'Still sickening': Shock and anger over 'painful' Adam Goodes documentary
Australians have united to stand with Adam Goodes after reliving the end of his career through the documentary ‘The Final Quarter’.
Broadcast to a wider audience for the first time on Thursday night, the film shone a light on the racism that forced the Sydney Swans legend into retirement.
ONE VIEWING: Adam Goodes’ emotional response to doco
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The two-time Brownlow medallist and two-time premiership player was booed relentlessly at games around Australia before he hung up the boots in 2015.
Shortly before the documentary’s premiere at a film festival last month, the AFL apologised unreservedly for its failure to call out the racism.
The league admitted that its inaction "let down all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, past and present".
Even after being warned that the documentary was an emotional journey, football fans and other Australians who tuned in were heartbroken.
I saw the Adam Goodes doco a while back and watching it again now. Still sickening. There's no embellishment, just a catalogue of what happened, when, & who said what. It speaks volumes. And it paints a dismal picture of how we view minorities who dare speak up for their rights.
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) July 18, 2019
My overwhelming emotion watching #TheFinalQuarter was sadness. Adam Goodes had a stellar AFL career. He’s articulate, thoughtful, strong. His “crime” was to challenge attitudes..for that he was bullied and vilified out of the game. It was so ugly. Hopefully we’ve learned from it.
— NickMcCallum7 (@NickMcCallum7) July 18, 2019
Adam Goodes should be invited to do his retirement lap at this years AFL Grand Final #TheFinalQuarter
— Courtney McDonnell (@courtneyjade93_) July 18, 2019
#TheFinalQuarter is a must watch. How well spoken is Adam Goodes and bringing attention to unconscious and conscious racism in Australia. Confronting and telling.
— Justin (@jaylow1978) July 18, 2019
#TheFinalQuarter is a forensic examination of one of the darkest parts of Australia's soul. I love it how it's done. I hate what it says. I hope it shakes some sense into some of the people who booed Adam Goodes or approved, absolved those who did. #AFL
— Roy Ward (@rpjward) July 18, 2019
Australia must look like a bunch of racist middle aged white men to anyone watching Adam Goodes The Final Quarter from another country.
Absolutely embarrassing to see how he was treated.
Media has a lot to answer for!#AdamGoodes— Rob Cornthwaite (@robcornthwaite) July 18, 2019
Hearing the relentless booing of Adam Goodes was heartbreaking. We should all be ashamed we let it go on. I'm so sorry, #AdamGoodes #TheFinalQuarterFilm
— Patricia Beech (@Traf_40) July 18, 2019
The composure Goodes showed in his presser immediately after the war dance controversy was amazing. Treated so badly by the community. We need to be so much better than that #TheFinalQuarter
— Lee Gaskin (@Lee_Gaskin1) July 18, 2019
I am a Hawks supporter and I love Adam Goodes and I hate that my club caused him so much pain #TheFinalQuarter
— Ellen Veronica (@EllenMVeronica) July 18, 2019
The was seriously powerful... People don't have to like him but it is no biased narrative.. Just actual grabs of what was said.. Worth a watch from everyone, footy fan or not, Goodes fan or not#TheFinalQuarter #TheFinalQuarterFilm
— Shane (@_Willo_) July 18, 2019
#TheFinalQuarter is a painful watch but so necessary. I admire the dignity of Adam Goodes in the face of it all.
— Lia (@LiaMirch) July 18, 2019
I’m just watching the part where Adam Goodes celebrates his goal by doing a war cry and the commentators are slamming him and....I can’t comprehend this.
— Kiki (@Kiki__Stewart) July 18, 2019
Adam Goodes’ final season was such a heartbreak, just gutting. Two time Brownlow medallist! Shameful the way he was treated. #TheFinalQuarter #ProudlySydney
— Minor Clarifications (@ClareMc13) July 18, 2019
Goodes’ former club began Thursday night’s viewing seeking support on social media.
The Swans sought to send the documentary viral in the form of the #WeStandWithAdam hashtag and an accompanying photo.
The tweet garnered more than 1000 retweets and 2000 likes by the conclusion of the documentary on the east coast.
As you watch #TheFinalQuarter please show your support for Goodesy with posting this image with #WeStandWithAdam.
Let’s use social media to spread ❤️ pic.twitter.com/w0b6RVPkAP— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) July 18, 2019
Goodes' championing of issues outside football, such as Indigenous constitutional recognition, and celebration of Indigenous culture in the form of a war cry at the SCG were documented in the film.
As is the fiercely negative response from some pundits, the boos and explanations proffered by those insisting it had nothing to do with race.
Reconciliation Australia chief executive Karen Mundine hoped the documentary would be a catalyst for conversation and change that extends beyond AFL circles.
"Adam is such a strong and resilient person," Mundine told AAP last month.
Apart from what’s already on our website, we will be launching heaps of resources for schools, universities and sporting clubs in September this year.#TheFinalQuarterFilm#RacismItStopsWithMehttps://t.co/MDT1HcIn8d
— The Final Quarter Film (@TheFinalQtr) July 18, 2019
"I was always amazed during that period of time, how he managed to remain true to himself but continued to be vocal.
"I really want this film to be a new conversation starter. Not just a rehash ... what do we need to change or do differently.
"So we don't have another person driven out of game or somebody in a workplace feeling so isolated and put upon they leave an industry."
with AAP