People seem to have trouble drawing the line between what is racist, and what is reactionary. What is necessary, and what is, well, over the top?
While the Goodes booing saga has polarised opinion, it’s hard to deny the fact that the aggressive outing of Goodes was somewhat racially motivated in the first instance.
Booing aside, another argument on the topic of Goodes seems to be bubbling under the surface, waiting to erupt the minute the dual Brownlow medallist and dual premiership player celebrates a goal with another traditional war-dance.
Will Goodes play on in season 2016? The short answer? Yes!
ICYMI: Adam Goodes is pleased with the role he is playing in the Swans side this season: http://t.co/nlSBZnm9Zv pic.twitter.com/tRnVElyzWc
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) June 24, 2015
There are any number of articles and columns floating through the Australian sports media at the moment, denouncing the value of Goodes to the Swans in 2016.
Heck, those sort of articles have been going around for years now! They all raise interesting, and differing points as to why Goodes will call it a day at the end of 2015, after 17 years at the top level.
In 2015, his averages are down, there’s not doubt about that. However, the past six weeks are testament to the fact that Goodes still has a lot to offer the Swans moving forward.
He’s in his best form since a severe knee injury midway through 2013.
You see, it’s all about two things in football - good form, and winning. And Goodes has both of these things on his side. He’s making a significant contribution in a team that is expected to feature heavily in the last couple of weeks of the season.
Goodes' recent
“My whole goal about still playing was to win another (premiership),” Goodes said, when asked why he played on in 2015 after such a disappointing Grand Final effort the year before.
Here is the story behind the War cry a big thanks to the #FlyingBoomerangs of 2009 for sharing #language #culture https://t.co/gVlsuuKZfz
— Adam Goodes (@adamroy37) May 30, 2015
Goodes, the only remaining member of the drought-breaking premiership team of 2005, didn’t clear anything up when asked if he wanted to play on next season.
“Who knows? It's a long way forward yet,” Goodes said.
“If you could fast-forward and tell me what's going to happen (at the end of the year) I could answer that question a bit better, but there's a lot of hard work go on before then.”
The argument for Goodes to continue into an 18th season revolves around the fact that he knows what it takes to win on the biggest stage. He has something that cannot be measured in numbers or statistics - experience.
As long as his body holds up, and as long as the fire still burns for premiership glory, public enemy number one, Adam Goodes will have a place in the Swans line-up in 2016, there’s no doubt about it.