MORE: Jetta's dance silences Goodes haters
The Swans travelled to Perth to take on an emerging Eagles outfit, and were comprehensively outplayed by West Coast who ran out 52-point winners.
However, West Coast’s rise to power played second-fiddle to the major talking point of the game, when Jetta hit-back at the mindless booing of two-time Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes.
Goodes was booed each time he gathered a possession in a trend that dates back to May, when the Premiership-winning Swan celebrated a goal with a traditional war dance during Indigenous Round.
Jetta kicked a final quarter goal on Sunday and celebrated by performing his own rendition of Goodes’ war dance in response to the booing, with the incident sending Twitter into meltdown.
While Longmire and Eagles coach Adam Simpson had no issue with the incident, West Coast legend Glen Jakovich was critical of Jetta’s actions while commentating the game for SEN radio.
“This is unacceptable in any sport,” said Jakovich.
Jetta addressed the incident at the end of the game in an interview with sydneyswans.com.au.
“All through the game, Goodesy (Goodes) was getting touches and getting booed, so just a bit of support,” Jetta said.
“He’s a superstar of the game… fans need to show more respect for what he’s done for the game.
“This booing stuff, it needs to be thrown out the window.”
Asked what he thought of Jetta's reaction to the booing, Goodes said: “It’s awesome. To see him do that made me very proud.
“It’s fantastic… He’s definitely got the moves and he definitely performed it a lot better than I did.
“It’s a continual battle at the moment and it's frustrating just to have all that bad energy targeted towards me, it’s just disappointing.”
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan this morning backed Jetta's stance on the issue saying, "enough is enough," in reference to the booing of Goodes.
Take a look at the social media reaction and let us know what you think of the incident on Twitter, @SportalAU.
#Jetta performs #wardance during a game and everyone loses their mind. Every #NZ game celebrated with a war dance #getyourhandoffitAustralia
— Nigel Browne (@Garamanak) July 27, 2015
@AFL have a player conduct policy and rightly so! J Riewoldt copped a $1k fine for the bird to the crowd so we'll see if AFL sanction Jetta.
— Glen Jakovich (@gjakovich27) July 26, 2015
On'ya Jetta. Attitude of #westcoast fans absolutely disgusting. Just play the game, watch the game, enjoy the game. #jetta #goodesy
— Alex Westwood (@Xanderman428) July 26, 2015
.@barrettdamian I think #goodes gets booed cos people think he's a flog, like Ballantyne, Crowley, B Harvey etc. #jetta made it about colour
— Deccan Schembri (@DeccanSchembri) July 27, 2015
How will #Jetta and #Goodes react if the public stand up and point imaginary rifles at them? Unacceptable behaviour on both sides. Grow up.
— Steve #TeamAus (@GoalChanger) July 26, 2015
@BreakfastNews The constant and continual booing of Adam Goodes is now a form of bullying. AFL crowds can hide behind 'mob' behaviour #jetta
— Kirby the Just (@jrdn54) July 26, 2015
Proud men standing strong for culture, but imaginary spears still scare the white fella: #Jetta #Goodes #footy http://t.co/vna4XH8b9s
— D'Hawk (@DimityHawkins) July 26, 2015
Goodesy, again, it's not because of your skin colour, we just don't like you. Your a whinging twat. Stop sooking #goodes #jetta #haveacry
— Anthony Pearson (@apswagga12) July 26, 2015
No issue with #Jetta celebration except he's now subjected us to another week of 'social commentary' on this alleged story. Monday lead? FFS
— Roger Oldridge (@roger_oldridge) July 26, 2015
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan condemned the booing of players but said he did not believe there was a racial motive behind it. LOL #jetta #AFL
— Malcolm Hill (@MalcolmHill) July 26, 2015
@gjakovich27 @AFL Should we also fine the clubs if their fans are obnoxious? #Jetta did not use offensive language he just said that that?
— Hmmmm..... (@TwitWhatter) July 26, 2015
It needs to be more than that. Needs to be every @AFL player taking this on for everyone not just teammates #jetta https://t.co/LMJtQwybJ5
— AJ Roberts (@AJRobertsWriter) July 26, 2015
@gjakovich27 @AFL Goodes is a legend and doesn't deserve relentless booing. Good work Lewis #Jetta
— Jesse Custer (@sydney372332) July 26, 2015
@SwansSupport please pass on to #Jetta how #proud we are of him for standing by @adamroy37 and doing the #WarDance. #RacismStopsWithMe 🔴⚪️❤️
— Shannon Busch (@nona80_swanette) July 26, 2015
#jetta stop being a tool not Goodes enough ta muppet
— phil orlando (@orlandophil) July 26, 2015
Jetta and goodes set the reconciliation cause backwards again! Way to divide the country idiots. #auspol
— Ryder (@anglosaxonryder) July 27, 2015