"IF I had to map out a plan, the first thing I would do would be to call it out as racism, call it for what it is … some people have a problem with the 'R' word and being called a racist."
This is the view of Collingwood Football Club board member Jodie Sizer, one of Australia's foremost indigenous leaders, when asked how the AFL industry should react if it was to again face the type of shameful behaviour directed at Adam Goodes in his final two seasons.
In the latest In The Game podcast with Damian Barrett, Sizer says the AFL didn’t act sufficiently quickly nor effectively when confronted with the booing of all-time great Goodes in 2014 and 2015.
Find In the Game on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify
"Overall, the AFL leadership, in trying to grapple with what the action should have been … I think (CEO) Gill (McLachlan) acknowledged he should have taken action earlier and what they would have stood to achieve at that point in time," Sizer said.
"Of course if we are going to talk about zero tolerance and what I would expect from our club, we would need immediate action, followed up in a timely way."
A documentary on Goodes' exit from football will be generally released next month, which Sizer said would force the industry to ask itself questions.
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"We certainly did live that time, that chapter, and it tells a story of reality for us, as aboriginal people," she said.
"For any person to leave the game the way Adam Goodes had to is unacceptable. For any person to be Australian Of The Year, Brownlow medallist, All Australian, champion person, to have that happen is unacceptable.
"And the industry should never accept that that happens again, and there is no question racism was the active part of that.
"… As a whole, I wonder if we would be having this conversation if the doco wasn't made, to say where are we at, what did this tell us, to have some reflection.
"It makes us take notice of some of those real, lived experiences and the doco there is forcing the importance of having that conversation."
The far-reaching, full interview with Jodie Sizer on In The Game with Damian Barrett can be accessed here.
Find In the Game on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify
Episode Guide
3:32 – 'My deep passion is really about creating change'
8:40 – No denying regrettable incidences
10:12 – Truth telling
11:52 – The 20-60-20 rule
13:45 – Collingwood board member
16:38 – 'Unacceptable' treatment of Adam Goodes
22:00 – Are you disappointed with the AFL organisation?
24:22 – The 'R' word, let's call it what it is
27:08 – Player empowerment
29:10 – 'It's just bulls**t… and it will never happen again'
33:46 – Becoming an indigenous leader
37:44 – If you could change one thing?
