The Final Quarter Documentary: a reflection
Some lessons from Australia that have global impact
The recent documentary, The Final Quarter, that aired on Australian television created quite a media and social media stir. And so it should have. The documentary highlights the last three years of the Sydney Swans Australian Football League (AFL) player Adam Goodes and the issues he faced from crowds booing to media personalities all having an opinion on Goodes as a player, person and indigenous Australian. It was tough to watch and highlighted the problem faced by indigenous AFL players and those in the broader community. What was most disturbing though, is how senior media personalities continually attempted to justify their stance against Goodes with little or no attempt to show any humility or accept that he had been wronged. The actions of Eddie McGuire are particularly disturbing in his efforts to offer up apologies only to have a ‘slip of the tongue’ days later and use disparaging language towards Goodes.
As a migrant to Australia in the early 1970’s, I still recall being made to feel different by those around me. Just to note, this isn’t about me but it’s good to have some small insight to wait others face. Australia was only just ending a decades long white Australia policy that limited migrants to the country from mainly European nations. So even though those around me looked the same as me, I found it hard to have my say given the constant referencing to me being a pom. Sure, this broke down over time as new arrivals came or my accent diminished but I still recall being made to feel different and lesser than those doing the name calling. Now this is in no way on the scale of racism that has been and continues to be leveled at indigenous Australians, or to those that have migrated to Australia from other nations in the last 40 years.
Racism is rife throughout Australia. As a white man of European decent, I see and hear it every day among colleagues and those I come in to contact with. It isn’t even that well-hidden. If I am with a group of similar class and race, they will assume that the use of racist language and idioms are acceptable. This relates to white Europeans and their attitudes to those that look and appear different. I am also certain that other ethnic groups are just as racist to each other, but I cannot comment on this as my circle of acquaintances is limited here.
The documentary highlighted the limited agency available to Goodes to defend himself from what was being whipped up at football games and through the media. Any attempt Goodes made to defend his actions or comment on what maelstrom around him just added fuel to the fire of those taking part in vilifying him. Let’s not forget that this is a dual Brownlow Medalist and one of the best players to ever have played the game of AFL. During the period of the documentary, Goodes was also named Australian of the Year due to his efforts in via the Go Foundation in empowering young indigenous Australians. These qualities are what we all should aspire to for ourselves or our children yet there was a large section of the football supporting population that went out of their way to tear him down.
We have a phenomenon in Australia called the tall poppy syndrome. It is where a group resent any achievements by individuals who have risen to a superior status in society through sport, wealth, celebrity etc. Even if we apportion the general opposition football supporter of criticizing Goodes and label them as having tall poppy syndrome, how do we account for successful media personalities doing the same? You would think that they may have some empathy for someone being vilified and going through what Goodes had to endure. But no. They appear, in the documentary to revel in having their say on a contentious issue regardless of the outcome of their actions.
The racism faced by Adam Goodes is far from the first time an indigenous player has had to deal with racist comments from supporters. As far back as 1993, Nicky Winmar famously lifted his football shirt to show opposition supporters that he was proud of being an indigenous Australian. That action has even led to a statue being erected at the new stadium in Perth of the iconic image taken on the day. Yet still it goes on. You can blame fathers and mothers taking their children to a game and letting them hear racist abuse towards players as how the problem has continued. However, this is not an issue limited to the sporting field and goes far deeper through Australian society, despite those in government or associations that believe it is just an aberration.
Well done to the makers of The Final Quarter and to Adam Goodes for allowing his story to be told. As an opposition supporter, it is OK to boo the champions for the right reasons and this shouldn’t change in any sport. It’s just being parochial. But never to the extent that Goodes endured during his final season. We seem to forget he is a human being like the rest of us with feelings that can be hurt, and this comes through in the documentary, especially during the second half of the season and Goodes abstaining from taking part in the Grand Final parade of retiring players.
We are better than this and although I don’t have the answers on how to stop racism in Australia or anywhere else, I do try to make those around me aware that their comments and actions are not acceptable. If the legacy I leave are my children and their tolerance to others, then maybe I’ve had a small win without having to do so on a sporting field.
