GIANTS PLEDGE ONGOING COMMITMENT TO RESPECT AND INCLUSION

Statement from CEO David Matthews

As a club built on the values of inclusiveness and respect for all cultures, the GWS GIANTS are standing shoulder to shoulder with our cross-town neighbours the Sydney Swans and Adam Goodes.

Australian Football is a game for all people. It’s a place to come together as one.

It is also a game marked by the passion and commitment of its fans. Australian Football supporters are the best in the world.

Every year they make a deep commitment to their club and to the game. As a result they have a right to be heard. They have a right to be loud and proud. But it does not give anyone the right to set aside the basic principle of respect.

Whether you are playing or watching our game, everyone fundamentally deserves to be treated with respect.

We encourage fans to support their team hard, but do it the right way. The vast majority of Australian Football fans strike the right balance and now more than ever, we must ensure that balance is acknowledged at AFL matches.

Like everyone else, we have watched the events surrounding Adam Goodes closely.

We will work with the Swans and the AFL on how we can continue the ongoing promotion of inclusion and celebrating one of the greats of our game.

During my time as the AFL's General Manager of game development I was fortunate enough to see first-hand Adam's impact on our industry and the wider community.

As a genuine champion of our game and someone who has given so much to Australian Football and the broader community for almost two decades - including a tireless commitment to growing the game in New South Wales – we should ask ourselves, is this how Adam Goodes should be farewelled from the game?

Ultimately the impact on the player must be considered. Whatever the rationale for arriving at this point, the end result is what matters now.

Our game has an incredible capacity to bind people under difficult circumstances. Our game also has a proud record of celebrating diversity.

Now is the time to bring those virtues to the fore once again.