Adam Goodes documentary the spark for anti-racism campaign in AFL

The compelling Adam Goodes documentary has been the catalyst for a campaign to tackle racism in AFL.

A still from the Adam Goodes documentary The Australian Dream.

The campaign to tackle the scourge of racism directed towards footballers via social media stemmed from a viewing of the compelling Adam Goodes documentary to be released next week.

AFL Players Association chief executive Paul Marsh yesterday said a preview screening at a camp for indigenous players in Adelaide in February strengthened the resolve of the group to make a stand.

Previously when players were the victim of racist slurs, either by fans at games or on social media, the footballers’ union would contact them directly to see how they wanted the matter to be treated.

It was up to the players to decide whether they wanted the matter to be pursued further, with some opting against this in order not to draw further attention.

But so compelling is the Goodes story as documented in The Final Quarter, which is directed by Ian Darling, that his fellow indigenous footballers decided that it could not be allowed to happen again.

“They said, ‘We have to take a position on this. If you see it (racist abuse), you have to call it out’,” Marsh told The Weekend Australian. The AFL and others to have seen the documentary and another pending release The Australian Dream are hopeful that it will prompt positive discussion and reflection, and serve as an educational piece.

But the AFLPA boss believes the documentary has already had a positive influence.

Paddy Ryder, Eddie Betts, Liam Ryan and Travis Varcoe, along with Sudanese-born Kangaroo Majak Daw are among those abused early in the season.

Fans and club members have been identified and issued with bans by clubs. And Marsh believes the direct response by footballers is beginning to have an impact.

“I think we have seen a shift. We have had members of the public sending us tweets identifying racist stuff,” he said.

“There is still going to be some isolated instances of racism, but it has slowed down over the last two months.”

Marsh, who joined the AFL Players Association at the end of 2014, spoke to Goodes regularly throughout the following year.

He identified a clash in Perth against Fremantle as the point where the champion Swan, after shouldering the burden, reached out for support, with his playing peers rallying around him.

In recent weeks several clubs including Sydney, Hawthorn and the Gold Coast have watched The Final Quarter. It is believed several players have expressed shock at just how long Goodes was subjected to booing and how badly he was affected in the latter stages of a decorated career.

“It definitely sparked an emotional response,” Marsh said.

“When you pieced it together in the way Ian Darling did … it really did hit home about the unfairness with the way he was being treated.

“I think everyone found it shattering to watch. That is the theme that I picked up, to see a colleague and a highly rated player and a leader of indigenous players go through something that was so unfair was painful.

“We would encourage every Australian to see it.”