AFL Commission Chair Richard Goyder today said Adam Goodes had notified him earlier this year that he would decline to accept induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Goyder, the Chair also of the Hall of Fame selection committee, said Mr Goodes had asked the AFL to not detail his decision and its reasons before this year's induction event, which had been due to be held on June 22, before its postponement due to the current Covid-19 lockdown in Victoria.
"Adam had asked the AFL to wait before announcing his decision, which has now been made public separately," Mr Goyder said.
"Adam was clear he did not want his decision to detract from the moment for the 2021 inductees.
"Adam remains a great champion and leader of our game who has given more to our sport than he received in return.
"The treatment of Adam in his final years at AFL level drove him from football. The AFL and our game did not do enough to stand with him at the time, and call it out.
"The unreserved apology that the game provided him in 2019 was too late, but, on behalf of our Commission and the AFL, I apologise unreservedly again for our failures during this period.
"Failure to call out racism and not standing up for Adam let down all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, past and present.
"We hope that there will be a time in the future when Adam will want to be connected to the game again. This is a decision for Adam and Adam only and we understand and respect his choice," Mr Goyder said.
