Adam Goodes' stance courageous and timely WORDS can be used as weapons very effectively. They can be used to denigrate, to belittle, to humiliate and to hurt. They can also be used to reinforce narrow stereotypes and to vilify. Adam Goodes took a stand on Friday night and chose not to shrug off a comment from the crowd that he found offensive and hurtful. In doing so, the Sydney Swans champion triggered a national discussion about the personal impacts of racism; an issue that needs to be confronted if we are to create greater awareness and understanding across the community. His stance echoed the iconic moment 20 years ago when Nicky Winmar's act of cultural pride and defiance at Victoria Park started to change attitudes in football about the conduct of players and spectators alike, even in the heat of sporting battle. Adam Goodes' emotional press conference It led to the introduction of a Racial and Religious Vilification Code in the AFL as well as more enlightened thinking among everyone in football. The AFL's Indigenous Round this year has saluted that Winmar moment while celebrating the extraordinary contribution over many decades to Australian football of indigenous players and the indigenous community. Football has gained so much more from indigenous Australia than these players and their communities have gained from football. It is for this reason that Goodes' actions at the MCG were courageous and timely. Vilification, in any form, is simply an act of bullying. As Goodes expressed so eloquently the next morning, the incident took him back to the schoolyard where kids often say things to hurt others and to make themselves feel bigger. Adam Goodes and brother Brett after the Western Bulldogs' win over St Kilda on Saturday. He also showed incredible grace and sensitivity by acknowledging that the words of the girl involved were crafted by ignorance rather than malice. She needed support and education, not blame. Goodes' considered and thoughtful response was a measure of the man. Disturbingly, since Friday night some have suggested that Goodes might have over-reacted to a relatively minor slight and that after a career in football, he should have a thicker skin when it comes to verbal abuse. They say the matter has been "blown out of proportion." This view betrays a sad lack of understanding about the power of words. Anyone who has been verbally bullied for any reason, and particularly their race, would instinctively know that. Winmar and Goodes were absolutely right to say that enough is enough. The response to Friday night, and also other rare incidents this season involving North Melbourne's Majak Daw and others, have clearly demonstrated that the football community has come a long way. Discrimination and vilification in any form has no place in our game and both our players and our crowds are now largely self-regulating in this regard. When it arises, they do not turn the other way; they confront it. The AFL community immediately rallied behind Goodes in an extraordinary, but not surprising, display of support and solidarity. In particular I single out the immediate and emphatic response from Collingwood FC president Eddie McGuire and his club. I was also immensely proud of the show of support from not only Goodes' playing peers across the AFL competition, but also people throughout the community. So much has changed since that day at Victoria Park in 1993. But the past few days have also been a reminder we must remain vigilant and continue our efforts to stamp out vilification. Racism is not an AFL issue. It is an issue for the whole of society. The AFL will continue to address issues as they arise and to promote acceptance, understanding and inclusion. But governments at all levels also have a key role to play in educating the community about what is right and what is wrong. And of course the most important and influential role rests with every parent and the values they instil in their children. Let's use Friday night as a motivation to promote greater respect for one another, whether it is an opposition player on the football field or anywhere else. Andrew Demetriou is chief executive of the AFL