AFL great to Goodes: Stop playing the victim

Retired Swans premiership player Michael O’Loughlin, who Goodes considers a father figure, did not dismiss the retirement talk when contacted on Tuesday night, while AFL Players’ Association said no one could blame Goodes if he made that decision.

A war dance doesn’t suddenly reimburse Goodes’ status as an inspiration, nor does pointing out a poor little girl and making unnecessary racial accusations.

Frustrated by the abuse, Goodes celebrated a goal against Carlton in a match in Sydney by running toward the pocket of opposing fans and performing an Aboriginal “war dance” which ended with the mock throwing of a spear. People like you that face this racism need to stand strong & be a warrior like our warriors that resisted injustice since the horrific unlawful take over of the aboriginal land…government still oppressing our people in every way! Either way, seemingly racist behaviour is being granted an alibi that explains why it is not as bad as it seems.

“Aboriginal people are a minority in this country and it is nearly like when the minority is screaming out for help, when you voice your opinion, you get shouted down for it”, Senator Peris told ABC radio.

Adelaide’s Rising Star nominee Jake Lever asked Crows fans to repay the respect they’d been shown by other supporters by not booing Goodes when the two sides clash on Saturday.

Linda Burney, chair of the Australian Rugby League’s Indigenous Council and deputy leader of the opposition Labor party in News South Wales state, was quoted as saying in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper that the situation was “bloody ugly”. “I don’t think it’s anything to do with the way he plays his footy”, he told reporters on Thursday.

Leppitsch said the way the game deals with this going forward would be a test, not just for the AFL but all of Australia.

He has been outspoken about indigenous issues since being named Australian of the Year in 2014. There will be people who make sweeping generalisations about my culture and take issue with my commentary. Alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide are rife.

Imagine a country that recognises its First Peoples within its Constitution.

Goodes, whose mother was forcibly removed from home under a government assimilation policy from 1910-1970, has been a lightning rod for criticism. Many saw her as the real victim and have never forgiven Goodes.

The Swans and the AFL have been cautious in the past about drawing attention to vile racial attacks on social media directed at Goodes or other Indigenous players.

OK, so we’re all in agreement that it’s definitely not racially motivated, yeah?

“How does a four-time All Australian consider hanging up the boots not on his own terms?” And some may argue that the line between good-natured and malicious heckling can be fuzzy. He is booed because Australians have been forced to look themselves in the mirror by Goodes and they don’t like what they see – a racist nation whose tolerance for indigenous athletes only stretches to affection when they don’t acknowledge their aboriginality.