Adam Goodes wants tough talk on recognition

ADAM Goodes said there were “uncomfortable conversations” to have about constitutional recognition for indigenous Australians.

Adam Goodes and Lance Franklin with fans yesterday. Picture: Mark Evans

AS the AFL throws its weight behind the campaign to win constitutional recognition for indigenous Australians, Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes said yesterday there were “uncomfortable conversations” to be had.

“We’ve got a great opportunity as a nation right now to do something that is right, something that can help change the next 200 years of our history by including Aboriginal and Torres Strait ­Islanders into our constitution,” Goodes said at the launch of the AFL’s seventh annual indigenous round of games.

Goodes joined recent Swans recruit Lance Franklin as the team announced a reconciliation action plan, coinciding with the AFL’s declaration it would back the “Recognise’’ campaign to fight for constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians. The campaign’s “R” logo will feature on AFL grounds, where it will be exposed to nearly five million people.

“You’ll see it first on Thursday at the Sydney Cricket Ground where we’ll acknowledge the Gadagal people of the Eora nation as the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney,” incoming AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said.

Goodes said being a professional athlete put him in good stead to handle racism. “These ­issues that I’m talking about, its not stuff that people like to talk about so there are going to be uncomfortable conversations, there are going to be people who disagree ... is it going to change my behaviour? Definitely not,” he said.

Mr McLachlan said each year in the indigenous round the code highlighted outstanding achievements by indigenous players, with this year’s focus on 1930s Fitzroy wingman Douglas Nicholls.

“He was an elite professional footballer, boxer ... and became the first knight of his people as well as a human rights strategist and a pioneering campaigner for reconciliation,” he said. “We should definitely celebrate the fact that one Australian footballer — Sir Doug Nicholls — has been knighted and one Australian footballer — Adam Goodes — has been named Australian of the Year.”

Roy Morgan Research figures reveal 71 per cent of Australia’s 7.6 million AFL fans thought Aboriginal culture was an essential component of Australian society, slightly above the national average of 69.7. Among Swans fans, the figure was 77.5 per cent. “I am proud of what indigenous players offer the AFL and I am proud of what the AFL offers indigenous players,” Mr McLachlan said.

All 18 clubs will don guernseys with indigenous patterns for the first time, with Sydney’s playing strip designed by Goodes’s mother, Lisa Sansbury.

Yesterday’s event also marked the 10th anniversary of fellow footballer Michael Long’s “Long Walk” to Canberra for indigenous rights. Franklin said Long was an inspiration for him growing up, while Goodes named indigenous footballer Gilbert McAdam as his personal hero.

“There is a lot to celebrate. It’s a celebration of our contribution as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to the game and to the community,” Goodes said.