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Aussie Rules Star Returns After 'Racism Break'

Australian Rules football player Adam Goodes is ready to return to the game after taking time off amid a racism row that has drawn comment from celebrities and politicians.

The 35-year-old Indigenous Australian said the support he had received during his break was "incredibly humbling".

Goodes has long been booed during games and a rival supporter was thrown out two weeks ago for allegedly telling him "to get back to the zoo".

His week off saw a social media campaign #IstandwithAdam being backed by celebrities such as Cate Blanchett.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott also had his say, telling Australian radio he sympathised with the veteran player.

He told 2SM: "I can understand why he's upset.

"Nobody should be subject to taunts - they particularly shouldn't be subject to racial taunts ... Adam Goodes is a good bloke and he's a great player and I hope he'll get treated with respect and civility."

Goodes, who has described himself as "a very proud Indigenous man from Adnyamathanha tribe", was named Australian of the Year in 2014 for his work against racism.

Billionaire businessman James Packer, one of Australia’s richest men, also backed Goodes and said he was "ashamed" of the abuse being hurled at him.

A statement by the captains of all the Australian Rules clubs last week urged fans to stop booing and "call out unacceptable behaviour".

A flashmob also showed their solidarity in Melbourne on Tuesday, making spear-throwing motions and raising their fists in the air in unison.

The dance mimicked Goodes’ controversial "war cry" celebration at a game in May - one of the incidents that has been blamed for the animosity against him.

The other is what some say is the way he unfairly singled out a 13-year-old girl who called him an "ape" during a 2013 game.

However, a tweet by cricketer Shane Warne reflected the views of some fans who believe Goodes is booed simply because he is unpopular.

He tweeted: "This whole Adam Goodes drama is ridiculous. The public can boo or chant whoever's name they want ! It's nothing to do with being racist."

Announcing his return on Tuesday, Goodes told SwansTV: "(I) definitely needed to have that break and get away from it all … I definitely wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play last week".

"The fans have been absolutely amazing and the players from other clubs representing and showing their support - it’s been quite humbling."

He added: "People have had their opinions and spoken about the issues - hopefully now we can move forward and for me it’s about going out there and playing football."