In his newly released autobiography, former Sydney Swans coach John Longmire reflects on the end of Adam Goodes’s professional football career, specifically addressing the intense public scrutiny and hostility the player faced. Longmire, who served as coach during this period, admits that he wishes he and others had taken more decisive action to support the two-time Brownlow medallist while he was being targeted.

Goodes, a celebrated figure in the AFL, became the subject of widespread booing and public criticism in his final seasons, a phenomenon that many commentators and peers have since linked to racial prejudice. Longmire characterizes this treatment as "diabolical" and "almost unforgivable," noting that Goodes was not only an elite athlete but a leader of significant courage. The coach’s comments serve as a retrospective look at a turbulent era for the sport, acknowledging a collective failure within the football community to adequately shield a player from sustained abuse. While Longmire does not detail specific actions he would have taken differently, his statement serves as a formal admission of regret regarding the environment Goodes navigated before his retirement.