Footy legend Gorden Tallis is slammed for comparing AFL great Adam Goodes to NRL star who put a little girl in hospital in drug-driving crash
In what one supporter labelled 'one of the worst takes', the Queensland cult hero likened the hostile treatment Mam has received in recent weeks to the ugly booing storm that saw Swans champion Adam Goodes walk away from his football career prematurely in 2015.
Mam was taunted by fired-up Bulldogs fans last Friday at Accor Stadium - but he silenced the knockers to orchestrate a comeback 22-18 win for the Broncos.
The 22-year-old has been targeted by away crowds after serving a nine-match suspension handed down by the NRL.
It followed Mam pleading guilty to driving under the influence of illicit drugs without a licence following a car crash that injured three people - including a four-year-old girl - in October last year in Brisbane.
Footy fans were seething when Mam was fined $850 and disqualified from driving for nine months by the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
No conviction was recorded.
While many believe Mam should have been suspended for the entire 2025 NRL season, Tallis has raised eyebrows after his extraordinary take on the pivot's return to the game.
'Ezra Mam is getting an Adam Goodes-style treatment,' Tallis said on Triple M's Sunday Sin Bin.
'No matter what ground he went at, Adam Goodes was targeted for a while and Ezra Mam is getting that now.
'It was coming loud and clear through the television the other night when he played the Dogs. It was every time he touched the ball.'
Many footy fans were in disbelief after hearing Tallis's views.
'One of the worst takes you've ever seen,' posted one on X.
'Batsh*t from Gorden Tallis,' said another.
'Tallis is in fact, out of touch with reality,' a third commented.
Another pointed out that there's a huge gulf between what Mam did and why Goodes was driven out of the game
A third supporter felt Tallis was 'out of touch with reality'
In 2015, Goodes famously performed his iconic Indigenous war dance in a match versus Carlton - and was then a constant crowd target at Swans' away games.
Two years earlier, Goodes was targeted by a teenage Collingwood supporter who called him an ape - and chaos followed.
As the saga intensified, Goodes - a two-time Brownlow Medallist and dual premiership winner - felt the game didn't support him.
Goodes then retired in 2015, and has chosen to distance himself from the sport ever since.
'He's living his best life. We miss him, we love him and hopefully at some point we will get to see him again,' former teammate and Swans board member Michael O'Loughlin said recently.
'He loved the game... Adam should have walked out a hero and the fact he didn't is a real indictment on us.'
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