PM Abbott calls on fans to ‘respect’ Goodes

“For me, I don’t think that the stuff that they’re doing to Adam Goodes is racist”, he told Triple M radio station.

Notwithstanding the huge toll the booing has taken on Goodes himself, the egregious nature of this behaviour has been minimised (‘let’s just play football’), dismissed as somewhat insensitive conduct by overzealous fans (but not racism per se) or else sheeted home to Goodes’s own bold display of Aboriginal pride (‘he started it’).

The embattled Swans player Adam Goodes is receiving cross-code support from both AFL and NRL players and teams announcing the inclusion of indigenous dances and the wearing of Dreamtime jerseys during upcoming games.

Goodes wasn’t sighted at the ground, but no doubt would have been watching somewhere and seen stirring shows of support from his teammates and Sydney’s fans.

But don’t boo, jeer or taunt players because of who they are or what they stand for.

But he is a champion of a sport played in a country renowned for its tall poppy syndrome, and an Australian of the Year and community leader who is passionate and outspoken about his indigenous heritage.

– Federal Indigenous Affairs minister Nigel Scullion said: “It would be a blight on this nation if (Goodes) was to retire” because of the booing.

Goodes has taken personal level and will not be playing this weekend.

“I worry sometimes in trying to come up with marketing campaigns… that sometimes the AFL can put themselves in the wrong platform”, he said.

“That Adam Goodes has been booed out of the game is a tragedy”, he said.

This is what James Packer said: “To hear people booing him is something that I’m ashamed of as an Australian”.

Goodes has twice won the game’s highest accolade by being voted the year’s best player, and helped lead the Swans to two premierships.

“If somebody throws an egg at me at the football – there is going to be violence”.

“We’re all behind him and we’ve been thinking of him this week. I’ve got to sit back here, “‘ Kennelly said on Thursday.

The Kangaroos half back maintains if NSW Origin captain Paul Gallen felt that Queensland supporter boos were racially motivated, he would be urging the fans to stop.

Nonetheless he has for years been targeted by spectators, treatment that reached a fever pitch after he mimed throwing a spear at opposing fans during a mid-game celebration in May. Aussies from all walks of life, from all parts of Australia and from all ages have shown their support, saying #IstandwithAdam. But the shit-storm surrounding AFL footballer Adam Goodes’ decision to call out racism on the sporting field reveals how desperate a section of the establishment is to avoid any scrutiny about where racism comes from and how it is perpetuated.

“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”.

“But every Indigenous player on the field is feeling those jibes”, Briggs writes.