The regular booing of Adam Goodes throughout the season and in particular during the Swans‘ Grand Final loss to Hawthorn is being delivered with a racial undertone, according to Patrick Smith.
Goodes has been heckled for much of the year, even when playing at home, and might have played his last game of football on Saturday as he contemplates his playing future.
“What I didn‘t like (from the Grand Final) was the booing of Adam Goodes.
“I can only presume that the booing is racial – it‘s the only thing that I could think of why you would boo him that constantly,†Smith said on Hungry for Sport.
He points back to last year when Goodes was racially abused by a young teenage girl in the crowd, and said that the 34 year-old was still receiving backlash for his stance on the incident.
“I think there is a kick-back from the time he effectively reported that girl for racially abusing him.
“I do think there is a nasty racial undertone to that booing, which is really, really shocking.â€
Smith told SEN it was a black mark on the Grand Final and was greatly disappointed such a star of the game was booed in what could be his last game of football.
“It ruined the Grand Final in many ways.
“It doesn‘t make sense to go and boo the Australian of the Year, two-time Brownlow Medallist and champion who could be playing his last game.â€
