Asked if there were issues of racism, McLachlan replied: "I think it's a complicated question and I am not avoiding it but I don't think I have a clear view about what it is," he said. AFL boss Gillon McLachlan. Credit:Joe Armao "There has obviously been a campaign for some months now against one player and the booing has been going on for some time against Adam Goodes. I think we are at the stage that people don't know why they are doing it. It's obviously hurting Adam and it's hurting a lot of people in our industry." On Sunday, as Goodes was again booed by opposition fans, his teammate and friend Lewis Jetta imitated throwing a spear towards Eagles fans, moments after scoring in the final quarter, which he later said was in support of Goodes. Earlier on Monday, McLachlan spoke on radio station 3AW, backing Jetta's war dance goal celebration.

McLachlan said Jetta's war dance was in clear support of Goodes - a way of saying "enough is enough" to those booing Goodes - and was "not threatening in any way". Lewis Jetta performs the war dance celebration. Credit:Fox Footy "We have to cut through the noise ... this was about a statement to support Adam," McLachlan said. "I believe, and our industry believes, there was not anything threatening in the celebration ... it hasn't happened again [since Goodes performed the celebration in Indigenous Round] until the weekend, where, again, I think Lewis Jetta said, people have been worn down by this and he went out there and did it as a way of standing up for Adam," he said. McLachlan said the situation differed to one where a player "gave the bird" to the crowd because of the meaning behind the dance.

"The war dance ... was created by the under-16 indigenous team. "It reflects an expression of pride in their culture and a commitment to each other. "It was done by Adam Goodes, in Indigenous Round, which is a round where we celebrate the extraordinary contribution our indigenous players have made to our game and the players themselves get to celebrate their own culture, and that's what Adam did." McLachlan said he would like crowds to stop booing Goodes, who is a dual Brownlow Medallist and a premiership player. "There comes a point where [we need to call out this behaviour] and go 'enough's enough'. It is draining on Adam," he said.

"This is something that's not been going on for a few weeks, it's been going on for months now, and I just don't know that it reflects well on our game and I think people have had enough of it. "People can debate whether they think the war dance is good or bad, that's a fair debate. I've given our view, but people can hopefully sit back and say maybe the booing now, we've done that for a few months. If Lewis is reacting that way - and it is now clear that Adam's articulated [that] this is getting him down - people can think about the individual, and maybe we can move on from the booing." McLachlan said fans were now showing "sheep-like behaviour" by booing. The AFL boss' comments come after Swans coach Longmire backed his player over the celebration and his support of Goodes. In a recorded interview posted on the Swans' website late on Sunday night, Goodes and Jetta explained the reasons behind the celebration. They also expressed their frustration and disappointment at the continued booing.

McLachlan said the AFL would take no action against Jetta over the celebration.