Adelaide star forward Eddie Betts was again the subject of a racial slur on Instagram from a Perth-based fan, just one week removed from the AFL's 2018 Indigenous Round.
Betts posed with a young Fremantle fan after a three-point loss to the Dockers, later receiving a comment from an unidentified fan referring to him as a “monkey”.
“I have no time for this”, Betts stated on his Instagram, following a previously positive statement on his account where he said he had time for “everyone”.
Betts has been the subject of ridicule multiple times, referred to as an “ape” last year on social media as well as having a banana thrown at him at the Adelaide Oval in 2016.
ALFPA chief executive Paul Marsh and the AFL Players Association criticised the slur in a statement released on Tuesday night, likening the comment to “shameful behaviour”.
“This most recent incident involving Eddie Betts provides another opportunity to educate people about the significant hurt these types of words can cause a player.
"The players want football fans to barrack for their clubs with passion, but targeting someone because of their race can’t be tolerated.”
Jeremy Johncock, indigenous liaison officer for the Crows, was in agreeance.
“For our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, in particular, any form of racist behaviour is extremely damaging and hurtful to them, their families and communities”, he said.
“If this means we need to educate one person at a time, so be it.”
