AFL legend Adam Goodes has spoken about the moment he stood up to racism by singling out a 13-year-old girl who called him an ape, revealing there's a surprising reason he wouldn't change a thing if he had his time over again.
The former Sydney Swans star became a symbol for Indigenous rights after standing up to relentless crowd abuse during the controversial incident in 2013.
Goodes had been standing near the sidelines during the last two minutes of the match between Sydney and Collingwood when he heard someone in the crowd yell over the fence: 'Goodes, you're an ape.'
The culprit was a 13-year-old girl. She was escorted from the ground by security guards after the Swans star pointed her out.
Goodes, who faced backlash for drawing attention to the offensive comment, told told ABC TV's The Assembly he would do the same thing if he had his time over.
'Some people go, 'Would you go back and stop that moment where you pointed out to the [13] year-old-girl who racially vilified you?''' Goodes said.
'If I did that, and that didn't happen, then where I am today is completely different.'
The dual Brownlow medalist has since become a symbol for Indigenous rights in Australia - but his decision to confront the young fan also led to him meeting the mother of his children.
Goodes, who faced backlash for drawing attention to the offensive comment, said he wouldn't change a thing if he could have his time over again
Goodes didn't know at the time, but his stand would lead him to meeting the love of his life, wife Natalie Croker (pictured together with their daughter Adelaide)
'What I did that night was I stood up against racism in that moment,' he said.
'Then a year later I was announced Australian of the Year … and what happened during that process was the producer … who was filming me for the three months for the profile piece, we became quite [close] friends.
'To the point where she's birthed three of my children and she's my wife.
'So, if I didn't stand up in that moment I may not have ever met her and I may not be where I am.'
Goodes went on to say that he would give his younger self some advice if he had the chance to.
'I'd put my hand on my shoulder and say, "Everything will turn out alright",' he said.
'I'm very grateful for the decisions I've made, good and bad, because they've made me who I am.'
Goodes (pictured with wife Natalie) was announced as the Australian of the Year after he stood up to racism in footy
In 2019 the AFL issued an apology to Goodes for the league's failures during the final months of his career.
'The treatment of Adam challenges us, and our right to be considered Australia's indigenous football code,' the statement read.
'Adam, who represents so much that is good and unique about our game, was subject to treatment that drove him from football. The game did not do enough to stand with him, and call it out.
'We apologise unreservedly for our failures during this period.'
