on the film and echoes comments made from Franklin (that surprised me when I read them) that even the players who were playing alongside Goodes at the time weren't fully aware of the heft of negative commentary that was directing towards Goodes, nor of the impact it was having on him.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/watching-goodes-film-was-like-a-punch-to-the-face-20190530-p51ssf.html

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-says-goodes-mistakes-must-never-be-repeated-after-documentary-20190530-p51syv.html

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/a-sorry-saga-the-content-and-meaning-of-the-adam-goodes-documentary-20190530-p51swy.html

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/did-i-do-enough-to-help-out-a-mate-swans-players-react-to-goodes-treatment-20190530-p51sxs.html

[Meg]

Doubt it. Hawthorn supporters I have spoken to are unrepentant. Have a friend on Facebook from Perth and some comments on there show that they too are the same. One idiot posted that he is the dirtiest player he had seen. Obviously hasn't watched much footy. Hhmm, choke, choke, cough, cough.......John Worsfold anyone.

Perhaps you should post this for your Hawthorn acquaintances.

“(Brian) Lake, who won three premierships with Hawthorn, was banned from playing footy at all levels after receiving a two-match ban for striking in a local Victorian competition during Caroline Springs’ win over Sunshine on Saturday.
The penalty saw him fall foul of the national registration policy, which rules any player who racks up 16 weeks worth of suspensions in their career is unable to play football at any level.”

Brian Lake banned from football for life, AFL 2019

[chuckie]

I heard the Dan Sultan and Paul Kelly song Everyday My Mothers Voice about Adam Goodes we should all buy this and make it the number one song.

[AnnieH]

There is a raft of articles in the Fairfax papers (SMH, Age) yesterday and today addressing the two films, but mostly the impact that The Final Quarter has had on people who have seen it. I believe the same articles are in both papers. The links below are a mixture because after accessing the first in the SMH I realised that I am close to my limit of free articles I can access in that paper and so switched to the Age.

The are all pretty different so it's worth reading them all. One is Des Headland reflecting on his response to the film, his thoughts about Goodes and about the racism he and his family have encountered. Two are from Jake Niall but are different. One focuses mostly on issues around making the film - specifically Alan Jones' refusal to allow media footage of him to be used in the film. And the final one, written by Wu, recounts McVeigh's thoughts on the film and echoes comments made from Franklin (that surprised me when I read them) that even the players who were playing alongside Goodes at the time weren't fully aware of the heft of negative commentary that was directing towards Goodes, nor of the impact it was having on him.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/watching-goodes-film-was-like-a-punch-to-the-face-20190530-p51ssf.html

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-says-goodes-mistakes-must-never-be-repeated-after-documentary-20190530-p51syv.html

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/a-sorry-saga-the-content-and-meaning-of-the-adam-goodes-documentary-20190530-p51swy.html

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...30-p51sxs.html

I'm STILL very angry that, other than Lewis Jetta, no indigenous players stood up and said something... Des Headland included.

[stevoswan]

It's amazing what mental gymnastics people are capable of performing when they're racists but know they have to pretend (to themselves and others) that they're not.

+1

[Meg]

Adam Goodes

I don’t think this link has been posted. Perceptive article by Daniel Brettig on ESPN.com.

‘Waleed Aly described ... the cause of all the opprobrium directed at Goodes: "What happens is, the minute an Indigenous man stands up and is something other than compliant, the backlash is huge and it is them who are creating division and destroying our culture. And that is ultimately what we boo. We boo our discomfort."

The Final Quarter revisits that discomfort with an honest and unmerciful eye. It deserves to be widely seen.’

Simple sequencing brings untold power to Adam Goodes' story

[Mel_C]

I had a tear in my eye just looking at the trailer. I'm going to be a blubbering mess when I watch the film.

I think I will be too Barry. I can't wait until it's shown on tv later in the year, even though I know it will be painful to watch.

[barry]

I'm STILL very angry that, other than Lewis Jetta, no indigenous players stood up and said something... Des Headland included.

that sounds a little racist. there were no black people in positions of power to make a stand. there were plenty of white poeple who could have done something but didnt, be more angry at them.

[liz]

that sounds a little racist. there were no black people in positions of power to make a stand. there were plenty of white poeple who could have done something but didnt, be more angry at them.

I don't think it's helpful to label the comment as racist (or in the slightest bit fair, given Annie's passionate commitment over a long period to supporting Goodes and condemning discrimination). In general I think labelling anyone or any comment as "racist" is unhelpful because as a single word, it fails to capture nuance and just leads to an argument about what is and isn't racist. I'm not trying to deny the existence of racism or the need to call it out - just that the way it is done often does little to actually generate constructive conversation.

But I do agree with you that it's unfair to single out the other indigenous players. The fact is, that he got very little public support from any other players. I am sure behind the scenes there was more but, publicly, most kept their heads down.

There are many valid explanations for why that was, and I don't propose to debate how valid they were. But as a general observation, rather than point the finger at everyone who could have done or said more, I prefer to think whether I could have done anything more. It bugged me at the time how helpless I felt. The Adelaide game was almost a relief because, as a supporter group, we finally had an overwhelming impetus to say something as a collective. And thankfully, a few people led from the front with ideas on how we could do so - from the inspired and generous donation of the t-shirts, to whoever came up with the idea of the minute's clapping at the 7th minute of the 3rd quarter. And there were other ideas for support generated that didn't catch on in the way the clapping did, but that doesn't make whoever came up with them any less admirable. Of course, none of that stopped the booing or changed the discourse significantly. But at least it felt like we'd finally spoken and hopefully sent a message to Goodes that the majority stood with him. But I often wonder whether we could have done that sooner.

The point of continuing to reflect on this is not to chastise myself, so much as to think what an appropriate response might be if the situation - or a parallel situation - ever arose again. Sure, there were people who were in a position to make stronger, louder statements and most of them failed to do so. But just pointing a finger at others seems to be a bit of a cop out, and ignores the possibility of everyone learning a lesson, regardless of their situation.

[KSAS]

As I'd posted earlier I recall the following morning after the Goodes war dance, hearing Brereton on radio say Goodes dance is violent because it was about killing people! His fellow commentators agreed it was controversial! I was flabbergasted that a proud indigenous man in an AFL promoted indigenous round, would be singled out as being "controversial" doing a indigenous celebratory dance.

Short time later Brereton wrote a HS article on how Goodes needs to look at himself & see what he can do to quell the booing. This drew the ire of the late Rebecca Wilson who ended up having an on air radio stoush with Brereton, who threatened to sue Rebecca

Dermott Brereton and Rebecca Wilson clash on air over Adam Goodes debate | Sport | The Guardian

Wonder if this was captured in the documentary as I've heard a number of high profile AFL people didn't come out looking good. Hope they all feel shamed & learn from the documentary.

[Swannette]

I am pleased to say that I sent an email to the west coast Eagles after the match there at which Adam was booed relentlessly. I don't think for one moment that I influenced their behaviour but I think at least I was a part of something. A day or so later they issued a statement.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Faunac8]

I have always maintained that the treatment of Adam during this period will retrospectively become acknowledged as a turning point in Australian history. Without having seen them I hope that these documentaries become an important step towards the recognition of just how poorly considered much of Australia’s response was to how a proud indigenous man chose to respond when publicly vilified.
Still my preferred choice as our first indigenous Prime Minister????

[Velour&Ruffles]

Perhaps you should post this for your Hawthorn acquaintances.

“(Brian) Lake, who won three premierships with Hawthorn, was banned from playing footy at all levels after receiving a two-match ban for striking in a local Victorian competition during Caroline Springs’ win over Sunshine on Saturday.
The penalty saw him fall foul of the national registration policy, which rules any player who racks up 16 weeks worth of suspensions in their career is unable to play football at any level.”

Brian Lake banned from football for life, AFL 2019

Yeah, or maybe point out that their ultimate darling Leigh Matthews was deregistered for a month for smashing someone's jaw in miles behind play. Not sure I recall Goodesie ever doing that.

Nor do I recall him ramming a player's head into the goalpost or drink driving the way Luke Hodge did.

What I do recall is him starting a foundation to assist some of the most disadvantaged people in society.

There are so many stupid people in the world. The frustrating thing is you will never change them.