Syd Jackson and gum leaf blower Herb Patton.
No way, Jose — didgeridoo man had wrong
Telstra
Geoff McClure
May 31, 2007
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
NOT only was it indigenous round last weekend but at the insistence of president Dick
Pratt, Carlton's match against Adelaide at Telstra Dome was also a celebration of a return
to traditional Saturday arvos at the footy. Well, organising it as a "good old days" event was
the easy bit — not only were patrons at the official luncheon served up pies and bangers
and mash but, as luck would have it, because it was such a sunny day the stadium roof
was nowhere to be seen. As for putting together the indigenous touch? Well, that was not
so easy. You see, as organisers of the function welcomed to the stage Herb Patton, the
gum leaf blower (he of television's Australia's Got Talent fame) to perform Waltzing Matilda
and the club's most famous Aboriginal player Syd Jackson interviewed Eddie Betts …
something was missing. Where was "Jose", the bloke who had been commissioned to play
the didgeridoo? Someone at the club had called him earlier in the day to confirm the
internet booking and again early in the afternoon to ensure he was on the way, and he said
he was. With no sign of him at midday though, it was time to call him again. "Yeah, but how
exactly do I get there again," asked Jose when he answered his mobile phone for the third
time. "Just get to Bourke Street then over the Southern Cross Station ramp," came the
reply. "You can't miss it." Suddenly there was an uneasy silence. "Bourke Street?" he
asked. "Southern Cross? Can't see them on my map. Where exactly is that in relation to
Homebush?" Suddenly the penny dropped. Not only did the didgeridoo man not live in
Melbourne but he didn't have much knowledge of Telstra Dome either. The Telstra venue
he knew was Telstra Stadium, the Olympic venue in Sydney and that's where he was.
Needless to say, Jose left Telstra Stadium and went home and the Carlton president's
lunch at Telstra Dome went ahead without a didgeridoo performance. Will Jose get paid,
we asked Carlton media boss Ian Coutts yesterday. "Good question," he said. "But I
suspect not."
Footy legend's drive to help his people still burns
Courier Mail, The (Brisbane, Australia) - Friday, October 17, 2008
Author: Jim Tucker
CARLTON icon Syd Jackson made his mark in the AFL yet it is his passion for golf
that is creating a new pathway towards the pro ranks for indigenous Australians.
At 64, his zeal to enhance opportunities for Aboriginal people through sport still
blazes more than three decades on from his premiership heroics for Carlton in 1970
and 1972.
The six-marker still swings a mean club, because rounds of 82-75-78 place him fourth
entering today's final round of the National Indigenous Championships at Nudgee
Golf Club.
It is for aspiring players like leader Michael Bell (72, 74, 71), a two-time winner, and
Hervey Bay teenager Renton Ritchie (73, 70, 77) that Jackson yearns for a future.
``This tournament can be the start for promising Aboriginal juniors on the path to the
pro circuits where (US Nationwide Tour regular) Scott Gardiner is playing,'' Jackson
said.
``For young Aboriginal kids, golf has the etiquette, the numbers to add up, the targets
and self-discipline to be a fun learning tool for life, and it's part of the program we've
developed.''
Jackson was integral to starting up this championship in 1979 and consolidating it
through his presidency of the volunteer-based Indigenous Sports Foundation.
Ritchie's eight-birdie blitz for his one-under 70 on Wednesday was the tournament's
low round even after he called a two-stroke penalty on himself.
The two-marker is starting a traineeship at Hervey Bay next year while Bell, 20, off
plus-one at NSW Golf Club, will test himself at the Australasian Tour qualifying
school next year.
``It was pretty difficult as one of the few indigenous players when I came into the
VFL but I had great support from Carlton, and young players today have all the study
and career back-up there,'' Jackson said.
OUR GREATEST INDIGENOUS ARTIST
Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia) - Sunday, May 25, 2008
Author: JACKIE EPSTEIN
To celebrate Indigenous Round, Jackie Epstein asked 50 leading Aboriginal
footballers to nominate their greatest indigenous footballer
DAVID Wirrpanda describes him as a black Rolls-Royce.
Daniel Wells was a kid in Western Australia when he watched him tear two Grand
Finals apart.
Michael McLean remembers his leadership skills, as captain of his country and the
Aboriginal All-Stars.
They all speak of Andrew McLeod. Adelaide's reliable
defender/midfielder/leader/inspiration who has been regarded by his Indigenous
peers, past and present, as the greatest Indigenous player of all time.
The 50 Aboriginal footballers spoken to by the Sunday Herald Sun were diverse and
measured with their thoughts.
Each club is represented bar St Kilda because Xavier and Raph Clarke have returned
home to Darwin to be with their ill father.
McLeod was admired for his breathtaking skills, flair and poise.
"Two Norm Smith Medals, three best and fairests, a bag of All-Australians, he's done
it all," Swans forward Michael O'Loughlin said.
"Skilful and super quick, has dominated in the middle of the ground, then dominated
games in the back half. He is a player who seems to have all the time in the world."
The support for McLeod was strong but far from unanimous. Many greats of the game
were nominated - Adam Goodes, Michael Long, as well as Gavin Wanganeen, who is
the Indigenous games record holder with 300.
Peter Matera, Nicky Winmar, Graham "Polly" Farmer and Maurice Rioli were others
to feature.
Long rated Goodes, a dual Brownlow medallist, as his outstanding player.
"But you go down the line and look at guys like Syd Jackson , Nicky Winmar, Polly
Farmer ... they are trailblazers," Long said.
"They really changed the face of football.
"It took people like Sheeds (Kevin Sheedy) and others to have a big impact.
"Mal Brown has had a big impact with Maurice Rioli and Nicky Winmar and Stephen
Michael and these types of players.
"Then we've got Mark Williams, who's been a huge supporter of indigenous people
and Gerard Neesham, who is still working with football academies like Clontarf and
kids in school.
"These guys have had a vision. Not only just worried about a player and their ability
but also as a person. The education process still has to happen which it does every
year."
At the launch of Indigenous Round, Long spoke of his experiences. At the Dreamtime
press conference former Richmond wingman Phil Egan was on hand. He nominated
Farmer, Rioli and McLeod. But it was a tough decision.
"Farmer changed the game and was a premiership ruckman," he said.
"Rioli should have won a Brownlow and McLeod's record speaks for itself.
"I've missed Goodesy but I just can't squeeze him in."
IT was a major project to get hold of 50 players and some of the greats could not be
contacted. Some were overseas, others out of range. Peter Matera is running a bar in
Bali.
Others simply found it too hard.
Jim Krakouer, who along with brother Phil helped forge the way at North Melbourne
in the 1980s, could not settle on three.
"Everyone had their own style so it's hard to say who was better," Krakouer said.
"They were all champions in their own right."
Wirrpanda found it impossible to separate six - Chris Lewis, Peter Matera, Winmar,
McLeod, Long and Wanganeen.
"Winmar was a great player, the first indigenous player to reach 200 games," he said.
"Of course, his statement to the world, not just those at Victoria Park, when he lifted
his jumper to show the colour of his skin and his pride in being Aboriginal, was a
landmark moment.
"Long was unbelievably talented and he had his own issues when he first relocated
from Darwin to Essendon. He used that experience to help other players acclimatise
and was a wonderful mentor and role model."
There are 72 Aboriginal footballers on AFL lists this season. Sheedy believes that
somewhere in the future, we might look back at the best 100 footballers of all time
and find the bulk are Aboriginal players.
But there is much ground to be made to get that point. Of the 216 footballers admitted
to the AFL's Hall of Fame, fewer than 10 are indigenous players.
One man included in that elite company is Long. McLeod rated the former Bomber as
the biggest influence on him and the game.
Both won Norm Smith Medals for being best afield in a premiership team. You could
mount a case for both men being as good as any footballer to have played
the game.
Certainly their Aboriginal peers have voted them as the best indigenous footballers to
do so.
We asked 50 past and present indigenous players to vote on who they regarded as the
greatest indigenous footballer of all time.
These are their votes (in some cases, they only nominated their top two)
GILBERT McADAM
3 Polly Farmer
2 Jimmy Krakouer
1 Nicky Winmar
RONNIE BURNS
3 Stephen Michael
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Peter Matera
JUSTIN MURPHY
3 Peter Matera
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Chris Johnson
Nicky Winmar
DEAN RIOLI
3 Andrew McLeod
2 Stephen Michael
1 Gavin Wanganeen
RICHARD TAMBLING
3 Michael Long
2 Adam Goodes
1 Andrew McLeod
PADDY RYDER
3 Polly Farmer
2 Michael Long
1 Peter Matera
NATHAN LOVETT-MURRAY
3 Adam Goodes
2 Byron Pickett
1 Michael Long
ANDREW LOVETT
3 Nicky Winmar
2 Michael Long
1 Les Bamblett (his uncle)
MATT CAMPBELL
3 Darryl White
2 Richard Cole
1 Michael Long
LINDSAY THOMAS
3 Gavin Wanganeen
2 Michael Long
1 Polly Farmer
DANIEL WELLS
3 Peter Matera
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Adam Goodes
MICHAEL LONG
3 Adam Goodes
2 Polly Farmer
1 Gavin Wanganeen
PHIL EGAN
3 Polly Farmer
2 Maurice Rioli
1 Andrew McLeod
RHAN HOOPER
3 Nicky Winmar
2 Gavin Wanganeen
1 Andrew McLeod
ANTHONY CORRIE
3 Michael Long
2 Gavin Wanganeen
1 Andrew McLeod
JASON ROE
3 Andrew McLeod
2 Adam Goodes
1 Michael Long
COURTENAY DEMPSEY
3 Polly Farmer
2 Nicky Winmar
1 Michael Long
ALBERT PROUD
3 Peter Matera
2 Nicky Winmar
1 Andrew McLeod
CHRIS JOHNSON
3 Michael McLean
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Darryl White
PHIL MATERA
3 Stephen Michael
2 Phil and Jim Krakouer
1 Maurice Rioli
ANDREW McLEOD
3 Michael Long
2 Gavin Wanganeen
1 Adam Goodes
GRAHAM JOHNCOCK
3 Andrew McLeod
2 Michael Long
1 Gavin Wanganeen
MATHEW STOKES
3 Michael McLean
2 Russell Jeffrey
MICHAEL McLEAN
3 Andrew McLeod
2 Gavin Wanganeen
1 Chris Johnson
EDDIE BETTS
3 Andrew McLeod
2 Adam Goodes
1 Gavin Wanganeen
JEFF FARMER
3 Jeff Farmer Sr
2 Nicky Winmar
MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN
3 Gavin Wanganeen
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Adam Goodes
DES HEADLAND
3 Andrew McLeod
2 Chris Johnson
1 Dale Kickett
MICHAEL JOHNSON
3 Michael Long
2 Jeff Farmer
1 Polly Farmer
ROGER HAYDEN
3 Andrew McLeod
2 Adam Goodes
1 Jeff Farmer
ANTONI GROVER
3 Michael Long
2 Chris Lewis
1 Dale Kickett
AARON DAVEY
3 Gavin Wanganeen
2 Michael Long
1 Andrew McLeod
MATTHEW WHELAN
3 Graham Johncock
2 Byron Pickett
1 Jeff Farmer
ISAAC WEETRA
3 Andrew McLeod
2 David Wirrpanda
1 Aaron Davey
JOSH HILL
3 Adam Goodes
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Nicky Winmar
STEPHEN MICHAEL
3 Polly Farmer
2 Gavin Wanganeen
1 Adam Goodes
AUSTIN WONAEAMIRRI
3 David Wirrpanda
2 Aaron Davey
1 Peter Burgoyne
SHAUN BURGOYNE
3 Gavin Wanganeen
2 Michael Long
1 Peter Matera
PETER BURGOYNE
3 Gavin Wanganeen
2 Michael Long
1 Peter Matera
TROY COOK
3 Michael O'Loughlin
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Adam Goodes
DANIEL MOTLOP
3 Gavin Wanganeen
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Adam Goodes
MARK WILLIAMS
3 Stephen Michael
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Adam Goodes
BARRY CABLE
3 Polly Farmer
2 Maurice Rioli
1 Andrew McLeod
Adam Goodes
CHANCE BATEMAN
3 Adam Goodes
2 Maurice Rioli
1 Andrew McLeod
CAMERON STOKES
3 Adam Goodes
2 Andrew McLeod
1 Michael Long
LANCE FRANKLIN
3 Adam Goodes
2 Michael Long
1 Andrew McLeod
CYRIL RIOLI
3 Chris Johnson
2 Adam Goodes
1 Andrew McLeod
NATHAN KRAKOUER
3 Peter Matera
2 Jim and Phil Krakouer
(his uncles)
SHANE EDWARDS
3 Andrew McLeod
2 Adam Goodes
1 Michael Long
LEON DAVIS
3 Peter Matera
2 Michael Long
1 Andrew McLeod
THE TOP DOZEN
Andrew McLeod 56
(top choice of 8 players)
Adam Goodes 38 (6)
Michael Long 36 (4)
Gavin Wanganeen 32 (6)
Polly Farmer 21 (6)
Peter Matera 19 (5)
Nicky Winmar 15 (2)
Stephen Michael 11 (3)
Chris Johnson 7 (1)
Michael McLean 6 (2)
Jim Krakouer 6 (-)
Maurice Rioli 6 (-)
ANDREW McLEOD
Adelaide 1995291 games 252 goals
2 premierships
2 Norm Smith Medals
3 best and fairests
5-time All-Australian
Brownlow Medal
runner-up 2001
Famously overlooked by Fremantle as a young Darwin player trying to break into the
AFL, he was traded to Adelaide where he was best afield in two premiership teams.
Has mesmerised from defence and in attack throughout his career. Named AllAustralian captain last year and has captained Australia in the International Rules
series and the Dream Team against Victoria earlier this season. Still going strong off
half-back, he is the reigning Crows best and fairest.
ADAM GOODES
Sydney 1999217 games
206 goals
1 premiership
2 Brownlow Medals
2 best and fairests
Rising Star
A leader from the start, both as an indigenous player and midfield star for the Swans.
He has taken all before him and is unbeatable on his day. A dual Brownlow medallist
who, at 194cm, has revolutionised the way the big men play.
MICHAEL LONG
Essendon 1989-2001
190 games
143 goals
2 premierships
Norm Smith Medal Came down from Darwin as kid with magical skills and ended as
a trailblazer for his people. He won the Norm Smith Medal in the 1993 premiership
and then in 1995 became an unoffical spokesman for Aboriginal people while at the
centre of a racial vilification storm.
AFL INDIGENOUS ROUND The Long road to level racial field
Advertiser, The (Adelaide, Australia) - Friday, May 23, 2008
Author: MICHELANGELO RUCCI
Michael Long has one endearing quality. He is not imposing any element of shame in
his campaign on Aboriginal issues that has stretched well beyond football's fields.
There was unquestionably a tone of anger on Anzac Day 1995 when he demanded an
end to racial taunting among AFL players - and ensured the start of a racial and
religious vilification code that has replaced shame with pride at AFL House.
There was tension in his fight with Canberra during his walk to the national capital in
November 2004 - now the basis of the annual ``Long Walk'', from Federation Square
to the MCG before tomorrow's Dream Time game between Essendon and Richmond.
But today the popular perception of an activist - in particular one dealing with issues
based on race - does not fit with Long's calm personality. He is not loud. He is not
bullish. He does not push a theme of shame on Australian football.
Perhaps it is that long pause Long, seemingly deliberately, allows after a question on
the racial tone of football's past . . . the one that makes his interviewer think again. Is
it really for Long to answer for the unwritten code that once stopped some VFL-AFL
clubs from recruiting players on racial lines?
Today, there are 72 indigenous players in the AFL. It is a record number with at least
one Aboriginal player at each of the 16 AFL clubs. While Aborigines make up two
per cent of the Australian population, they fill 10 per cent of the places on AFL lists.
Discrimination would seem gone. Fascination has begun, particularly when
Hawthorn's 21-year-old gun forward Lance Franklin is being touted as potentially the
player of the 21st Century.
So, for Long, this weekend - the AFL's Indigenous round - can now be one of
celebration. Of progress.
``That the AFL is one organisation that has embraced indigenous culture - and
changed to create opportunities,'' says Long, now an AFL ambassador who lives
Australian football throughout the year while residing in Darwin and working for the
AFL in Melbourne.
``It is not easy for anyone to get to any elite level in sport.
``More so if there are artificial barriers built on racism or a lack of understanding of
cultures. But our AFL clubs are so much better now . . . they're still learning, but they
have far better structures in place.''
Long attributes the change in attitudes - in a code that judged, and thereby ignored
Aboriginal talent, to a negative stereotype - to three particular coaches in the AFL.
His own Kevin Sheedy at Essendon, Mark Williams at Port Adelaide and Fremantle's
inaugural mentor Gerard Neesham, who remains active in Aboriginal issues.
``Coaches influence change,'' says Long.
``But the real trailblazers were men like Syd Jackson and `Polly' Farmer, who you
admire for what they went through to be successful (while football, let alone society,
accepted racial taunting).
``In 1995,'' adds Long, referring to his ground-breaking moment against racism on
Anzac Day, ``it was about making a stand for all people, not just Aborigines.
``What would it be like to speak today to Joe Johnson (the VFL-AFL's first registered
indigenous player)?
``From one player in 1904 we now have 72 - and he and Pastor (Doug) Nicholls (an
Aboriginal player subjected to racism within his own club at Carlton) and Syd
Jackson would hopefully say all they went through was worthwhile for what we have
today.
``There is recognition for what Aboriginal players can contribute to our game, to our
clubs . . . and to our community.
``Perceptions have been changed.
``Most recently, (Sydney's dual Brownlow Medallist) Adam Goodes has raised the
bar (of expectation and standards of Aboriginal players).
``There's not too many Aboriginal kids missing out now.
``Most of the AFL clubs have put good systems in place to find the talent.''
In AFL football - where the greatest test of a player is said to be on grand final day perception is certainly addressed by the honour roll for the Norm Smith Medal,
awarded to the best-afield on the last Saturday in September.
Since it was first presented in 1979, six of the 29 medals have been won by
indigenous players - Maurice Rioli (Richmond, 1982), Peter Matera (West Coast,
1992), Long (1993), Andrew McLeod (Adelaide, 1997 and '98) and Byron Pickett
(Port Adelaide, 2004).
``All six were named in the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century in 2004 on the
100th anniversary of Johnson's VFL debut with Fitzroy.
The next wall to fall will be that in AFL club administrations . . . and the coaches'
box.
``That time will come . . . time will change that,'' says Long, noting Chris Johnson is
emerging with promise from his apprenticeship at Brisbane.
Having played his part in changing Australian football's racist tone, Long is now
using Australian football to change conditions for indigenous youth.
``It has to serve as a pathway for our kids,'' says Long, who launched the AFL
Indigenous Round at the Kaurna Plains School at Elizabeth on Tuesday.
``Australian football is the vehicle we can use to get our kids back to school . . . and
from there allow them to walk away with a trade.
``It is the way to teach our kids about life and people. And from there we can,
together as a nation, deal with so many issues we face for our future - health, life
expectancy, housing, leadership and change.''
Racism one line few players cross: Swan
Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) - Saturday, April 12, 2008
Author: Samantha Lane, Sydney
MICHAEL O'Loughlin has never been racially vilified by an AFL opponent, but
Sydney's iconic Aboriginal forward has consistently endured racial taunts at games
over his 14-year career.
While his teammate Adam Goodes went through a confidential mediation process
with an opposition player after the dual Brownlow medallist was vilified in a game in
2002, O'Loughlin said indigenous players were more likely to encounter racism while
walking along the boundary line rather than when they were in play.
"There's nothing you can do. I suppose if you react, they know that they've got to you,
so I tend not to. But it's very hard when you're having a sip of your drink and you're
talking to the fitness guy next to you, if someone does say anything. You turn around
but you see a thousand faces. It's difficult to pick one face in a crowd and when you
actually turn around, they don't say anything to you," O'Loughlin said this week.
"It doesn't happen every game. You'll have one idiot, maybe two idiots a year who
yell out some stuff from the other side of the bench when you're walking along.
"It hasn't happened for a long time for me.
"I'm not sure about other players, but those things do stick in your head when it does
happen. You think, 'What are you doing here?' "
Aggressive crowd banter was a part of the game that all players accepted, O'Loughlin
said, while explaining that his close-up encounter with a West Coast fan during the
2006 semi-final at Subiaco was not racially based.
"I didn't hear anything racial towards me there. They were giving me a little bit of
stick, but it wasn't anything to do with the colour of my skin," O'Loughlin said before
the Swans and West Coast meet at Sydney's ANZ Stadium tonight.
Goodes, in an essay he wrote for the AFL's 150-year anniversary book, revealed that
he had instigated AFL mediation with a high-profile opposition player in 2002 after
being called "a f monkey-looking c---" during a game at the SCG. He also wrote that
he was racially vilified at the age of 18 when he was playing for the Swans reserves,
and that, "There are players running round in the AFL right now who have been
vilified that you wouldn't know about".
O'Loughlin said this week that in 14 years playing at the senior level, he had not been
racially vilified - "Growing up I did, back in Adelaide definitely, but not in the AFL."
But after seeing security guards deployed in cricket crowds last summer after the
Indian team's controversy-laden tour of Australia, O'Loughlin wondered whether AFL
crowds could be monitored similarly.
"Although it's hard to actually pick someone out of the crowd when you've got
thousands and thousands of people all over the ground," he said.
O'Loughlin praised the lead the AFL had taken on racial vilification and said other
sports were following.
"It's just making sure that we stay on top of it because obviously there's no place for
racism in sport and sometimes it comes out and guys have a brain explosion, I
suppose," he said.
"A lot of credit has got to go to the older guys who played before me, Nicky Winmar,
Longy (Michael Long) and Syd Jackson . . . obviously, they copped a hell of a lot.
And then taking the stance they did is why I can just go out and play footy. I don't
have to worry about all that other crap."
Meanwhile, Sydney coach Paul Roos said yesterday West Coast's loss of Brownlow
medallist midfielders Ben Cousins and Chris Judd might have been overstated.
Roos said West Coast had begun compensating for Judd, who had battled a serious
groin injury, and Cousins, who was also injured and required time in a drug
rehabilitation clinic, last season.
"They didn't have Ben for a lot of last year anyway and they were still able to do very
well without him playing for 15 weeks. And Chris, similar to Hally (Barry Hall),
couldn't run the last eight games of the season," Roos said.
"I think two players can make a difference, don't get me wrong, but I don't think
suddenly two players (going) mean West Coast are going to go from playing in backto-back grand finals to finishing 15th or 16th."
O'Loughlin grateful to past stars - FOOTBALL
Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) - Saturday, April 12, 2008
Author: Samantha Lane, Sydney
MICHAEL O'Loughlin has never been racially vilified by an AFL opponent, but
Sydney's iconic Aboriginal forward has consistently endured racial taunts at games
over his 14-year career.
While his teammate Adam Goodes went through a confidential mediation process
with an opposition player after the dual Brownlow medallist was vilified in a game in
2002, O'Loughlin said indigenous players were more likely to encounter racism while
walking along the boundary line rather than when they were in play.
"There's nothing you can do. I suppose if you react, they know that they've got to you,
so I tend not to. But it's very hard when you're having a sip of your drink and you're
talking to the fitness guy next to you, if someone does say anything. You turn around
but you see a thousand faces. It's difficult to pick one face in a crowd and when you
actually turn around, they don't say anything to you," O'Loughlin said this week.
"It doesn't happen every game. You'll have one idiot, maybe two idiots a year who
yell out some stuff from the other side of the bench when you're walking along.
"It hasn't happened for a long time for me.
"I'm not sure about other players, but those things do stick in your head when it does
happen. You think, 'What are you doing here?' "
Aggressive crowd banter was a part of the game that all players accepted, O'Loughlin
said, while explaining that his close-up encounter with a West Coast fan during the
2006 semi-final at Subiaco was not racially based.
"I didn't hear anything racial towards me there. They were giving me a little bit of
stick, but it wasn't anything to do with the colour of my skin," O'Loughlin said.
"The majority of times, they're telling me how much of an idiot I am and how much
they don't like me, which is fine, that's footy, that's no dramas. Ninety-nine per cent of
the crowd is amazing, but you get that 1%," O'Loughlin said before the Swans and
West Coast meet at Sydney's ANZ Stadium tonight.
"I suppose if you're playing well or the team's winning, you get up peoples' noses and
they feel it's the only way to get you off your game, I suppose. I don't understand it,
but that's what I've been told growing up."
Goodes, in an essay he wrote for the AFL's 150-year anniversary book, revealed that
he had instigated AFL mediation with a high-profile opposition player in 2002 after
being called "a f monkey-looking c---" during a game at the SCG. He also wrote that
he was racially vilified at the age of 18 when he was playing for the Swans reserves,
and that, "There are players running round in the AFL right now who have been
vilified that you wouldn't know about".
O'Loughlin said this week that in 14 years playing at the senior level, he had not been
racially vilified - "Growing up I did, back in Adelaide definitely, but not in the AFL."
But after seeing security guards deployed in cricket crowds last summer after the
Indian team's controversy-laden tour of Australia, O'Loughlin wondered whether AFL
crowds could be monitored similarly.
"Although it's hard to actually pick someone out of the crowd when you've got
thousands and thousands of people all over the ground," he said.
O'Loughlin praised the lead the AFL had taken on racial vilification and said other
sports were following.
"It's just making sure that we stay on top of it because obviously there's no place for
racism in sport and sometimes it comes out and guys have a brain explosion, I
suppose," he said.
"A lot of credit has got to go to the older guys who played before me, Nicky Winmar,
Longy (Michael Long) and Syd Jackson . . . obviously, they copped a hell of a lot.
And then taking the stance they did is why I can just go out and play footy. I don't
have to worry about all that other crap."