eBay removes listing for Adam Goodes' 'imaginary spear'

An online auction listing for an 'imaginary spear' used by Adam Goodes in an on-field war dance during an AFL game has been removed.

A screenshot of the Ebay ad

A screenshot of the Ebay ad Source: SBS/Ebay

The satirical listing on eBay listed the item's selling points including its capability of "terrifying an entire small-minded crowd with an implied lob in their direction".

The seller, based in the ACT, posted the item at an initial price of $8.50.

The item garned 57 bids, pushing the selling price to $20,200 before the listing was taken down.
A removal notice for the sales listing
Source: SBS/Ebay
A spokesperson for eBay said the listing had been removed because it breached the company's policy on the sale of "intangible items".

"eBay is a place where people buy all sorts of items, and it's important that sellers create listings that offer physical items or actual services," the policy reads.

"We don't allow listings that don't offer anything for sale or those that have intangible items (generally things that don't physically exist)."

A similar listing to the first was also posted on eBay before being taken down.

eBay said it would be monitoring for any new listings of non-existent items.

The war dance peformed by Adam Goodes triggered a national debate on racism, sport and culture. 

Consistent booing against the dual Brownlow Medallist and former Australian of the Year ignited debate on whether the booing was motivated by racism. 

Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine called for sports teams to adopt an Indigenous dance to promote team spirit and respect for cultures. 

He said Goodes' war dance was wrongly viewed as menacing.

Mr Mundine said the adoption of a dance across the Leagues, like had been done with the Haka in New Zealand, would help change perceptions.

"One thing about the Haka is it's performed by non-Maori New Zealanders as well as Maori-New Zealanders and they come together and share this cultural experience," he told ABC Radio.

Choreographer Mark Yettica-Paulson told NITV News the war cry was developed by an Indigenous youth football team with the goal of reflecting the spirit of AFL and maintaining culture.

"The move is around brandishing a boomerang, it is one with the long part and a very short part like a number seven," he said.

"The significance of Adam doing that dance in the Indigenous round to show cultural pride is really a reference to the cultural pride these 15-year-old boys have developed. Their pride and strength in who they are to teach the All Stars that."

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Source: SBS

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