Goodes accepts apology for teen's slur Shattered: Adam Goodes points to his abuser during Friday night's match against Collingwood. Photo: Andrew White The AFL has condemned a 13-year-old girl for calling AFL star Adam Goodes an "ape" at the MCG on Friday. And Victorian Premier Denis Napthine promised a new school program to combat racism. Speaking to Channel Ten on Saturday, the teary and emotional teen said she told Goodes: "I'm the girl who called you an ape yesterday, I'm sorry for that." She said she was relieved she'd had the opportunity to apologise. "When I called him an ape, he explained what ape means for indigenous people and he said that he doesn't hate me and that I've got to learn from my mistakes," she said. I'm sorry for what I said - I didn't mean it in a racist way. And I'm sorry to the football club and the AFL. Julia Surowka was at the game with her sister and grandmother. Goodes revealed on Twitter on Saturday afternoon he had spoken with the teenage Collingwood supporter, who abused him in the final quarter of the Swans' 47-point win against the Magpies at the MCG on Friday night. Let's support her please," he wrote. "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?"' Goodes said the blame did not lie with the young girl. "She's 13 years old, still so innocent, I don't put any blame on her," he said. Julia's mother, Joanne, said she was "astounded" by her daughter's actions but "I don't think Julia even realised what she'd actually said." Dr Napthine said on Saturday the incident was "very, very disappointing." He said he would support a boost to school programs "to make sure all young Victorians understand that this sort of abuse based on racism, culture, is totally and utterly unacceptable in modern society." Goodes, who declined to press charges over the incident, said it affected him deeply, especially coming in the indigenous round. "This week is a celebration of our people, our culture, and I had the absolute privilege of meeting the great man, Nicky Winmar, two days ago now," Goodes said. 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. 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.