Movies

The Final Quarter

Synopsis

Adam Goodes was a champion AFL footballer and Aboriginal leader.

In the final three years of his playing career he became a lightning rod for a heated public debate and widespread media commentary that divided the nation.

He publicly called out a young Collingwood fan for a racist comment, was named Australian of the Year, was accused of staging for free kicks, and performed an on-field war dance celebration. Magpies president Eddie McGuire later made a notorious King Kong on-air radio gaffe about Goodes.

The cheers became boos as football crowds turned on him.

Using only archival footage and interviews aired at the time, The Final Quarter examines the widespread booing and media attacks on the two-time Brownlow Medallist, who won two premierships with the Swans and was 2014 Australian of the Year, before he left the game with only minimal fanfare the following year.

The Final Quarter takes a confronting look at the controversies that marred the Sydney star’s exit from the game and is an opportunity to reconsider what happened on and off the football field.

"When you see the three years unfolding, we can now see this is what racism looks like and what it sounds like," says director Ian Darling.

One of our greatest footballers, who happened to be Indigenous ... was literally booed out of the game.

— Ian Darling, director

Trailer

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Details

Release dates
7 June 2019 – World premiere at the Sydney Film Festival
18 July 2019 – TV (Channel 10 and Win)
Video/DVD release date
27 September 2019
Rating
G - general
Soundtrack
Paul Charlier
Notes

Instead of a conventional cinema run, The Final Quarter was screened on television and then made available for free to sporting clubs, community organisations, companies and schools, with educational material designed for years 5 to 12.

A second documentary on Adam Goodes, The Australian Dream, looks at racism from a different perspective.

Alternative title: The White Blindfold

Dan Sultan and Paul Kelly wrote a song, Every Day My Mother's Voice, for the Adam Goodes documentary, celebrating Adam's strong relationship with his mother Lisa-May Sansbury.

Adam has no commercial interest in this film.

Website: www.thefinalquarterfilm.com.au

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References

View article sources (1)

[1] [1a] ''This is what racism looks like': Filmmaker opens up about Adam Goodes doco', SMH 19/5/2019

Cite this page

Korff, J 2019, The Final Quarter, <https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/the-final-quarter>, retrieved 5 October 2024

Creative Spirits is a starting point for everyone to learn about Aboriginal culture. Please use primary sources for academic work.

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