- Wave of outrage over booing of star during first final of the season
Footy fans and greats of the game have lashed out in disgust after Adelaide fans booed Collingwood star Isaac Quaynor during Thursday night’s qualifying final.
Quaynor was loudly booed every time he touched the ball because he was the target of a homophobic slur from Crows star Izak Rankine when the sides last played on August 16.
The pro-Crows crowd also jeered Collingwood’s Dan Houston, who reportedly sledged Rankine during the August home-and-away encounter.
The Magpies won the clash at Adelaide Oval but the biggest talking point after the game was the awful display from Crows supporters.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae labelled the booing ‘really disappointing’ but other big names of the AFL – and a long list of fans – went a lot further in their criticism.
Channel Seven commentator Brian Taylor told viewers, ‘I cannot believe this is happening. He [Quaynor] has done nothing wrong,’ as the abuse was picked up on microphones during the broadcast.
Collingwood star Isaac Quaynor (pictured) was on the end of a homophobic slur from Crows player Izak Rankine last month. He was booed by Adelaide fans every time he touched the ball in his team’s win on Thursday night
Crows fans have been condemned by other footy supporters and some of the game’s biggest names over their treatment of Quaynor
Triple M’s Kate McCarthy added: ‘Booing someone for calling out homophobia is truly something, isn’t it?’
‘They [Crows fans] were seething over different things and goodness, even booing every time Quaynor got the ball, which meant they were hoarse by the end of the night,’ Channel Nine star and former Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire said.
Fox Sports commentator Sarah Jones reacted by telling viewers, ‘I don’t think we need to do that. As a footy code, we’re better than that.’
Fans took it up several notches online.
‘I’m still struggling to understand the crowd booing Isaac Quaynor last night & the atrocious message it sends. Quaynor didn’t report what Rankine said. He didn’t formally complain. All he did was be the victim of someone else’s slur,’ one wrote.
‘Adelaide fans booing Isaac Quaynor, the VICTIM of homophobic slurs? Stay classy,’ added another.
‘Isaac Quaynor being booed by Adelaide fans is one of the more disgusting things I’ve seen from footy supporters. Anyone doing it should be kicked off the ground,’ a third commenter wrote.
‘I’m embarrassed to be a Crows fan today. Not for the loss, I’m proud of our fight and making it back to finals. But booing Isaac Quaynor, the victim, is shameful. It’s not “part of the game.” It’s disgusting. Our club should come out today and call it out,’ another added.
Pictured: Some of the outraged responses footy fans left online after the match
Quaynor (pictured second from left) responded to the booing by having a huge game
Channel Nine’s Eddie McGuire (left) blasted Crows fans over the awful display
Other fans called the booing ‘a special level of ass-hattery’, branded the fans ‘absolute clowns’ and labelled the incident ‘grubby’.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks refused to condemn the crowd behaviour after the loss.
‘It’s not one for me to comment on,’ Nicks said.
‘But I am also sitting in a box, I’m not seeing or hearing any of that. I’m seeing a stadium that’s rocking, which it should do for a final, but I’m not going to comment around that.’
Rankine, the sixth AFL-listed player banned for an on-field homophobic slur since April last year, has now served two matches of his four-game ban.
Adelaide’s loss to the Pies offers him some hope of playing again this season. He will be available again should the Crows advance to the grand final.
Rankine attended Adelaide Oval on Thursday night but Nicks said his potential availability wasn’t a talking point at the club.
