As they sat in the bus on the long drive up to Sydney, the years 5 and 6 students from the town in which Adam Goodes spent his teenage years were asked what they made of the debate that engulfed the Swans legend since he took leave from football amid racial taunts and booing from crowds. Their responses put a heated dispute in perspective and could serve as a lesson to many much older Australians.

"They just don't see it. They can't conceptualise racism because at their level it doesn't exist. Everyone's the same to them," teacher Kerrie Nolan said.

"They were talking about the issues, they were talking about emotions and feelings, and they came out with stuff about being disappointed in fans, disappointed in our country. They were very much siding with him and supporting him.

"Particularly at our school where there are a lot of kids from other cultures and countries, and quite a few Aboriginal kids, they were just like 'Everyone's our mate'. They were saying things like 'I would never say bad things to someone because of their skin colour'."

Ms Nolan told the students she hoped that when they grew up issues around racism won't need to be discussed any more.

"This is what it's all about," she said. "We talked how cultural change happens and I explained that sometimes big things have to happen for change to occur. I think it's a really good thing that these kids are not a part of the problem. It gives you hope for 10 or 20 years down the track."

The group is in Sydney for a week of workshops, playing games and learning about jobs in the sporting industry. Their visit had been booked months ahead, coincidently on the day of one of the club's more significant training sessions.

On a similar trip last year, Ms Nolan said, Goodes and another Swans player from Horsham, Jake Lloyd, took the kids out onto the ground and spoke to them at length. This time, however, after a pretty intense week, Goodes just had a quick chat on his way back to the change rooms after training and signed autographs.