Indigenous football great Eddie Betts says racism “isn’t up for discussion” and that only Lance Franklin can determine whether or not the boos he received were racially motivated.

Franklin being booed during the Swans’ clash with Collingwood at the MCG has been a key discussion point this week, with the 35-year old champion opting not to add to the discussion, telling reporters: “I haven’t got much to say. Everything’s been said, so I’m not going to talk about it.”

The Age meanwhile reported Franklin had earlier rejected the opportunity to front a press conference and address the topic.

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Swans coach John Longmire told media Franklin was unfazed by the booing from Collingwood supporters, which came after Magpies captain Darcy Moore, coach Craig McRae and chief executive Craig Kelly apologised on behalf of the club in a statement on Monday.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Betts said the most important element in the saga is how Franklin feels.

“What everyone needs to understand with racism is it’s not up for discussion. If you haven’t been racially vilified or you don’t understand it or you haven’t felt it,” Betts said.

“The most important person in this is Buddy. If Buddy thinks it’s racist, it’s racist. If he doesn’t think it’s racist, it’s not racist.”

Betts believes society is still learning to understand that it’s how an Indigenous person interprets a remark to determine if it’s racial abuse.

“I think people are still learning that that’s the case … it’s going to take a while. I think the next generation coming through are the one that are going to make the change.

“The more conversations we have, the more we educate each other and the better we are going to be as a nation. We’re on the right path.”

Asked if he thinks Franklin should speak out on the matter, Betts said: “It’s up to ‘Bud’ if he wants to speak up. But he’s just got to continue to keep playing good footy.

“Keep playing well for the Sydney Swans, trying to get wins on the board for them and hopefully get a premiership with them.

“He’s an absolute superstar of the game.”

Hawthorn legend and Franklin’s former teammate Jordan Lewis believes the jeers from Magpies supporters were spurred from backlash after Swans players physically targeted Nick Daicos in a fiery clash.

“My initial thoughts after the game were that it was a pretty intense first quarter. Sydney made it quite obvious the were going after one their young stars,” Lewis told Fox Footy.

“I just think in this instance it was the Collingwood faithful going: ‘Ok, you’re going after one of our stars. We’re going to go after one of your stars,’ — wth (Tom) Papley being one and Bud being the other.

“I think I’ve got a pretty good feel on when you go to a game and why stuff happens. I didn’t once think this was racially motivated or anything. I just thought it was in the heat of the battle.

“If an opposition player was doing that to one of our young gun sand really try and ruffle his feathers, that is a reaction I would want from my home team, absolutely.

“I think since that has played out, it has been blown out proportion. Knowing and understanding Bud, and not that he would be embarrassed by the one it has unfolded, but I don’t think it would’ve fazed him one bit, one iota.

“He would be one of those players that just wants to move on, and that’s probably why he hasn’t come out and commented.”

Despite this, Lewis suggested Franklin might’ve interpreted things differently.

“If Bud certainly did feel that (the boos were a once off), I would imagine he would’ve come out and addressed it,” Lewis added. “Him not doing that says to me says it’s not the way he’s taken it.”