'Heartbroken': Eddie McGuire speaks out over Adam Goodes documentary
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has described his “heartbreak” over the way AFL great Adam Goodes’ AFL career came to an end.
Two documentaries chronicling Goodes’ storied career and his quiet retirement after 372-game career will be released in June and August this year.
Both documentaries, The Final Quarter and The Australian Dream, will cover the latter stages of Goodes’ career, in which the Sydney Swans star was subjected to boos and racist taunts.
McGuire’s 2013 gaffe, in which he suggested Goodes help promote the musical King Kong, features in both films.
According to Fox Sports, both documentaries feature confronting content which does not flatter McGuire.
In an interview with The Age, McGuire said he hoped both documentaries would help end the blight of racism within the AFL.
The longtime AFL personality said he was disappointed to be a part of the two films in the way he was.
“Is it a documentary I’d like to be involved the way I am? No, of course not, but that’s what happened at the time,” McGuire said.
“It’s a documentary about what was happening in Adam’s life with bit part players around it. We want a bit of confrontation in these things.
“Most people who are going to watch this in the footy industry and younger Australia — we want to be challenged because we want to be better, we want to learn from these things.
“I just implore people to go into this with an open, empathetic mind. Go in, understand, learn and discuss and let’s see what we can do with this great game that’s doing so many great things.”
The Collingwood president said he hoped the documentaries would help end the blight of racism in the AFL.
“There is a far greater appreciation from people who watch both these documentaries as to Adam’s mindset and those around him and what was happening in Adam’s world at that stage,” McGuire said.
“My point of view is you’re heartbroken that Adam felt at the end the game he served so well had forsaken him.
“If you can see someone who’s been a champion of the game, got to the end of his celebrated career and didn’t want to do a lap of honour at the MCG, it’s heartbreaking.
“We have to learn from that. That’s why I encourage people to go.”
