The 18 AFL team captains have released a statement denouncing the booing of Adam Goodes and pleading for football supporters to “put a stop to offensive behaviour”.

In a statement posted on the AFL Player’s Association website on Thursday, the club leaders said they spoke for over 800 players in backing “one of our brothers”.

The captains, including Dyson Heppell standing in for an injured Essendon skipper Jobe Watson, said their key message was to call for an end to the boos and jeers that have plagued Goodes for months, which some have argued are racist.

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“As captains, teammates, and supporters of the game, we know how motivating the cheer and roar of a crowd can be. We also know how demoralising and offensive booing and jeering is.

Enough is enough. Enjoy the game, celebrate the success. But don’t boo, jeer or taunt players because of who they are or what they stand for.

When a fan buys a ticket to the football, they don’t buy the rights to have their respect and decent behaviour left at the gate.

Stand with us to ensure our game remains great for everyone.”

The statement comes at the end of a week which heated debate from all sides of football, sport and politics.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion has spoken out against the booing, saying there is definitely an element of racism involved.

Mr Scullion told The Australian newspaper he was saddened by the abuse being heaped upon Goodes, whom he described as a great Australian prepared to call out racism.

“People use the word ‘unAustralian’ too often but I can’t think of a better way to describe the behaviour of the crowd.”

Mr Scullion also said that he didn’t believe everyone booing was racist, and that he didn’t personally like the way Goodes played the game.

NRL co-captain Jonathan Thurston has vowed to perform an indigenous dance if he scores a try on the weekend, while players from various codes of sport tweeted in support of the embattled Sydney player.

AFL teams Richmond and the Bulldogs will both wear their indigenous jerseys, usually reserved for the Dreamtime Round in a show of solidarity with Goodes.

But the debate has also included suggestions that Goodes has overreacted to the booing and brought it on himself for his playing style and strong stance on race relations in Australia.

In a blog post, former player Grant Thomas suggested Goodes accept responsibility for “waving a red flag to a bull” by reacting to the jeering fans.

He also suggested Goodes hold a press conference apologising for behaviour that may have “upset and divided the football community”.

News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt criticised Goodes for playing the “victim” and called his indigenous war dance “dangerous and stupid”.

Mr Bolt, who breached the Racial Discrimination Act in 2009 for two articles, also said Goodes was wrong to single out a girl who called him an “ape” during the Dreamtime Round in 2013.

“To come to the boundary line and hear a 13-year-old girl call me an “ape”…. I’m pretty gutted to be honest” said Goodes at the time.

– With AAP