SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 27: Lance Franklin of the Swans celebrates winning the round 11 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Richmond Tigers at Sydney Cricket Ground on May 27, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Collingwood have issued an apology to Sydney veteran Lance Franklin following the club's supporters booing the champion forward during Sunday's match at the MCG.

Franklin was the latest player that fell victim to the hostility of crowd booing over the weekend, as the 36-year old copped heat from Magpie fans with every touch of the football in Sydney's loss to Collingwood on Sunday afternoon.

The Swans' great collected 13 disposals and seven marks in the match, all to the dismay of the roaring Magpie army, who let their feelings be heard in the 2022 preliminary final rematch.

On Monday the Magpies released a joint statement from captain Darcy Moore, coach Craig McRae and CEO Craig Kelly who issued an apology to Franklin and the Swans.

"We apologise to the Sydney Swans and to Lance ‘Buddy' Franklin," the apology read.

"The Club does not support booing, particularly champions of the game.

"Yesterday was the first time we played the Swans at the MCG in a decade – it provided an opportunity to respect a champion of the game and we fell short.

"Buddy is a great of Australian Football – what he has achieved on the field over a long period of time demands a high level of respect.

"To our Members and supporters, we are on an exciting journey at Collingwood and we do not take for granted the unwavering support you provide us with at every game – home or away. Our fans turn up like no other – you're our 19th player – you're loud, you're passionate, you're emotional.

"We hope the next time we get the chance to witness a champion of the game we treat them with respect, the same respect we ask for when it comes to our players and our champions.

"When our Club has the opportunity, we stand Side by Side with the greats of our game."

The Round 8 match was heated from the get-go, with a scuffle brewing quickly after a Ryan Clarke goal in the opening stages, which saw Swans players physically target Clarke's direct opponent, Nick Daicos. The tension was amplified just seconds later, as Daicos immediately answered with an inside 50 leading to a Will Hoskin-Elliot goal.

It was the first match between these two sides at the MCG since 2013, when Adam Goodes was racially abused from over the fence by a teenage Collingwood supporter. As was the case a decade ago, the friction in this match was palpable.

Given the treatment of 19-year old Jason Horne-Francis by opposition fan bases so far this season, the booing of Lance Franklin further illustrates the unforgiving relentlessness of AFL fans, who choose to display their disapproval of any targeted player, no matter their age or circumstance.

When asked about the reception of Franklin post-game, Sydney coach John Longmire didn't hesitate to express his bewilderment.

"Charlie (Gardiner, head of footy) and I actually didn't know, we were on the bench and we don't sit back and sit there like a spectator, and didn't understand it," Longmire said.

"Why would they boo him? Why would you boo him?

"(You'd) probably celebrate a 36-year-old, wouldn't you, who's been a champion of the game? Why would you (boo)? It's been 10 years since we've played Collingwood here, why would you boo one of the champions of the game? It doesn't make sense to me."

Collingwood coach Craig McRae also chimed in on the discussion in his post-match presser, verbalising his disapproval while acknowledging the reality of crowd behaviour.

"I've said this before, I'm not a boo-er, we don't boo at home. You pay your money, you do whatever you want. I must admit I didn't hear it, I had my headset on, but we just don't boo," McRae said.

With both sides expected to feature in September later this year, footy fans can expect another heated show if they happen to meet again.

In the meantime, this match will only boost the discussion on how the booing of AFL players should be addressed and countered.