AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says he fears Adam Goodes may be lost to the game after persistent booing and racism controversies marred the final years of his playing career.

Key points: Two new documentaries have thrust the racism endured by Goodes back into the spotlight

Two new documentaries have thrust the racism endured by Goodes back into the spotlight McLachlan said he hoped in time Goodes would return to AFL events such as grand finals

McLachlan said he hoped in time Goodes would return to AFL events such as grand finals He said he regretted not calling out the booing of Goodes as racism at the time

Goodes retired from playing at the end of the 2015 season and has not attended a grand final or a Brownlow Medal count since.

In an interview with ABC Radio Melbourne this morning, McLachlan said he wanted Goodes to be part of the game again, but feared it may never happen.

"It's clearly a concern but I do know that time heals a lot of things, so it's very clear that we want Adam back in the game and I know that will take time," McLachlan said.

"The rest is with Adam but clearly I think it's something that the game needs, but it's a decision for Adam."

Adam Goodes retired from playing at the end of the 2015 season. ( AAP: Dean Lewins )

Ian Darling's documentary, The Final Quarter, which aired on free-to-air television last week, has thrust the racism endured by Goodes during his career back into the spotlight.

Reflecting on his handling of the issue, McLachlan said the AFL should have called out the booing as racism at the time.

"In the end there's a point where you've just got to call it," he said.

Sorry, this video has expired Goodes performs war cry towards Carlton fans after kicking goal in 2015

"We were too nuanced in trying to manage too many people to an outcome instead of just being really clear and calling it out and letting the cards fall after that.

"That's where we come out of it and where I come out of it."

McLachlan said his decision to call out Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett last month for "racial stereotyping" after he labelled security staff at AFL grounds as "new arrivals" was influenced by what the code had learned from the Goodes episode.

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"Yes clearly … we were going to learn from our mistakes and I certainly hope I'm living that."

Goodes will attend the premiere of The Australian Dream, a film by Stan Grant about the racism controversy, next week in Melbourne.

Goodes, who has not been interviewed since the AFL's apology or the airing of the first documentary, is not expected to speak to media.