Dear Edward,

I think that most responsible journalists and
newspaper editors want to get the message across -
that you can love or hate any sports figure, you
are entitled to your opinion of him but if you
see that what you are doing is hurting someone,
and hurting them deeply, than surely as a decent
human being you should stop doing what hurts.

Back in 2001, promoting round three of that year’s AFL season, the Sydney Swans aggressively encouraged crowds to boo Sydney’s opponents:

[Swans communications manager Stephen] Brassel said the “Boo a Roo” marketing slogan was necessary to entice Swans supporters to attend because the match was not part of the club’s membership package.

“It is not going to be the easiest gig we have ever managed because our members may have already decided to go away for the break; and the last thing we need is for the crowd to be in the low thousands,” he said.

“We are going to need all our marketing expertise to make this work, and what we are doing with the ‘Boo a Roo’ thing is capitalising on what has happened in the past. You only have to go back to last year when they (the Roos) played here (in Round 20). They were booed for the whole game.”

And that was considered a positive thing. Adam Goodes, by the way, played in both the round 20, 2000 and round three, 2001 matches. At least one indigenous player, North Melbourne’s Byron Pickett, would have been the target of Sydney’s crowd.
http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/timblair/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/when_sydney_booed/

Jay Of Melbourne,

Good find.

Isn't it simply amazing how the management of the AFL are seemingly unaware of that?

Foxy,
Thanks for making your stand for Adam. I'm with you on that. Your comments were a good balance to the other commentators here.

As a long term fan of AFL football, I believe that Adam Goodes' record stands almost second to none. He will without doubt end up in the AFL Hall of Fame for his on field achievements. He has always shown himself to be a perfect gentleman off the field.

Those people here who've referred to him as a thug have no idea what they're talking about. After every AFL match, the umpires award Brownlow votes for the fairest and best players. Goodes has polled mountains of votes, and won two Brownlow medals, which is two more than players such as Leigh Matthews or Gary Ablett Snr, who are often listed amongst the greatest players of all time, but did have a slightly nasty streak to their game. (I say this with respect, as football is inherently a very physical game.)

It is interesting to now note from where is Adam receiving total support. He is getting this from his colleagues: all the players, all the coaches, all 18 of the clubs. They're his peers. They're the ones who know him and respect him.

Leo Lane says to you that Goodes needs advice from someone with a bit of sense. And would that be you, Leo? What advice would you give Adam to get the booing to stop? Or do you join with and encourage those who boo. Do you want it to continue? Goodes has put up with the booing for the best part of two years, and has taken it on the chin, without any reaction for most of that time.

I wrote my own piece for OLO back in 2013, which refers to the incident with Adam Goodes, the Collingwood fan, and the 'ape' comment.

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=15053

Dear Dan,

Thank You for your kind words.

It would be good if something positive came out
of all this and the Geelong crowd would give
Adam Goodes a great reception on his return to
football.

It would show everyone that the football industry
as well as the wider community are heading in the
right direction to flush out this undesirable behaviour
in sport. It would also set a good example for
the kids.

The booing of Goodes started after he was made Australian of the year, perceived by many to be in consequence of his attack on a schoolgirl football fan, designating her “the face of racism”.
Goodes presents himself as anti-racist, while being a rabid racist himself. Like most on the left, when he describes what he hates, he describes his own racist attitude.
He does not have to look far for sensible advice, Dan S, here is a sample:
“Goodes should have used his position and community standing to build a better future for all of us. He didn't and he lost my respect as a consequence.
We hoped he would give us peace, instead he gave us his war dance.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/only-adam-goodes-can-stop-the-booing/story-fnpug1jf-1227460775525

Foxy, you say that you aim to be well balanced, but read Age articles, and “found the ones dealing with Adam Goodes well reasoned and intelligent.”
Obviously, your mentality precludes you from ever being well balanced.