Swans coach lifts the lid on surprise Adam Goodes appearance
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has lauded Adam Goodes' appearance at the SCG on the weekend and said it was completely up to the AFL legend on whether he wanted to attend further matches.
Goodes joined former teammates at the SCG last Saturday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Swans' 2012 premiership, despite reports emerging during the week that Goodes wouldn't be attending the celebrations
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The Brownlow Medallist winner spent 17 seasons at the Swans, but was booed out of the competition in 2015.
Goodes has since declined invitations to attend Brownlow Medal events and knocked back being inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
However, there was widespread joy when Goodes appeared with his 2012 teammates as the side were paraded in a lap of honour before the Swans' clash.
And coach Longmire said he is in contact with Goodes and said he would leave it up to the club legend on whether he decided to return for future games.
"We speak to Adam a fair bit, it was more about from a public perspective coming to the game," Longmire said on Tuesday.
"We've got a good relationship with Adam so it was great to see him at the footy, good to see him with his mates.
"He'll come to the footy when he wants to come to the footy.
"He's got a lot going on in his life at the moment, got a couple of little kids and he's enjoying that.
"He had a great time with the boys on the weekend which was great to see."
AFL world lauds Adam Goodes' appearance
The big talking point ahead of the Swans' match was the potential presence of Goodes.
“It’s splendid to see, and reaffirms the notion he is not disenfranchised with the Sydney Swans in any way," Gerard Whateley said on AFL Nation.
“His reluctance is with anything to do with an AFL endorsed function or from headquarters.”
Goodes has made few public appearances at the AFL since retiring from the game in 2015.
He hung up his boots in heartbreaking circumstances after relentless booing from fans plagued the final two years of his career.
He declined an offer to take part in the annual parade for retired players at the 2015 grand final and has also knocked back invitations to attend major functions like the Brownlow Medal.
And last year he rejected an offer to be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame despite being unanimously nominated for the honour.
with AAP
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