Over the last few days there has been significant discussion in regard to Adam Goodes and his treatment by AFL crowds outside of Sydney.

I hope by now our message has been received loud and clear. Our Club believes this is unacceptable. Our Club believes this must stop.

Should anyone choose to deride Adam through booing, then they are part of something that is inherently racist and totally unacceptable. The people involved in this behaviour can justify it any way they like. Our Club calls it racism.

Adam is sick of it. He is tired and drained by it. It is something that has weighed down on him for some time.

He is frustrated that he is constantly the face of such negativity. To that extent, it is encouraging that the industry is talking more collectively about the issue and there seems to be some goodwill to make a change.

Our game has the power to do so much that is good, and never before has that been as ever-present as this season.

As an industry, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard than having a champion player, and proud indigenous man, being howled down every time he touches the ball.

The current situation is completely at odds with a game that prides itself on inclusiveness and a family friendly environment.

I have been involved in football for a long time, and I can regretfully say I am embarrassed to be part of the game when it can treat a player as it is treating Adam now.

We are not asking for much, but simply for people to stop targeting Adam. Understand that it hurts Adam, it hurts all involved at our Club, the football industry and many others in the community.

As a Club, we will continue to do all we can to support Adam. We are with him every step of the way. We know our fans are too and thank all those who have expressed their support.

He is a champion of our Club and the game.

Andrew Ireland.