Adam Goodes’ exit from AFL ‘disgraceful’ says Sydney Swans CEO Andrew Ireland

SYDNEY great Adam Goodes’ exit from AFL was “disgraceful”, with some of the vitriol directed at him requiring police involvement, Swans CEO Andrew Ireland has revealed.

Adam Goodes waves to the SCG crowd on his farewell.

SYDNEY great Adam Goodes’ exit from AFL was “disgraceful”, with some of the vitriol directed at him requiring police involvement, Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland has revealed.

The two-time Brownlow medallist retired at the end of last season after months of being subjected to crowd abuse and incessant booing, which was at the time labelled racist by league boss Gillon McLachlan.

Ireland, who has been at the helm of the Swans since 2009, believes the booing stemmed directly from Goodes’ appointment as Australian of the Year at the beginning of 2014, and said the departure of the 372-game star’s - who won two premierships - send-off wasn’t befitting of his career.

“It was disgraceful,” he tells tonight’s Open Mike.

“Disgraceful (was) the fact that for two years he was racially vilified by some parts of the supporter base who were watching the games.

“People can try to make an excuse that it was about the way he played football. Up until the time he was Australian of the Year, he’d played 320 games of footy and never been booed.”

Sydney Swans great Adam Goodes does a lap of honour at the SCG.

Goodes made a stand against racism in football when he called out a 13-year-old female Collingwood fan who called him an ape during a 2013 game at the MCG.

Ireland said Goodes “shed a tear about the fact that it was a young girl”.

“When you see the circumstances that (indigenous people) have put up with, and to be called an ape, if you were in England or America, you would be banned for life,” he said.

“Clubs in Europe, they’d be forced to play with no crowds. It is the greatest insult you could inflict on a person.”

He said what was inflicted upon Goodes and other indigenous players had always existed but was from then on vitriolic, and said police were forced to get involved.

“Before those things happened, but in particular over the next two years … the amount of vitriol that was directed to him and letters that came to the club and some of the things that would never have seen the light of day (were shocking),” Ireland said.

Adam Goodes celebrates with Sydney players after the Swans beat North Melbourne. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“The AFL integrity group spent quite a bit of time following up with police some of the things that are said about our indigenous players.”

He said it was a poor way to finish his playing career, and hopes Goodes will return to footballing circles in the future.

“It was a really poor way for him to finish footy. And he rightfully feels not as happy about his whole career as he might have otherwise for someone to play 360 games,” he said.

“The AFL invited him to attend last year’s Grand Final. I think, from Adam’s point of view, he wouldn’t have been absolutely confident that the wrong thing wouldn’t have happened on that day. I’m sure that over time he’ll come back and he’ll feel safe around AFL footy.”

Open Mike airs Tuesday night at 8.30pm on Fox Footy.

Originally published as Adam Goodes’ exit from AFL ‘disgraceful’ says Sydney Swans CEO Andrew Ireland