Adam Goodes: Geelong tested as it holds mirror up to nation’s soul

Football has long been the beating heart of Geelong. Tonight, it is a window into its soul.

Geelong fan Paul Kellett will be cheering on Adam Goodes when he faces off against the Cat tonight. Picture: Aaron Francis

Football has long been the beating heart of Geelong. Tonight, it is a window into its soul.

Ever since Adam Goodes was vociferously heckled by West Coast Eagles supporters in Perth two weeks ago, this proud and fiercely parochial regional city has been wondering about this night, how it will respond, how it will be seen.

Its people, like everywhere in Australia, have been stirred and divided by a heated debate about race, bullying and the national sporting character. Its football club — players, coaches and staff — is resolved that the booing will stop here.

When Goodes and the Swans run onto Kardinia Park, everyone expects the odd angry shout from the outer.

Club president Colin Carter is hopeful that most supporters will grasp a more basic truth.

“We are talking about something that has become nasty and relentless and devoid of any logic,’’ he says.

“It has crossed the line from pantomime booing into real bullying, and that is not on.’’

Goodes will be welcomed warmly by the Wathaurong, the Aboriginal people whose traditional lands stretch from the western bank of the Werribee River to the Otway Ranges, and from north of Ballarat to Corio Bay.

A formal welcome to country will be performed by Corrina O’Toole, a Wathaurong woman who describes Goodes as a passionate cultural advocate and mentor.

“What all of us want is unity,’’ Ms O’Toole says. “We also want to be appreciated for some of our cultural values and traditions.’’

In this spirit of unity, the two teams will run through a shared banner when they enter the field. The banner will commemorate Cats captain Joel Selwood’s 200th match and Luke Parker’s 100th match for Sydney, and promote a theme of respect.

Geelong cheer squad member Paul Kellett said although he wanted the Cats to win, he would cheer for Goodes.

“I really strongly support him,’’ Mr Kellett said.

Sydney believes Goodes’s return match is in safe hands. Tom Harley, a revered figure in Geelong after captaining the club to its first premiership in 44 years, runs Sydney’s football operations.

The morning after the West Coast match, he received a call from Geelong media manager Kevin Diggerson asking how Geelong should best manage Sydney’s next away game.

Once Goodes withdrew from last Saturday’s match, the planning for tonight took on a heightened sensitivity.

Geelong’s unofficial mayor, long-serving club chairman Frank Costa, expects his town and team will deliver two things: a tough match against the Swans and first-class treatment of Goodes.

Cameron Ling, a retired Geelong premiership captain, says all Cats fans have a choice tonight: “Am I going to choose to carry on this booing, and impacting a person’s life and their sport and their livelihood, or am I going to choose to show that person respect because he is a human being and a champion player and a great person?’’