- Chant boomed out during final match of Gather Round
AFL’s Gather Round was largely hailed as a success, despite the fact that thousands of AFL fans were heard chanting ‘f**k off’ live on TV during the final match of the round.
The fourth edition of Gather Round saw record crowds flock to South Australia to watch a full round of AFL footy held entirely in and around Adelaide.
The finale to the festival of footy featured Port Adelaide against St Kilda, with the home team unable to run down the Moorabbin-based side in front of a packed house.
That didn’t bust up the party vibe, though, with the crowd heard singing ‘f**k off’ live on television – but the chant wasn’t directed at any player or official.
The moment came during St Kilda’s win when Saints star Hugo Garcia kicked a goal and his chosen celebration song blasted through the speakers.
The 20-year-old chose the classic Australian rock song Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again by The Angels.
St Kilda rising star Hugo Garcia chose a classic Aussie song to celebrate his goal at Gather Round in Adelaide
The 20-year-old chose The Angels’ cult hit Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, which fans have added a rude line to over the years (pictured, The Angels performing)
Pictured: Fans celebrate St Kilda’s win over Port after many in the crowd chanted ‘no way, get f**ked, f**k off’ after Garcia’s goal
The 1976 song has become an Aussie classic over the years, with music fans adding the line ‘no way, get f**ked, f**k off’ following the chorus.
Footy supporters loved the moment of pure Aussie vulgarity during the match.
‘This was brilliant last night at The Adelaide Oval. The look on some kids faces was priceless,’ one fan commented.
‘There’s a good lad from the northern suburbs who knows how to troll the AFL,’ added another.
‘One of the few after goal songs that I could get behind,’ yet another posted.
Those looking to get behind the young Saint by singing the song might have to act quickly, though.
Brisbane Lions star Eric Hipwood and former Adelaide player Brodie Smith have both chosen The Angels’ classic as their celebration song before.
On both occasions, it mysteriously disappeared from game-day programs within a couple of matches.
Garcia was pivotal in the St Kilda win, despite a furious second-half comeback from Port Adelaide
‘Eric Hipwood had that a couple of years ago – and it lasted precisely two games before *someone* pulled the pin on it,’ one fan commented.
‘It was Brodie Smith’s last year as well. Can only imagine how quickly FoxFooty scrambled to mute the crowd when he kicked a goal last year,’ another said.
Garcia backed up his brave song choice on the field too, finishing with 26 disposals and a goal in the Saints’ 81–67 win, and was named among their best.
The chant itself has nothing to do with AFL.
The song was released in 1976 as a slow, emotional ballad, but Australian crowds flipped it in the early 1980s, yelling the now-famous line back at the band during live shows.
The addition stuck as it spread through pubs and discos and eventually became one of the most recognisable call-and-response chants in the country.
Lead singer Doc Neeson initially thought the crowd was turning on the band before realising the new chorus had become part of the act.
