Gold Coast star Mac Andrew has come under fierce criticism after television footage captured him making a sexualised hand gesture towards Collingwood supporters during the halftime break of the Suns’ clash with the Magpies.
The incident, which unfolded during Gold Coast’s round 17 defeat to Collingwood on July 4, saw the 22-year-old make an obscene hand gesture simulating a sexual act towards Magpies fans.
Moments later, teammate Joel Jeffrey also interacted with the crowd, making a mock crying gesture towards Collingwood supporters.
Despite the emergence of the footage, Andrew was not sanctioned by the AFL.
The incident became a major talking point on Channel Seven’s The Agenda Setters on Monday night, with the panel questioning both Andrew’s professionalism and the culture developing at the Suns.
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt was particularly scathing, suggesting the behaviour reflected a lack of focus within the club.
Gold Coast Suns star Mac Andrew was filmed making an obscene gesture toward Collingwood supporters during their match on July 4 (pictured)
Footy great Nick Riewoldt said the vision showed that the Suns star is not living up to his megabucks contract
‘If I’m the Gold Coast captain and I see my teammates interacting with, I assume, the Collingwood fans in the crowd, when up the other end, what do you reckon Nick Daicos is doing?’ Riewoldt fumed.
‘What do you reckon Brayden Maynard was doing at halftime, getting around his teammates.
‘That stuff is absolute garbage. I think it speaks to the malaise that exists within this group.
‘They’re distracted. That’s not professional.’
Host Craig Hutchison then questioned whether the players’ behaviour reflected the identity of the club.
‘Is that the persona that they have all taken on?’ Hutchison asked.
The discussion followed an earlier debate on the program over whether Andrew had justified the enormous contract extension he signed with the Suns in 2024.
The defender agreed to a reported nine-year deal worth $12million, the richest contract in AFL history at the time, but Riewoldt argued Andrew’s performances have not matched the investment.
Andrew has come under fire as the highly touted Suns tumble down the AFL ladder and risk missing the finals
‘We’ve spoken a lot about the off-field leadership from Damien Hardwick, what about the lack of on-field leadership?’ he asked.
‘Players with big contracts – and Mac Andrew is one of them.
‘The answer is no, he isn’t anywhere close to living up to it.
‘I don’t think a lot of the Gold Coast players are.
‘Who are the role players? Who are the on-field leaders within this group?
‘So Mac Andrew is paid like one, he doesn’t play like one.
‘At the moment he doesn’t have the talent or the discipline to be a star consistently.’
The panel also debated whether responsibility ultimately rested with the players or coach Damien Hardwick.
Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick has previously said that Andrew needs to ‘pull his head in’
‘Maybe he is grumpy and angry because that is what he is consistently seeing from his players,’ Riewoldt said.
‘At some point the players have got to take ownership as well.’
Tom Morris believed the environment around the club was also contributing to the behaviour.
‘I think the players are like that because they see it so consistently from their coach,’ he said.
Caroline Wilson agreed the issue extended beyond one individual.
‘It’s collective,’ she said.
Morris added: ‘I think it goes both ways.’
The latest controversy follows another disciplinary issue involving Andrew earlier this season.
During Gold Coast’s opening-round win over West Coast, Andrew grabbed Eagles debutant Milan Murdock by the scruff of the neck and threw him to the ground after conceding a holding-the-ball free kick, resulting in a 50-metre penalty and gifting the Eagles their opening goal.
Hardwick publicly rebuked his young defender after that match.
‘I was disappointed with that tonight,’ Hardwick said.
‘He’s better than that. I know he’s better than that. That frustrated me. He knew he overstepped the mark tonight.’
The Suns coach later added: ‘He’s got to pull his head in.’
Hardwick compared Andrew to West Coast star Harley Reid, describing both as ‘volatile characters’, while expressing confidence the talented defender would eventually mature.
‘It’s my job and the other coaches’ job to help him work through that,’ Hardwick said.
