Matthew Stokes has questioned how genuine the AFL is regarding their apology to former Sydney star Adam Goodes, accusing them of being reactionary.
The Final Quarter, a documentary about Adam Goodes, was aired on Friday at the Sydney Film Festival, and detailed the racist attitudes shown towards Goodes in the final years of his playing career.
The AFL, as well as the 18 clubs, issued a statement on Friday, apologising to Goodes for failing to call out racist behaviour towards himself and other Indigenous people.
However, SEN's Gerard Whateley said on Saturday that the AFL should have actually had either the chairman or the CEO come out and read the statement, and say the words out loud to give it meaning.
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The former Geelong speedster agreed with Whateley, saying that the apology was reactionary.
"There hasn't been a big statement or apology to Adam or the guys that suffered with him," Stokes told AFL.com.au's Colour Of Your Jumper.
"My concern is if there wasn't a documentary coming out on Friday, would the apology still be happening?
"We haven't heard from the AFL for a long time on this, and it stinks of (them trying to make us feel like) they're being proactive...when in reality they're reacting to the premiere coming out on Friday.
"It's disappointing."
Former Collingwood forward Andrew Krakouer agreed with Whateley and Stokes, saying that Gillon McLachlan reading out the apology would be massive.
"This is a huge apology, this is a huge statement for the AFL to publicly come out and say that they're sorry... in the Goodes incidents," he said.
"I think someone like (Gillon McLachlan) needs to be able to come out and needs to read this statement.
"Hold a big press conference and show to everyone... let them know how sorry they are for what has happened to 'Goodsey'."
Channel 10 have confirmed that they have picked up the Goodes' documentary and will air it later in the year.
