Retiring Sydney legend Adam Goodes says he hasn’t thought about playing any role in AFL grand final festivities as debate continues over whether he should participate in the annual lap of honour for retired players.
Goodes announced the end of his 372-game career with Sydney after their semi-final home loss to North Melbourne on Saturday.
There was a financial sting in the tail for Goodes, with the match review panel fining him for kicking out at Kangaroos defender Scott Thompson.
He can accept a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea.
Goodes isn’t expected to attend the grand final.
The dual Brownlow Medallist didn’t conduct a formal press conference at the club’s Mad Monday function but informally advised some media he hadn’t thought about the grand final.
“Rumours are rumours. It’s my last Mad Monday and I want to enjoy it with my team-mates,” Goodes told the ABC.
“I haven’t even thought about it to be honest. I didn’t think we’d lose this weekend.”
Essendon legend Tim Watson believes the booing that has followed Goodes over much of his final season would likely be repeated on grand final day.
“Because after all this, all that took place, after he stood down from the game for a week because of the mental anguish associated with booing, he came back and there was still booing,” Watson told SEN Radio.
“He went to Fremantle last week and there was a lot of booing. There was booing again at ANZ Stadium (on Saturday) even though it was a small crowd of 31,000.
“I think that he doesn’t want to put himself in a position like that again.”
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire hoped the AFL would convince Goodes to attend the season-ending showpiece as he felt fans would want to send him off in appropriate fashion.
“Let him have a couple of days, let him have his Mad Monday, settle down and have a week – and later in the week go to him and say `come on, we really want you to be there’,” McGuire told Triple M on Monday.
“I think all fans would love to send him off. I know there’s been all this booing at times and at times it’s been gratuitous and other times it’s just been part of the play, but I wouldn’t think anyone would boo Adam Goodes on a farewell lap at the MCG. Surely not.
“I’d love him to get a big round of applause.”
Swans star Luke Parker also felt fans on grand final day would treat Goodes with respect.
“It would be great for the fans to be able to celebrate his career and show how much respect they have for him, because I think the majority of them do,” Parker said.
“I think it’s pretty hard for him to go down there and watch the grand final.
“I think most of the boys, knowing we had the opportunity to be there, would rather not watch the grand final.
“It’s going to be just up to him, whether he wants to or not.”
