Fans' sad reaction to a brave action

FOOTBALL has moved against racism over the past 20 years on the field, but it is far from complete on the terraces.

AUSTRALIAN football this year recognised the 20th anniversary of Nicky Winmar pointing to his black skin with pride while being vilified at Victoria Park.

It was the symbol of Indigenous Round, to highlight how far the game has moved against racism.

This may be true on the field, but it is far from complete on the terraces.

The proof is in the case of the 73-year-old Crows supporter who was escorted out of AAMI Stadium on Sunday - after directing an inappropriate remark at Aboriginal footballer Travis Varcoe.

This moment underlines how much education is still needed.

But it is the events that followed that tell how racism is tolerated in the stands.

The Geelong supporter who took issue with Varcoe being racially vilified - even though the Cats player may not have heard the remark - did exactly as the AFL has asked of fans since the Adam Goodes "ape" moment at the MCG during Indigenous Round.

She approached AAMI Stadium's security guards and, as Goodes did at the MCG, pointed the finger at the face of racism. What followed is far from comforting.

The protesting Geelong fan should have been acknowledged and supported by those around her who also heard the racial abuse of Varcoe.

After all, the Adelaide Football Club has stood as a grand example of pride for all folk, in particular the Aboriginal race.

The Crows changed their jumper during Indigenous Round to have the black, yellow and red colours of the Aboriginal flag. One of Adelaide's greatest players, Andrew McLeod, has spoken to the United Nations of the AFL's work against racism.

The Crows have made statements and stands against racism, as highlighted by the decision to ban (at least for the rest of the season) the elderly fan who abused Varcoe.

As Crows chief operating officer Nigel Smart made clear this week such behaviour is "unacceptable and will not be tolerated" by the Adelaide Football Club.

But this was not the impression left on the Geelong fan after she dutifully made her protest against racial vilification on Sunday.

She feels she was subjected to abuse after making her complaint to security staff.

The remarks directed to her shamed the people siding with the elderly fan who was being ejected from the members' stand - and highlight how the fight against racism is still a major battle in the terraces.

Thankfully, the majority view of Crows fans - as indicated by feedback to this newspaper and the Adelaide Football Club - is one of dismay and disappointment that 20 years after Winmar shamed the Collingwood fans the lessons of racial abuse have not covered every seat in every football stadium around the AFL. The elderly fan acknowledges he erred.

But there also is a disappointing minority view that the "black p . . k" remark yelled at Varcoe on Sunday is "political correctness gone mad" and ignores abusive remarks made to white players. And who is saying anyone should condone this?