Sydney Swans star Lewis Jetta copped criticism after he mimed throwing a spear into a crowd of West Coast fans over the weekend, although he says he only performed the gesture to stick up for his mate Adam Goodes.
In the below video, sections of the crowd at Sunday’s Swans-Eagles match can be heard booing as Jetta prepares to kick a fourth-quarter goal – as the ball sails through the posts, he can be seen turning to the crowd and performing the dance.
Goodes himself caused a similar stir in May, after directing a war dance at Carlton supporters.
Swans coach John Longmire said that he spoke to Jetta after the match, and that the wingman was upset by the hostile reception that teammate Goodes received there, and similar abuse at games around the country.
“Look, he wanted to celebrate the goal and he wanted to stick up for a mate,” Longmire later told the media.
“I spoke to him after the game and he was upset with the booing, and he’s had enough of it.”
“Lewis is a young kid who has come to Sydney and Goodesy has been such a powerful figure for him. He’s pretty close to Goodesy, and he was reacting and trying to show some support for a mate of his.”
“We understand what he’s doing. We understand that he’s been frustrated by it, and he wants to stick up for Adam. He doesn’t think that Adam deserves it.”
West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson said that he was surprised at the way certain sections of the crowd treated Goodes, and the booing that he received.
“I was sort of hoping we would be better than that,” he said. “I’m sure it’s the minority, and for the most part we do respect Adam and who he stands for and what he does.”
Not everyone has been supportive of Jetta in the wake of the incident; former West Coast player Glen Jakovich was critical of his actions, saying “this is unacceptable in any sport.”
West Coast ultimately secured a 52-point victory over Sydney in yesterday’s match.
via Herald Sun / SBS News
Photo: Daniel Carson / AFL Media via Getty Images
