Goodes’ AFL future remains unclear

Adam Goodes’ immediate AFL future remains unclear after widespread support for the Sydney star across the league over the weekend.

Goodes sat out Saturday’s win over Adelaide and is understood to have spent a few days away from Sydney after the simmering controversy about fans booing him came to a head.

Following the loss to West Coast in Perth a week ago, the Swans gave him indefinite leave and the issue exploded into a heated national debate about Goodes, racism and how fans should behave.

That prompted many gestures and messages at round 18, where fans and players backed Goodes amid a widespread hope that he would return to playing soon.

The Swans are cautiously optimistic that he will be back at the club this week.

Coach John Longmire will give a media conference at the Swans headquarters on Monday afternoon.

Once Goodes has returned to the club, then it becomes a question of whether he plays against Geelong next Saturday night at Simonds Stadium.

The Cats have already spoken to Sydney in case Goodes is in the Swans team.

If Goodes plays, it would be the first test of calls from AFL officials, coaches and players for fans to stop booing him on the grounds that it is bullying and racist.

Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said last week that any abuse of the Swans star at Simonds Stadium would not be the Cats’ way.

One of the most poignant gestures for Goodes, who wears No.37 on his guernsey, came during Sydney’s home win on Saturday over Adelaide.

In the third term, the SCG crowd applauded Goodes at the seventh minute.

Western Bulldogs captain Rob Murphy also wore No.37 for the coin toss before Sunday’s Etihad Stadium match against Essendon.

Murphy then wore his normal No.2 during the match, with the Bulldogs playing in their indigenous round guernseys.

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