The 13-year-old girl who racially abused Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes has apologised for her actions.

Goodes revealed on Twitter he had spoken to the girl not long after completing a morning press conference on Saturday morning where he revealed the young Collingwood supporter had called him an "ape" during the Swans’ 47-point win against the Magpies at the MCG on Saturday night.

‘‘Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Let’s support her please,’’ Goodes wrote.

During the presser the shattered football star said he was ‘‘heartbroken’’ after he was racially abused during Friday night’s 47-point win over Collingwood at the MCG.

Goodes revealed the 13-year-old female Collingwood supporter had called him an "ape" during the dying minutes of the match.

Goodes, who was best on ground, had pointed out the girl to ground security who then escorted her from the venue.

So distraught was the dual Brownlow medallist that he left the field immediately after the siren and did not share in the celebrations of a breakthrough victory with teammates.

‘‘I am pretty gutted to be honest. To win, the first of its kind in 13 years, to win by 47 points against Collingwood, to play such a pivotal role, it sort of means nothing,’’ Goodes said on Saturday.

‘‘To come to the boundary line, to hear a 13-year-old girl call me an ape - and it’s not the first time on a footy field that I have been referred to as a monkey or an ape - it was shattering.

‘‘I turned around, and when I saw it was a young girl, and I thought she was 14, that was my initial thought, I was just like: ‘Really, how could that happen?’’’

The slur could not have come at a worse time for it is the AFL’s Indigenous round.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, St Kilda great Nicky Winmar, the man who famously took a stand for his Indigenous brethren 20 years ago, and the AFL’s community engagement manager Jason Mifsud supported Goodes at the press conference.

The AFL and Collingwood have yet to speak with the girl. It was unclear whether she was a Collingwood member but the Magpies will organise counselling through the Salvation Army if they are able to contact her.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire spoke with Goodes immediately after the game and apologised on behalf of his club.

What has surprised many is that the girl left the venue alone, although she appeared to be at the game with either family or friends.

Goodes was asked by police whether he wanted to lay charges but has opted not to so.

He hopes to discuss the issue with the girl, who is likely to be counselled rather than penalised by the AFL.

‘‘This week is a celebration of our people, our culture, and I had the absolute privilege of meeting the great man, Nicky Winwar, two days ago now. What he was able to do for us 20 years ago, to make a stand, racism has a face last night, it was a 13-year-old girl - it’s not her fault,’’ Goodes said.

‘‘She is 13, still so innocent. I don’t put any blame on her. Unfortunately, it’s what she hears, the environment she has grown up in has made her think it’s okay to call people names.

‘‘I can guarantee you right now she would have no idea how it makes anyone feel by calling them an ape. It was just the name calling she was doing. It cut me deep and affected me so much that I couldn’t even be on the ground last night to celebrate a victory, to celebrate indigenous round. I am still shattered - it’s tough.’’

Goodes does not want the girl to be targeted for retribution on social media.

‘‘The person who needs the most support right now is the little girl. People need to get around her,’’ he said.

‘‘She is 13, she is uneducated, if she wants to pick up the phone and call me I will take that phone call and I will have a conversation about that girl about: ‘You know what, you have called me a name, this is how it made me feel’.

‘‘It is school stuff and that’s what it took me back to last night. I felt like I was in high school again, being bullied, being called all these names because of my appearance.

‘‘I didn’t stand up for myself in high school. I am a lot more confident, am a lot more proud about who I am and my culture and I decided to stand up last night and I will continue to stand up because racism has no place in our industry, has no place in our society.’’

Goodes said he would have taken on-field action regardless of whether it had been an Indigenous round or not.

‘‘It could have been grand final day, I would still be feeling exactly the same, so disappointed, so heart-broken,’’ he said.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the girl’s actions were ‘‘unexpected and disappointing’’.

‘‘I think it’s also disappointing it occurred by a young girl, a girl who is minor, that is sad,’’ he said.

‘‘We have to be very conscious that it is a young girl. From our perspective, it’s a girl that I think obviously needs to be educated and counselled and we do our best to be in contact with her parents to offer that support.’’

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/schoolgirl-apologises-to-heartbroken-swans-star-20130525-2n3fn.html#ixzz2UHNc1LaV

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Edited by williamn: 25/5/2013 04:53:49 PM

Bulldogs win only their second game in 19 outings - best game of the round so far.

Attendance: 25,982

How many racists?

How many racists?