The skippers of all 18 AFL clubs have released a joint open statement pleading for the relentless booing of Adam Goodes to stop, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott urged fans to treat the player with "civility and dignity".

"You don't have to agree with everything Adam says, you don't even have to like his footy team, but nevertheless, I think there should be a basic respect given to all sports people," Mr Abbott told Radio 2SM.

"Certainly the last thing we want in Australia is anything, anything at all, that smacks of racism."

The statement from AFL skippers called out "unacceptable behaviour", pleading with fans to stop the relentless booing that has dogged Goodes for months.

As the distressed dual Brownlow medallist takes time out on indefinite leave from the Sydney Swans and reportedly ponders his playing future, the statement — made on behalf of every player in the AFL — has declared "enough is enough" with the vilification.

"As leaders we are accountable for everything we do on and off the field," reads the statement published on the AFL Players Association website.

"We think it's just as important for us to be accountable and call out unacceptable behaviour when we see it.

"And sadly this week we have all seen it."

They urged the public to celebrate the game's diversity and shield it from prejudice.

"Enjoy the game, celebrate the success," they wrote.

"But don't boo, jeer or taunt players because of who they are or what they stand for."

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has called on the code's supporters to lead the game out of the divisive Adam Goodes booing controversy.

"I can't tell the supporters how to behave. Our game has always been an outlet for people to express themselves," McLachlan said.

"Ultimately I do have incredible faith in our supporters, but also ... they've defined the respect in our game. And it's changed and iterated over generations."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said people yelling abuse at Goodes because he is Indigenous should "just shut up" and "keep your thoughts to yourself".

"We should be making sure in the crowds that people speak up and make sure that we don't see some of this stupid, ignorant behaviour which has no place in 21st century Australia that we all love so much."

Players wanted to send united message: AFLPA

AFL Players Association chief executive Paul Marsh said the joint captains' statement was written after he was approached by a large number of players who wanted to send a united message to fans.

All captains - with Dyson Heppell standing in for injured Essendon skipper Jobe Watson - approved the move, as public debate continues to rage over whether the booing is racially motivated.

"The players, as a collective, feel very strongly about this issue; we have got one of our brothers who is doing it very tough at the moment," Marsh said.

The unprecedented show of support supplements an already widespread backing of Goodes by clubs and players in the AFL and NRL.

Richmond will be the first to bring it to the field of play when the Tigers wear their Indigenous-themed guernseys for their clash with AFL premiership favourites Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night.

Richmond was the first club to announce it would wear its Dreamtime Indigenous jumper this weekend in support of Adam Goodes. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

"The fact of the matter is that it's bullying at best and racism at worst," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said on Thursday.

"We just wanted to throw our support (behind Adam).

"It's not something the AFL community wants to see - one of the greats of our game not playing because of this impact."

The Western Bulldogs will also wear their Indigenous strip in Sunday's clash against Essendon.

"Every time I've heard the boos of this mob I've hung my head in despair, chin to chest," Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy wrote in a column for Fairfax Media.

"I suspect it's been the same for some players at every club in the AFL.

"... Hopefully this weekend Adam can feel the support he has around him from those who play alongside him."

North Queensland rugby league great Johnathan Thurston has pledged to do a war dance celebration if he scores a try for the Cowboys in Saturday's NRL game against Canberra.

Greg Inglis, who has played in all three of the NRL's Indigenous All Stars fixtures, is also ready to join in on the celebrations.

Buddy Franklin's fiancee: stop bullying Goodes

Support for Goodes .... Lance Franklin's (L) fiancee says the booing amounts to public bullying of Adam Goodes (R). ( AAP: Mick Tsikas )

Jesinta Campbell, fiancee to Goodes' fellow Swans and Indigenous team-mate Buddy Franklin, has thanked Goodes for working to change the way Australia approaches race relations.

"My future children are going to be Indigenous and because of his courage and his passion he is creating a better future for not only my children but all Indigenous children," she said on The Today Show on Friday.

"So for that, I have to say, Adam you are a champion on the field, off the field, and I will stand by you."

No stranger to speaking out against bullies, Campbell was very critical of those who booed Goodes saying there was no other word for their actions but bullying.

"Booing is a public form of bullying and Adam has come out and said that it is affecting him so everyone needs to stop," she said passionately.

"If you continue to boo him you are bullying him. It's affecting his welfare, it's affecting his family and his friends".

Campbell also made it clear her thoughts on whether the booing directed at Goodes was racist or not, explaining that those who had never experienced racism cannot understand how it feels.

"Is it racist? Yes, I think it is, and to anyone who has never experienced racial vilification, racism is just a word to them," she said.

"But for people who have experienced it, racism is a feeling and it's a horrible feeling from what I have seen."

Goodes has nothing left to prove: Grant

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Journalist and commentator Stan Grant, who will present a program on SBS tonight canvassing Goodes's views on racism and the treatment of Indigenous sportsmen, says the Swans player has nothing left to prove to anyone.

"There are few tougher individuals than Adam Goodes on the field or off the field," Grant told ABC News Radio.

"f Adam decided he wanted to walk away now he would walk away with a remarkable legacy.

"I hope he goes back out on the field because I think he still has something to give, but whether he does or not, the voice of Adam Goodes, I suspect, is not going to be silenced.

"In fact his position is going to be enhanced as a result of this."

Last night, News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt debated the issue of racism on the field on the ABC's 7.30 program.

"Why this talk of war, and why must there be black versus white?" he said.

"I just think playing with racial division like that is dangerous and stupid.

"This is not a country that is so racially divided you need to exploit it like that and make a symbol of war your expression of Aboriginality."

But ABC Indigenous broadcaster and anti-racism campaigner Charlie King said the harassment of Goodes was heading into dangerous territory.

"If we don't deal with this matter — and it takes both sides to deal with this — I'm afraid how Aboriginal people will react to this if the requirement always is for the person who's been vilified to be asked to apologise for it," he said.

AAP/ABC