Adam Goodes Will Return To Training Tomorrow

By

Cam Tyeson

Published

After an unprecedented show of support from his fellow professional athletes, as well as the footballing media and public, Sydney Swans champion Adam Goodes will return to training at the club tomorrow afternoon, after a week long personal leave of absence necessitated by the barrage of continuous racially-charged booing and abuse he copped at the hands of boofhead fans.

Sydney coach John Longmire today confirmed that Goodes will be resuming his on-field duties with the club, ahead of the team’s clash with the Geelong Cats at Simonds Stadium in Geelong this coming Saturday night.
Longmire stated that Goodes was in a good frame of mind, and was excited to get back to playing football – having been encouraged by the display of unity from fellow players over the weekend.

Both the Richmond and Western Bulldogs football clubs wore their Indigenous round designed jumpers for their respective games on the weekend as a mark of respect and solidarity. Meanwhile the Melbourne Demons players wore wrist bands in the colours of the Aboriginal Flag, Indigenous players at Collingwood wore arm bands in support of Goodes, and numerous Indigenous players performed dances of celebration after kicking goals as a means of standing behind Goodes.
The broader media also stood in an unprecedented show of support – most notably The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, who wrapped their Saturday editions in special-run posters that championed Goodes and supported his cause.

Sydney Swans supporters, meanwhile, showed up to the SCG for this past Saturday’s game against the Adelaide Crows wearing red t-shirts with Goodes’ number 37 on them – and in the seventh minute of the third quarter, stood and applauded for a minute in tribute.

Longmire stopped short of putting a definitive time frame on Goodes’ return to the senior squad, stating that Goodes was “mature enough” to know when he will be ready. Nevertheless, he remained cautiously optimistic that he would be available for this coming weekend’s clash.
And when he does run out on the field for the next time – it will (at least hopefully) be to a deafening roar of cheers and applause. For if it isn’t, you shudder to think of the consequences.
Though things may have a long, long way to go towards true unity and cohesion, this past weekend’s displays represented a big first step forward. And one definitely taken in the right direction.
Photo: Cameron Spencer via Getty Images.

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