The Adam Goodes ordeal of the past week has the scope to adversely affect more than just the player himself, a sports sociologist has said.
While clubs continue to support the dual Brownlow Medallist, questions continue to arise over the influence it can have on fellow players and fans.
Sport sociologist Brent McDonald said the abuse from over the fence “can be enormously damaging”, which has been emphatically highlighted in the last week.
“The fact that it’s occurring in the case of elite sport in the workplace can be traumatic,” McDonald said.
“Sport is this great place of freedom. With this happening in any sport and in the workplace, where you are supposed to feel you are free, it can absolutely have a negative impact.”
The unanimous boos and comments directed towards Goodes has taken its toll, with Sydney’s games record holder granted extended time away from the club.
McDonald said the situation would have an influence on children as well, who are much more likely to be impacted by voices over the fence than what occurs unheard on the football field.
“I don’t think you can really cause some sort of causality between a footballer saying something on the football field, which is basically unheard, and that affecting the ways that children see the world around them,” McDonald said.
“That’s far more likely to be caused by their family and the communities they grow up in.”
The comments come as clubs have unanimously rallied behind Goodes, with Richmond announcing they will don their Indigenous Round guernsey in tomorrow night’s clash with Hawthorn.
Carlton have also come out in support of Goodes, just a fortnight after releasing their Reconciliation Action Plan.
The club highlighted the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as a document which “is about organisations from every sector turning good intentions into real actions and rising to the challenge of reconciling Australia”.
The RAP was released at the beginning of the month, with club legend and Indigenous Team of the Century member Syd Jackson at the forefront.
In a statement, Carlton Football Club Chief Executive Officer Steven Trigg mentioned it was the club’s aim to assist in “reconciling Australia through the power of football”.
“We are committed to building respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from which our players, staff and supporters come from,” Trigg said.
In a further show of support from the club, Sam Docherty expressed his support for Goodes yesterday, saying he is “a champion of the game”.
“From a player’s perspective, I’d love to see the booing stop – it’s really starting to get to someone and he’s a champion of our game,” Docherty said.
As the club’s AFL Players Association representative, Docherty mentioned that the playing group were keen to bring this to an end, giving the potential for more widespread hurt.
“As a whole playing stance, I think it’s getting really harsh on ‘Goodesy’ himself,” Docherty said.
“As a club, and I’m assuming all the players too, it’s really taken a massive effect on him and I just don’t think that’s how we want to see out one of our stars.”
There is still conjecture over whether or not Goodes will take to the field again, with the Sydney Swans this morning revealing they’re not sure if or when he will return to the club.
PHOTO: Carlton players observe a dance at the launch of the Reconciliation Action Plan.
(Photo credit: Graeme Furlong/Carlton Football Club)
