3 minute read

Ian Darling, the director of a documentary that details the final three years of Adam Goodes' AFL career, says the Indigenous icon found it difficult to watch.

Adam Goodes documentary 'The Final Quarter' starts with standard Indigenous cultural protocol, warning of the depiction of deceased persons, but also a note about "confronting" and "distressing" content.

Director Ian Darling's words are spot on.

The film shines a bright light on the final three seasons of Goodes' 372-game AFL career, which should be remembered for two Brownlow medals, two flags and countless highlights but instead conjures memories of booing and racial abuse.

It premieres next week at the Sydney Film Festival but advanced screenings have already started conversations - about the league's inaction during the saga, racism and broader Australian society.

Produced entirely from archival footage, it has provoked poignant responses from Indigenous and non-Indigenous players, club and AFL administrators and pundits.

The most emotional feedback has come from Goodes, who did not play a part in making the movie and has made few public appearances since retiring in 2015 but told Darling to proceed with the project back in 2017.

"He wanted to see it by himself," Darling told AAP.

"It was a very emotional response. I think it was very, very difficult for him to watch.

"He felt that he only had one viewing in him.

"I totally understand that. Having to re-live that all again ... he was brave and generous to do that. I was concerned about how upsetting it was going to be for him.

"Afterwards, (editor) Sally Fryer and I just had a long chat with him about it and how he felt. It was very emotional."

Before inviting Goodes to watch the film, Darling wanted the Indigenous icon's close friend Micky O'Loughlin to cast his eye over its content.

Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine and Tanya Hosch, the AFL's general manager of inclusion and social policy, were also among the final cut's first viewers.

"They said it's really important for Adam to see this," Darling recalled.

"From the start, I really wanted to ensure Adam was OK about us making this film. If he felt it was going to cause him more emotional harm, I wouldn't have gone ahead.

"He made it clear he was very comfortable and ready for the conversation to be had."

The documentary highlights a series of incidents and attached media commentary, detailing how the 2014 Australian of the Year Goodes fell out of love with the game that had meant so much to him.

"It can be quite a claustrophobic film. There's nowhere to hide. I think that was very much what Adam must of felt," Darling said.

"I haven't tried to point the finger at anybody ... or lecture anybody."

Another Goodes documentary, The Australian Dream, will premiere on opening night of the Melbourne International Film Festival.