Adam Goodes: Booing taking its toll as Swans star steps away from game

RICHMOND will wear its Dreamtime footy jumper on Friday night against Hawthorn in support of Adam Goodes, who has taken the drastic step of taking leave from the game.

• Goodes takes extended leave from Swans
• Alan Jones unleashes on Goodes
• Ricciuto: Crowds aren’t racist, but the booing has to stop
• Massive radio spat over Adam Goodes
• The real reason people boo Goodes

RICHMOND will wear its Dreamtime footy jumper on Friday night against Hawthorn in support of Adam Goodes, who has taken the drastic step of taking leave from the game.

The Sydney Swans on Wednesday announced the dual Brownlow medallist would not play against Adelaide this weekend at the SCG and would return to the club “whenever he is ready”. The Swans are unsure if Goodes will play again.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said his club was not “prepared to be a bystander on this issue”.

“We would also encourage our fans to wear their Dreamtime guernseys as a show of support.’’

“This club values diversity and we want to support Adam, who has been a wonderful ambassador for our game and his people.’’

Adam Goodes in action against Carlton at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

A source close to Goodes told The Advertiser: “He really isn’t in a good headspace.”

As the national storm surrounding the booing of Goodes deepened, it’s been revealed the champion’s concerns focus on his family and the impact the furore is having on his club.

However, his close friend Michael O’Loughlin said Goodes’ career was far from over.

Sydney Football Club chief executive Andrew Ireland declared the jeering of Goodes had “taken its toll”.

He also could not detail when the veteran would return to the Swans, if at all.

“Adam is sick and tired of this behaviour (with the boos from fans),” Ireland said.

“It has been happening for too long and it has taken its toll. We will give Adam all the time he needs.

“We will keep supporting him and he will return to the club whenever he is ready.

“As a club, we are working with Adam and those close to him and supporting him through what is a really difficult time.”

Goodes has drawn wideranging support in Adelaide, from Crows captain Taylor Walker to Premier Jay Weatherill.

Walker urged the Swans star not to quit the game while Mr Weatherill has called for an end to the jeering of “a great Australian”.

The Premier added: “It is time to draw a line on the booing of a great Australian. I want to speak to Adam because it is important to offer support at a difficult time.’’

Mr Weatherill is hopeful that Goodes will continue to play rather than walk away from the game.

“This would make for a sad ending to Adam’s great football career — and say something awful about our game and our nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his column in The Advertiser today, Crows champion Mark Ricciuto says the Goodes situation is “out of control’’.

Ricciuto says Goodes is widely respected by players but could have handled the situation better and had “rubbed people up the wrong way”.

Fellow Brownlow Medallist Tony Liberatore said he was booed and racially abused himself during his career yet believed fans had a right to express themselves at games.

But he said there was no place for booing players if there were racial undertones.