SYDNEY Swans champion Adam Goodes has been named the 2014 Australian of the Year.
Goodes, who was nominated for the honour in Canberra on Saturday afternoon, was recognised for his work with indigenous youth through the Goodes O'Loughlin Foundation.
The first VFL-AFL footballer to be named Australian of the Year, the dual Brownlow medallist was selected from more than 3000 nominations submitted by the public.
The National Australia Day Council said Goodes was chosen for his leadership and advocacy in the fight against racism both on the sporting field and within society.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the dual Brownlow medallist had brought great honour to the game.
"On behalf of the AFL Commission, our clubs and the wider game, the AFL is delighted and honoured that Adam Goodes has been recognised as the 2014 Australian of the Year," Demetriou said.
"Adam Goodes has been a brilliant player of our game for 15 years but his work off the field as a leading member of our community, seeking to assist and inspire young people, has truly defined him as a great Australian.
"Adam is a great ambassador for his people, the Sydney Swans and our game, and is a leader in reconciliation and bringing all Australian together.
"We congratulate him on his recognition as the Australian of the Year and we know he will continue to lead the way for a better country for all Australians."
One of the AFL's most decorated indigenous players, Goodes took a stand to identify a member of the MCG crowd last season when he was racially abused against Collingwood in round nine.
When it was revealed he had been called an "ape" by a 13-year-old, he pushed for her to receive support and be given a chance.
He later accepted an apology from Magpies president Eddie McGuire after the Collingwood chief made an inappropriate reference about using Goodes to promote the musical King Kong.
Goodes has played a club record 331 games Swans since 1999 and sits second behind Adelaide champion Andrew McLeod for most games (340) by an indigenous player.
A dual premiership player (2005 and 2012), he won the Brownlow Medal in 2003 and 2006 and has been named All Australian four times (2003, 2006, 2009 and 2011).
He was named New South Wales’ Australian of the Year in November last year.
The Goodes O'Loughlin Foundation focuses on education, employment and healthy lifestyles and aims to empower the next generation of indigenous role models in all walks of life.
