AFL chief Gillon McLachlan lauds ‘powerful’ Adam Goodes doco after private screening

Gillon McLachlan says the AFL will learn from the past after he and the 18 club presidents sat through a private screening of the upcoming Adam Goodes documentary, which was described as “powerful and confronting”.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan leaving Werribee Mansion after viewing the Adam Goodes documentary. Picture: Mark Stewart

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has lauded the soon-to-be released Adam Goodes documentary as a powerful piece of filmmaking as the league vows to learn its lessons from the past.

McLachlan and the 18 AFL club chief executives sat through a private screening of the documentary, The Final Quarter , which delves into the painful booing saga that prematurely ended the former Sydney champion’s AFL career.

The no-holds barred documentary has been embargoed until it is released publicly on June 7 at the Sydney Film Festival.

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AFL senior executives and club officials were tight-lipped as they left Werribee Mansion after Tuesday’s private screening.

While reluctant to reveal details of the Goodes documentary, McLachlan told the Herald Sun it would deliver a significant message for all Australians.

“It is embargoed, so I can’t comment other than to say that it is an incredible piece of filmmaking that I think will be a great thing for a lot of Australians to see,” McLachlan told the Herald Sun as he left the meeting.

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Club chief executives said it was a “powerful and confronting” look at one of the most controversial recent chapters of Australian football, with both the clubs and league officials acknowledging it had been a period of learning for the industry.

The documentary details the painful way in which Goodes — a dual Brownlow Medal winner — departed the game in 2015 after 372 games, shattered by the booing saga and the lack of initial support from head office and from the game.

It is understood one of the most emotional moments centres on the controversy surrounding Eddie McGuire’s on-air gaffe at the time.

The Collingwood president has consistently apologised for his remarks, but Goodes and the Swans remain extremely disappointed by what happened.

“Our club’s stance hasn’t changed since 2014-15. But exposure (documentary) can be positive,” Sydney chief executive Tom Harley said.

Those who have seen the entire documentary say it is a confronting narrative that does not hold back on the AFL and several prominent media figures.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan and the 18 clubs presidents watch a “powerful and confronting” documentary after Adam Goodes.

The release of the documentary comes as former Gold Coast player Joel Wilkinson threatens to sue the AFL over his treatment during his time in the game, while Collingwood premiership player Heritier Lumumba has also previously levelled accusations against his former club.

Wilkinson is in negotiations with the AFL after accusing players and officials of discrimination, vilification and racially-based sexual harassment while in his time at the Gold Coast.

He is seeking compensation for loss of past and future wages as well as compensation for pain, suffering and humiliation.

Wilkinson, of Nigerian descent, said last year there were systemic problems with racism in the AFL after taking his case to the Human Rights Commission.

“I have suffered extreme racism during my time in the AFL and after my career in the AFL to this very day,” Wilkinson said.

The documentary, which runs for 75 minutes, is almost certain to be made available for schools so that the message reaches its biggest possible audience.