The world's most famous rugby team does it every match, one of the best players in rugby league does it when he scores a try and our greatest football player does it when he scores a goal. In each instance adrenaline and pride are the drivers. And, no one seems to be offended.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Yet, when Adam Goodes marked his first goal in the opening game of the AFL's Indigenous round on Friday night with a dramatic display of emotion, reactions ranged from solid backing to the racist defacing of the ex-Australian of the Year's Wikipedia page.
Certainly, Goodes' Indigenous war cry, in which the Swans' veteran advanced menacingly towards a section of Carlton supporters, was more confronting than Tim Cahill charging to a corner flag and pretending to be Rocky Balboa. It was more intimidating than Greg Inglis doing his trademark goanna walk after a try. And, while the New Zealand All Blacks' haka is as aggressive as anything in world sport, it is directed at opposition players, not fans.
Nevertheless, Goodes said on Saturday morning, in the same way the haka is seen positively as a statement of cultural pride, his celebration in the second quarter of Sydney's 10-goal win should be interpreted as a declaration of identity and strength. Yes, it was designed to intimidate, but it was not, he repeatedly stated, designed to offend.
"You ask any New Zealander about the haka. Do you think the Wallabies get their back up and fear that that's offensive?" he said.
"Is this the lesson we want to teach our children, that when we don't understand something we get angry … [and decide] it's offensive? No. If it's something we don't understand, let's have a conversation and understand.
"I'm very proud about my culture. It's a culture that I've only learnt a lot about in the last 10 years and I want to represent."
For his part, Inglis offered support following South Sydney's win over the Titans on the Gold Coast.
"I'll stick up for Adam and what he stands for," he said. "That's an AFL problem to deal with."
Lost in the drama of Friday night were other examples of Goodes' representation. He is a front person for the Recognise Movement, which is seeking formal recognition of First Australians in the constitution. An advertisement was played on the big screen at the SCG at half-time. The GO Foundation, which Goodes founded with former teammate Michael O'Loughlin, was the official matchday partner. GO currently is paying the full tuition fees for 11 Indigenous children and is working towards supporting many more.
It was children learning about their Indigenous identity that created the war cry Goodes unleashed. After midday he posted a video on his Twitter page which gave an insight into its history. The video explains that the Flying Boomerangs, an under 16s Indigenous development squad, was to travel in 2009 to play in Papua New Guinea and knew they would be on the receiving end of a local war dance.
"Through leadership and cultural learning," the video says, "they pulled together the words and actions that started it all." It was adopted by Indigenous All Stars players, but Goodes had missed out for various reasons on playing for the team.
"I haven't had the opportunity ... to do the war cry, to show that passion and that pride about being a warrior and representing my people and where I come from," he said, adding that this round of the AFL could be the last chance for the 35-year-old, who is likely in his last season.
"I was just grateful to be able to do it and for the right people to be able to embrace it for what it was. Everybody else, take a chill pill, understand what I was doing," he said.
"If we're telling our people out there that you can't represent your culture or represent where you come from … what are we saying?"
