Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield has been criticised for his response to the booing of Collingwood defender Isaac Quaynor on Thursday night.
Former AFLW player and footy analyst Kate McCarthy led the way, posting a statement on Instagram on Saturday night indicating that the comments by the former president of the AFL Players Association sent the wrong message and pointed out a major hypocrisy.
"I think we need to be really clear about why Isaac Quaynor is being booed, because this isn't just passionate supporters defending their club," McCarthy said.
"Isaac Quaynor was subjected to a homophobic slur. The AFL investigated it and Izak Rankine was suspended for six weeks. And now, when Quaynor plays Adelaide, sections of that crowd boo him.
"So whether supporters intent it this way or not, the message that sends is, if you speak up when someone crosses the line, you become the target.
"We spend an enormous amount of time telling players to call out racism, homophobia and discrimination when they experience it. We cannot then shrug our shoulders when the person who does exactly that is vilified for it.
"Supporters are entitled to be passionate. They're entitled to boo. 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 at whoever you like.
"There has to be a line and targeting the victim of homophobic abuse because he reported it is over that line."
While Dangerfield stopped well short of condoning the booing, the widespread sentiment was that he should have been stronger in his stance.
"I understand the disappointment, but I also think we have to sit ourselves in the scene of a supporter," he said.
"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 is a supportive environment.
"But people are entitled to support and cheer on their teams as well."
It comes at a time where the league is grappling with the best way to stamp homophobia out of the game, having handed out nine suspensions for homophobic slurs since 2024
