Adam Goodes booing: Gillon McLachlan calls for footy to get its respect back as captains of all 18 AFL clubs make plea to fans

UPDATE: EDDIE McGuire has a grim warning about the potential escalation of the Adam Goodes issue as Melbourne announces plan to wear indigenous colours at the MCG.

Sydney Swans host Hawthorn Hawks in round 16 of the AFL at ANZ Stadium in Sydney tonight. Adam Goodes kicks.

EDDIE McGuire has offered a grim warning about the potential direction the Adam Goodes booing controversy is heading in, as AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan pleaded with supporters to help bring the Swans champ back to the field and restore footy’s reputation.

McGuire this morning asked Sydney fans to reconsider plans to hurl eggs at any supporter heard booing at Goodes if and when he returns to play for the Swans, following his decision to take an indefinite break from the game.

A Swans supporter today claimed sections of the cheer squad intend to sneak eggs into the venue of Goodes’ first game back and throw them at booing fans.

McGuire said that act could spark a riot.

“Now you’ve got a situation where the Sydney Swans cheer squad have said they’re going to bring eggs to the game,” McGuire said on his Triple M breakfast show.

“That’ll cause a riot.

“Once it’s gone too far, once it’s got to a situation where a person is affected by it, well then you go, ‘Hang on, what’s the upside of booing Adam Goodes other than driving the bloke out of the game and now making it hugely uncomfortable for everyone else around there?’”

He said the situation is already out of the AFL’s control and called on fans not to escalate the already volatile situation.

“It’s out of the hands of the AFL. There is nothing they can do about it now. The Sydney Swans are trying to do the right thing. Everyone is trying to do the right thing, but it’s now becoming a ‘you’re on my side or you’re not on my side’ kind of thing.

“People are being called racists who are clearly not racists and other people are being called left-wing, bleeding hearts sort of thing when all you’re doing is showing a bit of empathy.

“There’s an argument on all sides. We could discuss for the next three hours and not get to a conclusion and not get to half of all the threads that are in this.

“There is one big thread that we need to get to and that is to get on and move forward.

“This is a question that doesn’t have an answer as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know, in a lot of ways where we’re heading with it.”

Melbourne has announced its players will wear armbands in the colours of the Aboriginal flag against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.

The Dees’ three indigenous players, Neville Jetta, Jeff Garlett and Jay Kennedy-Harris, along with several Melbourne players, decided it was the most appropriate way for the club to support Goodes, the club said in a statement.

“This weekend, all players who take the field in the AFL against the Pies and the VFL against Werribee, will be wearing an armband in the colours of the Aboriginal flag,” Jetta told the club website.

“As players, and as a club, we want to clearly show our support for Adam Goodes during what has been a really difficult time for him and his family.

“We also want to show our support and help drive a message around educating Australian society on indigenous culture.”

Jeff Kennett, in his role as chairman of mental health organisation beyondblue, issued a statement titled “A Time for Healing”, encouraging fans who boo to recognise how their actions are impacting Goodes as an individual.

“That (Goodes) has withdrawn from football this weekend is a transparent illustration of the stress and hurt he is feeling,” the statement read.

“What has occurred over the last few months or weeks can’t be altered. But tomorrow brings a new day.

“The current debate is neither fair nor dignified ... it is developing a life of its own, which detracts from the game of football and is clearly hurting an individual.

“We must all learn from the last few weeks. We all must give some ground. We should try to understand that what we do and say can cause harm, from whatever side of the fence we may sit. We should use this experience to recommit to a harmonious, multicultural society.”

The captains of all 18 AFL clubs have made an unprecedented plea to football fans to stop the abuse, while some high-profile sporting personalities — including Shane Warne, Sam Newman and Jason Akermanis — have defended the crowd’s right to keep booing.

McLachlan acknowledged that there was no obvious answers, but urged fans to help Goodes — who has been given extended leave by his club and won’t play this weekend — to return to the field regardless.

“We need him to come back and play, we need him to come back and feel comfortable playing,” McLachlan said on ABC radio.

“I can’t tell the supporters how to behave. Our game has always been an outlet for people to express themselves. But ultimately I do have incredible faith in our supporters but also what they’ve been able to do to define respect in our game and it’s changed over generations.

“No one can make 90,000 people stand on Anzac Day in complete silence and reflection. No one can make 300,000 over a round of footy a few weeks ago (after Phil Walsh’s death) behave the way they did which had an extraordinary human quality for a family, a footy club, a state.

“No one can make supporters do that but I just have great confidence in their ability to work through this issue, to have their views but then ultimately respect the wishes of the players, the clubs and the industry that Adam be given an environment to come back and play.

“I don’t think anyone, if they are feeling hurt and they’re feeling they are a victim of racist behaviour, whatever your view, no one should feel like that and there is a point where you go regardless of how we got here I respect that’s how you’re feeling ... and I’ll let you play.

McLachlan later told 3AW: “We want (Goodes) respected, we want our industry to get our respect back and ultimately that can only come from the supporters.

“The only thing I know to be true is Adam is hurt, he feels it’s racist … The rest of it is wildly divided.

“All I know is that in the end, that decision will be made by our supporters.”

Warne suggested on Twitter fans had the right to boo whoever they wanted, and later said on Triple M radio that Goodes could turn the crowd’s opinion by “playing well” and doing “something for your team”.

He said he didn’t agree with Goodes’ decision to take time away from football amid the booing furore, saying he is only letting the crowd and their behaviour “beat him”.

When asked what he thought of Warne’s comments, McLachlan rejected the comparison.

“I think it’s easy to say that,” McLachlan said, suggesting that when a player is copping it for leaving a club or going in hard on an opposition player, the boos are “not going to the psyche of who they are. I think (Goodes is) a different case.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has spoken publicly on the issue for the first time, calling on crowds to treat Goodes with “civility and respect”.

He said Goodes, who was the first Australian of the Year appointment after Mr Abbott won government, was a “good bloke and a great player”.

“I can understand why he’s upset because no one should be subject to taunts, they particularly shouldn’t be subject to racial taunts,” Mr Abbott told Sydney radio 2SM

“Yes we are a robust people and I guess politicians typically get booed at the footy, but Adam Goodes is good bloke and a great player and I hope he’ll be treated with civility and dignity.”

“You don’t have to agree with everything that Adam says, you don’t have to, I suppose, like his footy team, but nevertheless, I think there should be a basic respect given to all sportspeople and the certainly the last thing we want in Australia is any thing, anything at all, which smacks of racism.”

Jesinta Campbell, fiancee of Goodes’ Swans teammate Buddy Franklin, also weighed into the debate this morning, thanking Goodes for working to change the way Australia approaches race relations.

“My future children are going to be indigenous and because of his courage and his passion he is creating a better future for not only my children but all indigenous children,” she said on The Today Show.

“So for that, I have to say, Adam you are a champion on the field, off the field, and I will stand by you.”

Campbell said bullying was the only way to describe the actions of people who booed Goodes.

“Booing is a public form of bullying and Adam has come out and said that it is affecting him so everyone needs to stop,” she said.

“If you continue to boo him you are bullying him. It’s affecting his welfare, it’s affecting his family and his friends”.

Campbell also suggested the abuse had racial connotations and said those who had never experienced racism couldn’t understand how it feels.

“Is it racist? Yes, I think it is, and to anyone who has never experienced racial vilification, racism is just a word to them.

“But for people who have experienced it, racism is a feeling and it’s a horrible feeling from what I have seen.”

Newman, meanwhile, editorialising on Thursday night’s Footy Show, said Goodes had provoked people by turning the footy pitch into a political forum and should now be willing to cop an inevitable backlash.

“From one Australian to another Australian ... Adam you’re not as important as you think you are that’s A) and B) you take yourself far too seriously,” Newman said.

“If you’re going to provoke people, that is by the gesture of spear throwing at a crowd you better not be surprised if you get what you wish for and that’s a reaction.

“Unfortunately you’re not well enough equipped to deal with the fracas and the saga that you’ve caused ... you’re just not capable of dealing with it. Hence the fact you’ve gone into hiding, you’re not playing anymore.

“It is on you as an Australian of the Year to unite and placate people, not to divide and be a provocateur.

“How about the condescending nature of people that say if you’re an AFL fan you go to the football you boo Adam Goodes you’re a racist.

“I would suggest that the people boo Adam Goodes because he’s turned their game into a political forum, and people go to the football to get away from everything as a release as an outlet that they don’t want to have to put up with political statements of any sort, they go there to enjoy their side playing football and if they want to boo they can.

“If you’re going to actually lead the charge by doing what he did you’ve got to be prepared and be equipped enough to handle the flak or the reaction that you get from the public.

“I’m suggesting it shouldn’t keep going ... I can well understand why people are booing him not because people say they are racist but because they don’t agree with the political forum being brought into a game which people go to have a release at.”

The AFL Players’ Association and the skippers gave a strong show of solidarity with Goodes by releasing an open statement to the Australian football public.

Speaking on behalf of more than 800 players, the captains expressed their distaste for the constant booing.

They declared: “Enough is enough”, urging fans to take a stand against any form of vilification.

“Enjoy the game, celebrate the success. But don’t boo, jeer or taunt players because of who they are or what they stand for,” the joint statement released to the Herald Sun said.

“We’re all human. We’re all in this together. And together we can make a difference.

“We encourage supporters to demonstrate zero tolerance and report any behaviour which vilifies a person on the basis of their personal characteristics, such as race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. We would encourage every other fan to follow suit.”

Club captains said the onus for change was on the fans, who could “call out” inappropriate behaviour.

“As captains, teammates, and supporters of the game, we know how motivating the cheer and roar of a crowd can be. We also know how demoralising and offensive booing and jeering is,” they said.

“As leaders we are accountable for everything we do on and off the field, and we think it’s just as important for us to be accountable and call out unacceptable behaviour when we see it. And sadly this week we have all seen it.

“When you come to the footy, join us in putting a stop to offensive behaviour.”

AFL captains unite, calling for respect from fans and an end to the booing. @superfooty @heraldsunsport @AFLPlayers pic.twitter.com/0EgdTLoUpy

— Matt Kitchin (@KiwiRefugee) July 30, 2015

AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh said he had been approached by a significant number of players who wanted to send a united message to fans.

“The players, as a collective, feel very strongly about this issue; we have got one of our brothers who is doing it very tough at the moment,” Marsh said.

“The key message for us ... is that we just want the booing to stop. Beyond that, it is about respect for all players, not just Adam. We obviously love the fans, but we want them to respect what we are doing.”

Watched on by the entire Swans playing group at the SCG yesterday, Sydney chief executive Andrew Ireland said: “Clearly Adam’s struggling with the current situation.

“My view is that I think he will come back and play through the remainder of the season, but to be frank I couldn’t be certain about it,” Ireland said.

“There’s a large lump of Australia that are very supportive of him. There are other people who have got a counter view.

“People say there are other indigenous players in the competition who don’t get booed. Adam was Australian of the Year ... he made some comments. Some people don’t like it. I agree with commentators that say the reason they are having a go at Adam emanates because he’s not a quiet indigenous person who sits in the corner. He’s got a view.”

Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh said: “It’s come to the point he’s had enough and we’ve had enough. It’s time to put a stop to it”.

Co-captain Kieren Jack said: “I expect him to play again. He is genuinely struggling. It’s affecting the whole playing group.

“Normally we can get out on the footy field to escape our problems but for him that isn’t an option. It’s really upsetting to see.”

LISTEN TO THE SUPERCOACHES BOX PODCAST PREVIEWING ROUND 18 BELOW

McVeigh said there had been no discussions among the Swans about avoiding war dance goal celebrations like the one from Lewis Jetta last Sunday, and from Goodes earlier in the season.

“There will be no instructions, we will be free to do whatever we want to do out there,” McVeigh said.

Sydney players and officials gave short shrift to comments from some pundits who have said Goodes is trying to play the victim.

“There are commentators who make those types of comments and I think they constantly play the race card in a lot of things they say,” Ireland said.

OPEN LETTER FROM CAPTAINS OF ALL 18 AFL CLUBS

As captains, teammates, and supporters of the game, we know how motivating the cheer and roar of a crowd can be. We also know how demoralising and offensive booing and jeering is.

As leaders we are accountable for everything we do on and off the field, and we think it’s just as important for us to be accountable and call out unacceptable behaviour when we see it. And sadly this week we have all seen it.

The celebration and passion shown by fans and players alike is what makes this game great. Footy is made up of people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Let’s celebrate this diversity and keep our great game free of all prejudice for all to enjoy.

We call on all supporters, from all clubs, and industry leaders to join us as we make a stand against vilification.

Enough is enough. Enjoy the game, celebrate the success. But don’t boo, jeer or taunt players because of who they are or what they stand for.

We’re all human. We’re all in this together. And together we can make a difference.

We encourage supporters to demonstrate zero tolerance and report any behaviour which vilifies a person on the basis of their personal characteristics, such as race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. We would encourage every other fan to follow suit.

When a fan buys a ticket to the football, they don’t buy the rights to have their respect and decent behaviour left at the gate.

When you come to the footy, join us in putting a stop to offensive behaviour. Be the voice that makes a positive impact.

Stand with us to ensure our game remains great for everyone.