- Goodes has been questioned about how he dealt with racism.
- The Sydney Swans legend became a symbol of indigenous rights
AFL legend Adam Goodes has spoken out about the time he faced racism by singling out a 13-year-old girl who called him an ape – and revealed there’s a surprising reason he wouldn’t change a thing if it happened again.
The former Sydney Swans star became a symbol for indigenous rights after facing relentless crowd abuse during the controversial 2013 incident.
Goodes had been standing near the touchline for the final two minutes of Sydney’s game against Collingwood when he heard someone in the crowd shout over the fence: “Goodes, you’re a monkey.”
The culprit was a 13-year-old girl who was escorted out of the stadium by security guards after the Swans star pointed her out.
Goodes, who faced criticism for drawing attention to the offensive comment, told ABC TV The Assembly He would do the same if he had free time.
“Some people say, ‘Could you go back and stop that moment when you pointed at the 13-year-old girl who racially vilified you?'” Goodes said.
“If I did that and it didn’t happen, then where I am today would be completely different.”
The double Brownlow medallist has since become a symbol for indigenous rights in Australia, but his decision to confront the young fan also led to him meeting the mother of his children.
Goodes, who faced criticism for drawing attention to the offensive comment, said he wouldn’t change a thing if he could get his chance again.
Goodes didn’t know it at the time, but his stance would lead him to meet the love of his life, his wife Natalie Croker (pictured with their daughter Adelaide).
“What I did that night was confront racism at that moment,” he said.
‘A year later I was announced Australian of the Year… and what happened during that process was that the producer… who was filming me for the three months for the profile article, we became very (close) friends.
‘To the point that she gave birth to three of my children and is my wife.
“So if I hadn’t stood up at that moment, I might never have met her and I might not be where I am.”
Goodes went on to say that he would give his younger self some advice if he had the chance.
“He would put his hand on my shoulder and say, ‘Everything is going to be okay,'” she said.
‘I am very grateful for the decisions I have made, good and bad, because they have made me who I am.’
Goodes (pictured with wife Natalie) was announced as Australian of the Year after taking on racism in football.
In 2019, the AFL issued an apology to Goodes for the league’s failings during the final months of his career.
“The treatment meted out to Adam challenges us and our right to be considered Australia’s indigenous football code,” the statement read.
‘Adam, who represents so much that is good and unique about our game, was subjected to treatment that drove him away from football. The game did not do enough to support and denounce him.
‘We apologize unreservedly for our failures during this period.’
