Geelong captain responds to criticism over comments on AFL fan booing
Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- Patrick Dangerfield has responded to criticism over booing comments.
- Brisbane have demolished a depleted Port Adelaide by 59 points for a seventh successive win.
Brisbane Lions defender Ty Gallop faces scrutiny from the match review panel for a vigorous push on his Port Adelaide opponent – a move described as “a stupid action” – during the club’s seventh successive AFL win.
Gallop slung Port Adelaide’s Mitch Georgiades to the ground during the third quarter at the Gabba on Sunday. But immediately afterwards Gallop grabbed the Port player by the jumper and strongly pushed him into the turf.
On the TV coverage, Alastair Lynch described the Gallop’s move as “just a stupid action”.
“We’ve been singing the praises of Ty Gallop over the last half a dozen weeks particularly,” Lynch said on Fox Footy.
“But that’s just a stupid action. We don’t want to see that. Mitch has had some problems with concussion.
“We don’t want to see actions like that.”
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has warned his team against complacency as it flexes its premiership credentials with four weeks remaining in the home and away season.
“There’s always a big sledgehammer waiting around the corner, I reckon. You just never know,” Fagan said after the Lions demolished a depleted Port Adelaide at the Gabba, 19.12 (126) to 9.13 (67).
“Don’t take form for granted. We were in a bit of trouble at six [wins] and six [losses], and we’ve been able to win our last seven games, which is pretty exciting.
“There’s still four games to go, some challenging opponents to play … every week’s a final now, everyone’s jockeying for the best position, so we really only have our mind on next week.”
The Lions had to work hard to shake off the Power, who hung in until midway through the third quarter before the home side exploded, kicking 14 goals to 5 in a crushing second half.
The result leaves Fagan’s men fourth on the ladder, a game clear of Adelaide with four rounds to play, with matches against Carlton, Hawthorn, the Gold Coast and Collingwood to come.
On form, however, the Lions should fear none of them.
While the Power worked hard early to close space and force the Lions to use the ball more by hand instead of with their usual precise kicking game, the Lions had too much class and too many avenues to goal.
Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr said his team was unable to go with the home side as they dialled up the pressure.
“In the second half, you could see their intent right from the start, the way they shifted the footy, and we were really slow to squeeze the ground and they cut through us,” he said. “Quality teams like that make you pay.”
The Lions kicked seven majors to three in the third quarter, highlighted by Sam Draper, who plucked a centre-square ruck contest and galloped to 60 metres before landing a decisive blow.
Will Ashcroft was superb with two goals from 30 possessions, while Zac Bailey was destructive with three majors from his 26 and Harris Andrews was typically impassable in defence with 13 marks.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Brisbane was the inside game of Hugh McCluggage, who had his best match for the year, finishing with 29 possessions, five clearances and a goal as an inside midfielder.
Brisbane’s forwards also fired, with Logan Morris, Kai Lohmann and Charlie Cameron kicking three goals apiece.
Jason Horne-Francis was a shining light for Port, keeping them in the contest with a superb kicking exhibition that resulted in nine score involvements and three direct assists.
But without Port’s usual centre-square assassin Zak Butters, Horne-Francis lacked midfield support, and the Power did well to stay with the Lions for as long as they did.
Port Adelaide were also let down by their set-shot kicking, with spearhead Georgiades ending with 2.4.
Fagan said Lions forward Oscar Allen, who played in the reserves on his return from injury, had done all he could in his push to regain a senior berth.
But it won’t be easy for the former West Coast captain, with Fagan admitting it was hard to change a winning formula with a forward line that was already scoring heavily.
“It’s a little hard to get in, but it’s good to have players in the reserves who can step up if we need them,” he said.
Fagan said defender Bruce Reville, who has missed the last two matches for personal reasons after the birth of his second child, was also a possibility to break back into the side.
‘Not worded how I would have liked’: Dangerfield answers criticism over booing comments
Scott Spits
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield has responded to criticism from former AFLW player Kate McCarthy that his justification for booing among some AFL fans “missed the mark”.
The veteran AFL player said “context” was everything, regretting that comments he made on ABC Sport on Saturday were “not worded how I would have liked”.
The debate about the rights and wrongs of crowd behaviour at AFL matches was reignited this weekend after Isaac Quaynor was the victim of targeted booing at Adelaide Oval to kick off round 20. The Collingwood defender was jeered by large sections of the 50,109-strong crowd each time he had possession.
Crows supporters also targeted Quaynor in last year’s qualifying final, a fortnight after he was the victim of a homophobic slur from Adelaide star Izak Rankine.
In an interview with ABC Sport on Saturday, AFL veteran Dangerfield was asked what advice he’d give to someone who received a slur on the field.
“Well, I think it’s a tough one … the right thing is always the right thing, as uncomfortable as it may be,” Dangerfield said.
“The game relies on the passion of the fans, and that is a critical part of why the game is so great. And most crowds and supportive bases are quite parochial regardless of, you know, what the incident has been — whether it’s been reporting of a homophobic slur, whether it’s a, you know, a suspension in a tackle like that — they will defend their own to the hilt.
“I understand the disappointment, but I also think we have to sit ourselves in the scene of a supporter, and for many that is their release.
“I’m not saying booing a player is the right way to go about it, but I still think we want to make sure it’s a supportive environment.
“But, you know, people are entitled to support and cheer on their teams as well. So it’s a bit of a funny one, I think.”
But those comments “missed the mark”, according to Kate McCarthy. Being a supporter at the football was not a consequence-free space, the prominent media commentator said on social media.
“Supporters are entitled to be passionate. They’re entitled to boo,” McCarthy posted on X, after highlighting Dangerfield’s comments.
“But context matters. And in this context, I don’t think ‘that’s just footy fans’ is anywhere near good enough.
“Football can absolutely be an emotional release for supporters. But being a supporter doesn’t give you a consequence free space to direct that emotion wherever you like.
“There has to be a line and targeting the victim of homophobic abuse because he reported it is over the line.”
The feedback was welcomed by Dangerfield, who replied: “Fair call Kate. Not worded how I would have liked. Context is everything, You’ve nailed it.”
