Indigenous AFL player Goodes plays on after race controversy

“Players from other clubs representing and showing their support has been quite humbling”.

Adam Goodes had been on indefinite leave after persistent jeering of him this season recently reached a climax, which was condemned by some as racist.

Goodes is expected to be selected for game 366 when the Swans take on Geelong at Simons Stadium on Saturday night.

It prompted a nationwide conversation about the booing, which Goodes and others believed had a racial element.

“We’d love to see a celebration of Adam Goodes’ career over the last part of his career”, Marsh said.

Planning for Saturday night began even before it was announced that Goodes would not play last weekend.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan admits there has been a campaign against Goodes and that it is hurting many people in the Indigenous community.

AFL players and supporters across all teams demonstrated their support for Goodes over the weekend in the form of banners, cheering and a range of goal scoring celebrations.

“All players should feel comfortable that they are being treated fairly and we have great faith that our supporters will be doing all they can to help our team, but that doesn’t include the reaction we have seen towards Adam in recent weeks”.

Speaking on Sports Today, Scott said we should keep an open mind to all ideas that might improve the spectacle of the game.

“It’s the way I really like to express myself, out on the footy field”.

“What we are confident in is the Geelong Football Club, what they’re about and what they stand for. I felt very loved over the weekend”.

Now, we have our first piece of news from Goodes himself: he’s been paying attention to all these great responses, he’s feeling a lot better about the whole situation, and he’ll be back at the Swans’ training session tomorrow.

The AFL also released a statement on Monday, quoting chairman Mike Fitzpatrick as saying the commission is unanimous in supporting Goodes.

“The issue of racism is so deep-seated, nothing short of confronting can change the tide of generations of prejudice – some disgraceful media commentary from people of some profile either seeking ratings or relevance; taking the contrary view for the sake of it even though the contrary argument is hopelessly outdated and flawed”.

“When you’re at the top of your game you will either be lauded or applauded no matter your performance, behaviour and conduct “on” or “off” the field, ” he said.

“Certainly from our perspective, to plan something like that, and potentially arrive at an outcome that’s contrived, is not the way we’re choosing to go”.