- Goodes has been questioned about the way he stood up to racism
- The legend of the Sydney Swans became a symbol for indigenous rights
AFL legend Adam Goodes has spoken about the moment he stood up to racism by confronting a 13-year-old girl who called him a monkey. He reveals there’s a surprising reason why he wouldn’t change a thing if he could do it again.
The former Sydney Swans star became a symbol for Indigenous rights after he stood up to persistent abuse from the crowd during the controversial incident in 2013.
Goodes was standing on the touchline during the final two minutes of the match between Sydney and Collingwood when he heard someone in the crowd shout over the fence: “Goodes, you’re a monkey.”
The perpetrator was a 13-year-old girl, who was pulled off the ground by security guards after the Swans star pointed her out.
Goodes, who has been criticised for drawing attention to the offensive comment, told ABC TV The Meeting He would do the same if he had the time.
Some people say, ‘Would you like to go back and stop that moment when you’re looking at the [13] “An 18-year-old girl racially abused you?” Goodes said.
“If I had done that and that hadn’t happened, I would be a very different person now.”
The two-time 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 was criticised for drawing attention to the offensive comment, said he wouldn’t change anything if he could do it again
Goodes didn’t know it at the time, but his stand 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 stand up against racism,” he said.
‘A year later I was named Australian of the Year… and what happened in that process was the producer… who filmed me for three months for the profile piece, we got quite [close] friends.
‘She gave birth to three of my children and she 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 today.”
Goodes went on to say that he would give his younger self advice if given the chance.
“I put my hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Everything’s going to be OK,’” he said.
“I am very grateful for the decisions I have made, the good and the bad, because they have made me who I am.”
Goodes (pictured with wife Natalie) was named Australian of the Year after speaking out against racism in football
In 2019, the AFL apologized to Goodes for the league’s failures in the final months of his career.
“Adam’s treatment is a challenge to us and our right to be considered the Indigenous Australian football code,” the statement said.
‘Adam, who represents so much that is good and unique about our game, was subjected to treatment that drove him out of football and the game did not do enough to stand by him and address it.
“We offer our sincere apologies for our mistakes during this period.”