Indigenous footballer Tony Armstrong has thrown his support behind Adam Goodes saying he is “horrified” by the continual mistreatment of the AFL star.
Armstrong, a Collingwood defender, played 15 games with the Sydney Swans and said he is struggling to comprehend the abuse directed at his former teammate.
“When people come with a preconceived plan to boo Goodes it shows that it is something beyond any excuse used against his on-field behaviour,” he said.
“Goodes is a fair player and no action of his is initiating the crowd to boo him,” he said. “People are now deciding in advance they will and it is horrible.”
Armstrong said he wants a stronger Indigenous presence being offered a voice and he is disappointed it has taken this long for the racist abuse to be addressed.
“It seems people in the media are scared to call it what it is,” he said.
Monash University sports media and culture academic, Associate Professor Brett Hutchins, said the industry must “slow down and offer some historical perspective” to the commentary surrounding the issue.
Hutchins said modern sports coverage is focused on delivering entertainment and suggested complex topics such as this be left to more responsible and traditional news-focused programs.
“There has been a shift in the structure of journalism and news in sport which has produced more magazine- and panel-style news programs, whose role is to drive entertainment for the game.”
“A lot is opinion driven, they are paid to give opinion, and where it becomes difficult is where an issue breaks the bounds of entertainment and week-to-week ‘footy chat’.”
Hutchins said the under-representation of Indigenous voices in sport – and this controversy in particular – is problematic.
“I fail to see how relatively privileged football commentators can offer a insight into the world view or experience of an Indigenous athlete.”
Goodes has had to take personal time away from the sport in what is likely to be his final season playing AFL.
“It would be horrible to have one of the greatest be pushed out of the game like this,” Armstrong said.
Image credit: Dion Gillard, Flickr
