Girl's Aussie Rules racial slur mars big weekend
Aboriginal star Goodes shattered by 'ape' jibe but asks fans to forgive remorseful teenager
It was supposed to be a weekend honouring Australia's indigenous community and its contribution to Australian Rules football both on and off the field.
Instead, a 13-year-old girl's racist comment directed at one of the sport's top Aboriginal stars created more headlines than any goal-kicker's exploits in the Australian Football League.
Adam Goodes, a two-time title winner with the Sydney Swans and twice winner of the league's most valuable player award, the Brownlow Medal, was left visibly upset after a racial taunt from the young spectator at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Sydney beat Collingwood 15.12 (102) to 8.7 (55) on Friday in the opening match of the AFL's Indigenous Round after Goodes kicked three goals and had 30 possessions. The round coincided with national Sorry Day yesterday, which acknowledged the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal people in Australia.
Goodes left the field shaking his head late in the match after pointing to the girl in a Collingwood jumper, and the supporter was led from the venue by security staff.
More than 65,000 attended the match.
"To come to the boundary line and to hear a 13-year-old girl call me an ape - and it's not the first time on the footy field I've been referred to as a monkey or an ape - it was shattering," said Goodes.