AFL great Lance Franklin is the latest star player to be booed by opposition fans, leaving Sydney coach John Longmire bemused and Collingwood counterpart Craig McRae nonplussed.
Franklin, a likely Australian football Hall Of Fame legend, had a goal-less game as the Magpies kicked clear in the last term on Sunday to beat Sydney by 29 points at the MCG.
The Magpies’ grinding 11.11 (77) to 6.12 (48) win in chilly conditions attracted 71,463 fans, some of whom decided Franklin was their villain for the afternoon.
“I don’t know why they would – why were they booing him?,” Longmire said post-match
“You’d probably celebrate a 36-year-old, wouldn’t you, who’s been a champion of the game?
“It’s been 10 years since we’ve played Collingwood here … it doesn’t make sense.”
McRae put it succinctly: “We just don’t boo”.
Collingwood fans were the first to boo Port Adelaide young gun Jason Horne-Francis earlier this season and it became a weekly occurrence, eventually prompting a heated response from Power coach Ken Hinkley.
A career-best five goals from Brody Mihocek, including a spectacular mid-air soccer strike in the last quarter, plus an outstanding captain’s game from Darcy Moore and Jack Ginnivan’s second-half cameo, highlighted the Magpies’ win.
The win keeps the Magpies at the top of the ladder, while the Swans have lost three in a row and are struggling with a 3-5 record.
Mihocek was the only multiple goal kicker in the tough conditions and the Magpies sealed the win with five goals to one in the last term.
“Like the last two or three games, our pressure in the last quarter goes to another level,” McRae said.
“Teams right now are struggling with that.”
Moore was a brick wall in defence and continually thwarted the Swans.
Ginnivan, named as the sub after lacklustre form, came on in the third term and immediately gave Collingwood much-needed spark.
He also kicked a last-term goal as the Magpies surged clear.
Sydney suffered a blow at the opening bounce when ruckman Peter Ladhams suffered a neck injury which forced him from the field.
He was able to return in the second term and played out the game, but was out of sorts.
Ryan Clarke kicked Sydney’s only goal of the opening quarter and let his opponent Nick Daicos know all about it, sparking a series of scuffles.
McRae was rapt that other Magpies stood up for Daicos.
“We want to be a team that does that. I’ve said this often – someone comes at us, we want to go back at them, but within the rules,” he said.
Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury had a team-high 31 possessions, while Swans young gun Errol Gulden racked up 37 possessions.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
I have heard it’s bad over there too, but that the worst SA supporters are the other Magpies …
AR
Roar Rookie
...and... if Buckley, a former coach and club great, can be honest about the 'ignorance and bigotry' at his beloved club, then we should be able to talk about it and call it out.
AR
Roar Rookie
Yeah yeah. The Pies get large crowds. That's not what I'm talking about.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Pies have their share but so does every club. Pies have a huge supporter base so we’re also going to have more ferals. Hopefully we’re decreasing the ratio but every club has them. Swans crowd were pretty pathetic in booing young Jack Ginnivan last year. And again I’ll say it… if Horse is going to instruct his entire team, including their biggest and most experienced player in Buddy, to harrass another young 19 year old in Daicos then he can hardly complain when supporters get fired up. And it stood out like a huge sore thumb when Buddy did it. (and I wouldn’t be surprised if was also shown on the huge screens at the G for the whole crowd to see) I’m glad Buckley spoke up nonetheless and Pies have come out and apologised. Pies are heading in the right direction in all areas of the game.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
I aportion more blame to the system that rewards someone for just collapsing and attempting to punch the sky when they are tackled, but he still chooses to do it. The boos are justified.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Carlton fans do that too AR. I think what you're not understanding is there just is more Pies, Bombers, Blues and Tiger supporters than others so collectively they will make more noise. Pies just got 72,000 at the G against the Swans. Remarkable.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Try sitting in the stands at a home Adelaide game Knackaz as an opposition supporter and get back to me.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Disgusting Opeo? Strong word for a 20 year old kid doing pretty well in the competition. How many games have you played behind your keyboard in your head?
Franko
Roar Rookie
“It’s been 10 years since we’ve played Collingwood here … it doesn’t make sense.” Really, 10 years? What happened in that last game? Fri 24 May 2013 Sydney's 47-point Indigenous Round win over Collingwood has been marred by a spectator being evicted from the MCG for racially vilifying Adam Goodes.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Sure, all Clubs have bad supporters, Collingwood just seem to have a lot more. Follow the historical facts, mate. The Goodes saga began against Collingwood at a night game at the MCG, and was fuelled by Eddie McGuire's careless comments a few days later on radio. Nicky Winmar at Victoria Park 30 years ago is the icing on the cake. I once witnessed Collingwood supporters abusing Swans' great Michael O'Loughlin in front of kids on the boundary at the G when he was vomiting many years ago. It was disgraceful behaviour from very low value people ...
DTM
Roar Rookie
My Mum used to tell me two wrongs don't make a right.
AR
Roar Rookie
Sure. The point is that Collingwood and Essendon fans seem to collectively do it more. At least, that's my observation. And an opposition player can barely touch the ball without Bombers fans screaming BAAALLLL! every time.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
The way Ginnivan plays is disgusting sometimes. He just stands there and uses opposition players’ arms as a noose. The are thousands of 18 and 19 year olds that would love an opportunity to play for AFL club. JHF acted like was being forced to clean public toilets. I understand the booing of these guys.
Opps74
Roar Rookie
How do you measure that stat Knackaz? Every club would have rogue and undesirable supporters…media has spotlight on Collingwood all the time…I’ve been to games all across the nation and sometimes as a neutral supporter and have seen vile supporters everywhere…not just Collingwood…the actions and behaviour of a few supporters should not be rolled into an opinion stating all supporters
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Of course, it was against Collingwood that the whole ugly Goodes affair began. Whilst they may be playing good footy and have an intelligent Coach and Captain, never forget Collingwood have the most feral fans of any Club in the AFL. Always have and always will ...
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
As a long time Bloods supporter it's obvious that Buddy should have retired after his very poor GF (he wasn't the only one), but as with many greats, their ego and competitiveness often clouds their judgement when it comes to hanging up the boots. Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt are two others that easily come to mind. Buddy has now become a liability in the Swans forward line and gives away too many free kicks, misses too many tackles, attracts too much ball which he rarely wins anymore, and doesn't hit the scoreboard often enough. He's lost his best assets, which was his explosive pace and amazing agility for a 199cm player. Nearly 350 top quality games later it's pretty much over for the great man. If Joel Amartey didn't get injured Buddy wouldn't (shouldn't ) be in the side ...
AR
Roar Rookie
Yes, all clubs boo as part of the live match pantomime, but Collingwood (and Essendon) fans seems to have it especially ingrained in the DNA of their match-going experience. Subiaco too, was often referred to as the 'boo factory' - and plenty of articles spoke of how it probably 'worked' on umpires. As for this episode of booing, I'm with Horse. Franklin is an all-time great and he probably won't be seen again after this year. There is also the ugly memory of another great indigenous Swans big man, Goodes, who was disgustingly being booed on his way out. Whilst the context here is completely different, it feels undeniably awkward. When you're as good as the superstar Franklin has been for so long, every supporter should cheer every minute he plays in his last season. Or if you can't stomach that, not boo.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Yes Dingo, all fair points you mentioned. Pies got fired up after that and got the early ascendancy and Swans missed some easy goals.
Explosive_Pie
Roar Rookie
Yes it's silly booing one of the greatest. But Swans supporters please...you were booing a kid sitting on a bench last year. ????
Explosive_Pie
Roar Rookie
Yes it's silly booing one of the greatest. But Swans supporters please...you were booing a kid sitting on a bench last year. ????