The film covered major incidents in the last three years of Goodes' career including calling out a 13-year-old fan for a racist comment, McGuire's infamous "King Kong" comments, the two-time premiership winner's Indigenous war dance against opposition fans and his comments about the prevalence of racism after becoming 2014 Australian of the Year. Adam Goodes posing after a training session in September 2012. Credit: As film-goers left the cinema, they spoke about the powerful impact of the film, which will screen in cinemas with Q&A sessions before a television release then free distribution to every sporting club and school around the country. Cherrie Frail-Green, from the Central Coast, said the film made her feel "angry, frustrated, but with hope”. "To be honest, as an indigenous person, there were a lot of things that happened in the documentary that I am used to seeing, and being on the receiving end of," the Swans fan said.

Loading "It was not just one person. [The treatment of Goodes] affected a whole culture – it affected Indigenous Australians, whether you support AFL or not. "So I don’t think that it’s a film that anyone should watch light-heartedly." Filmmaker Jeremey Sims (Last Cab To Darwin) found it shocking to see the impact of the attacks on Goodes, saying it was "a hard pill to swallow". "When a story can reveal a whole society's biases - or in this case prejudices - then it's a powerful story and that's what Ian has done," he said.

"People like Andrew Bolt and even Eddie unfortunately, and other apologists, would like to turn this into a story about peripheral hurt and a shallow form of damage whereas what Adam is talking about is genocide." The head of Indigenous Pathways at the National Rugby League, former player Dean Widders, said it was sad to watch what a legendary athlete went through. Watershed moment: Adam Goodes in 2013 after being called an ape by a fan. Credit:Channel 7 "I hope the rest of Australia makes his suffering worthwhile," he said. "It's an opportunity for us now to continue discussions and to keep working hard ... "Indigenous people will stand and fight always but now hopefully the other 97 per cent of the population will be inspired by that film to maybe have some discussions in their loungerooms, to teach their kids some better things. We might not be able to do a lot about where we are right now but we can do a lot about where our kids will have us in 20 years time."

Director Brendan Fletcher (Mad Bastards) said he was not aware of the nuances of the controversy surrounding Goodes until the documentary and he found it emotional to watch. Loading "I find Adam just an extraordinary presence," he said. "His actions are incredibly powerful. It's a difficult film in some ways to look at who we are as Aussies but I'm so pleased that this story is out there for people to engage with and experience." The director of the documentaries Sherpa and Mountain, Jen Peedom, found it an "incredibly emotional" film. "I think it's a really important wake-up call," she said.

The documentary uses only archival footage and reports from the time rather than fresh interviews. The film's premiere came as the AFL and all 18 clubs issued a formal apology to Goodes nearly four years after he left the sport, stating that "the game did not do enough to stand with him". The documentary covers events from 2012 until Goodes' retirement in 2015 after having to miss the "I Stand With Adam" round because of the emotional impact of the sustained booing every time he touched the ball. Adam Goodes will appear in a second documentary about his career and race relations titled The Australian Dream. Beth Phillips, a “light follower” of the Swans who stopped watching AFL partly because of the “disgraceful” treatment of Goodes, said she hopes “lots and lots and lots of Australians see it”.

"I am absolutely horrified at the booing and the general disgraceful lack of support for Adam Goodes, but super impressed with his graciousness and dignity through the whole thing frankly," she said. Ms Phillips said while watching the film she felt "actually a little bit guilty for not speaking up more at the time". Adam Goodes in 2014. Credit:Paul Rovere "I remember reading somewhere that you accept the standard that you walk past. I can only hope that this film will open people’s eyes and see the kind of hurt this produces – and it destroyed the career of a great man." It was a sentiment shared by Bulldogs fans and aspiring AFL players Oliver and Charlie Stephens, 14 and 11, who said the film should be a reminder.