Sydney’s Adam Goodes was visibly distressed after an apparent racial taunt from a fan marred his side’s 47-point victory over Collingwood in the AFL round-nine clash at the MCG on Friday night.
Sydney won 15.12 (102) to 8.7 (55) with Goodes in tremendous form in the opening match of the AFL’s Indigenous Round, kicking three goals and gathering 30 possessions.
However the dual Brownlow Medallist and indigenous star left the field shaking his head late in the match after the 33-year-old pointed to a female fan in a Collingwood jumper and the supporter was led from the venue by security staff.
Sydney coach John Longmire said he didn’t know details about the clash.
“I haven’t a had a long conversation with Adam and I will in the coming days about it,” Longmire said.
“Adam was clearly disappointed and upset.
“It’s something everyone takes really seriously. But he’s happy for the AFL to take the lead and really let them deal with it.”
Longmire said Goodes’s performance in the match was magnificent and he was driven to perform well in the Indigenous Round.
“He’s a leader in his community and he’s a powerful figure,” Longmire said.
“The way he drove himself tonight was pretty special.”
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire went into the Sydney change rooms after the match to offer his apologies for the incident and Longmire said he appreciated the gesture.
“I spoke to Adam, and he told me what he’d heard,” McGuire told Channel Seven.
“I apologised to him on behalf of the Collingwood Football Club and football people in general.
“We have a zero tolerance at the Collingwood football club on this. It’s devastating.”
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said the fan’s behaviour was disappointing.
“I believe it was a young girl. That speaks more to how much more work we need to do in this regard,” he said.
“We’ll support Adam in this situation and do anything we need to do to further improve the attitudes in society.”
Sydney surged to a 48-point advantage at three-quarter time before both sides kicked four goals each in the final term.
The Swans claimed their sixth win and jumped one spot to third on the ladder, while the Magpies suffered their fourth loss.
Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh and Dan Hannebery led Sydney’s midfield which simply out-ran the Magpies, constantly finding space as they turned defence into attack.
Big forward Travis Cloke (three goals) was a rare winner for the Magpies while Scott Pendlebury and Luke Ball were strong contributors.
It was Sydney’s first win at the MCG over Collingwood since 2000.
Collingwood travel to Brisbane to play the Lions at the Gabba next Friday and Sydney host Essendon at the SCG the following day.