Adam Goodes’ Indigenous war cry has been immortalised by the Sydney Swans in a larger-than-life bronze sculpture at the players’ entrance at the club’s new home.
Almost eight years to the day since Goodes performed the dance that changed the course of his devastating final season, the man who has performed more times on the SCG than any other sportsman returned to the club to witness the unveiling of a commemoration he initially resisted.
Lance Reilly, whose late father Elkin was an Indigenous pioneer for South Melbourne, was also at the unveiling of the sculpture, which was installed on Thursday and concealed in covering until lunchtime on Friday.The paradoxical circumstances surrounding Goodes’ heroic stature in the game and at Sydney and his very public divorce from the wider football landscape continues to haunt the AFL and was not lost this week on the Swans’ enduring benefactor Basil Sellers, who commissioned the sculpture.
Four years after the unveiling of the famous and iconic Nicky Winmar statue in Perth, Pridham said: “There are simply too few sculptures depicting our Indigenous leaders. Let there be many more in the future ... The importance to our country of Adam’s courage in standing for his people is well documented. He has distinguished himself on and off the football field for his courage, integrity and grit.
Created with Goodes’ blessing, Pridham said that the retired player “took a bit of convincing” but that once Goodes agreed to the project he also settled upon the war dance as his chosen posture.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'End the torment': Indigenous leaders issue call on major anniversaryOn the sixth anniversary of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, its architects are gathering at the sacred space to call for Australians to read and accept its invitation, as debate around the Voice to Parliament continues to rage. 9News
Read more »
More than 20 Australian sporting codes unite in support of Indigenous voice to parliamentMore than 20 Australian sporting codes have united in support for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island voice to parliament
Read more »
‘Large chef-style knives’: Man shot dead by police on Sydney’s lower north shoreA man has died after he was shot by police in Sydney on Thursday morning.
Read more »
Judge tells man accused of capturing Sydney ibis they are 'not meant to be eaten'The man allegedly stuffed an ibis in his backpack and rode a stolen bike to his unit in Sydney&x27;s eastern suburbs before decapitating the bird and hanging it up on Tuesday.
Read more »