Sam Newman slams Adam Goodes documentary The Final Quarter

Sam Newman is tired, shrill and out-dated, and his latest shameful tweet about racism — while slamming an Adam Goodes documentary — proves he’s yesterday’s man, writes Susie O’Brien.

Sam Newman should apologise to Adam Goodes for the shameful tweet he posted yesterday.

Newman showed yet again why he’s yesterday’s man, posting that “criticising someone from another race – doesn’t make you racist”.

He’s right: being racist makes men like Sam Newman racist.

Although Newman hasn’t seen the Goodes documentary The Final Quarter, he called it a “groveling (sic) doco by Sharkshit Productions”.

The documentary, which uses archival footage and newspaper headlines to show the last few years of Goodes’ AFL career, is made by Shark Island Productions.

How like Sam Newman to take a cheap potshot like that.

The Final Quarter is a documentary on the final three years of Adam Goodes’s footy career.

Newman went on to say: “‘The Final Quarter’ should be called ‘The Last Straw’. Adam Goodes initially was booed for taunting Carlton fans. Racist? So be it. #racism #fakenews’’.

Newman accepted an invitation on Twitter from entertainment reporter Peter Ford to actually see the film he’s rubbishing. He’s probably a little nervous about the screening, given that he’s one of a number of commentators who contributed to the racist culture that saw Goodes hounded out of the game.

Criticizing someone from another race - doesn’t make you a racist. The groveling doco by Sharkshit Productions ‘The Final Quarter’, should be ‘The Last Straw’. Adam Goodes initially was booed for taunting Carlton fans. Racist? So be it. #racism #fakenews

— Sam Newman (@Origsmartassam) June 9, 2019

Not as big as news as Ash Barty or AFL or Adam Goodes BUT again I say, the most dysfunctional sports organization in the world - and everywhere else, is the Ferrari F1 outfit - consistently. #Ferrari #F1GPCanada

— Sam Newman (@Origsmartassam) June 10, 2019

Now, I should say Goodes isn’t perfect. Yes, he probably played for frees. And no, I didn’t agree with the way the AFL handled the 13-year-old girl who called him an “ape”.

Although Goodes pointed her out in the crowd at the time, he didn’t condone the way she was marched out and pleaded for her to be spared from censure.

But there’s no doubt Goodes has been unfairly targeted by the likes of Newman and others, not because he’s Indigenous, but because he has called out racism in the game and stood up for Indigenous rights.

One of Newman’s Twitter followers even acknowledged this today, writing “Out of all indigenous players Adam was the most vocal about pushing Indigenous issues. Cyril, Franklin and Eddie have never bought issues to the fore like Adam. Deep down that’s a contributing motivation.” Dead right.

Adam Goodes.

Sam Newman has put his foot in it again. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

AFL players are “allowed” to be black, as long as they don’t make it an issue. But the moment they speak up about racism, they’re accused of politicising the game and bringing criticism on themselves. This has long been Newman’s take on Goodes.

I haven’t seen the documentary either – so far it’s only been shown at the Sydney Film Festival. But I am well familiar with its contents: The reaction to Goodes’ indigenous war dance in 2015 directed at the Carlton cheer squad which booed him; Sport commentator Eddie McGuire suggesting Goodes should be used to promote the musical King Kong; Goodes’ reaction to his Australia Day honour.

The film has been well received. It’s been so effective in telling Goodes’ story that all 18 AFL clubs issued a statement apologising “unreservedly for our failures”.

FRANKLIN OPENS UP ON ‘HARD TO WATCH’ GOODES FILM

THE ONE THING GOODES NEVER FULLY GOT OVER

MICK: GOODES ABUSE LEFT ‘MASSIVE SCAR’

Newman’s old line that Goodes has copped it because he’s a try-hard and an opportunist is finally running out of steam. His approach is tired, shrill and out-dated.

Sam, it’s the Final Straw for you, not Goodes.