Des Headland says family slurs cross the line and should be outlawed

SLEDGE victim Des Headland says personal slurs relating to a player’s family must be stamped out and reveals he never received an apology from an alleged barb towards him.

Des Headland says personal insults about family members should be outlawed.

SLEDGE victim Des Headland says personal slurs relating to a player’s family cross the line and must be stamped out of the game.

The former Fremantle forward sympathised with Carlton captain Marc Murphy and revealed he never received an apology from the alleged barb which shocked the football world a decade ago.

Headland had overturned a three-match suspension for striking Adam Selwood at the tribunal after it was claimed the West Coast midfielder made explicit remarks about his six-year-old daughter.

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A distressed Murphy stormed off Etihad Stadium on Saturday and did not want to shake hands with St Kilda players after engaging in ugly verbal exchanges with opponents including Jake Carlisle.

Headland said the 2007 incident was “one of the hardest times of my AFL career”.

Des Headland confront Adam Selwood during a game in 2007.

He was unaware of the Blues-Saints saga, but unequivocal the line on what is acceptable is clear.

“I used to be one of the best at banter. But when it comes to family issues — whether it’s kids or wives or anything that’s close to you — it should be outlawed,” Headland said.

“Footy is footy — it’s a hard-fought game and of course you want to try and put your opponent off.

“But as long as you do it in the right way. I made this stance when it first happened to me, when it comes to family — kids or wives — just keep it quiet and talk about something else.

“There’s a lot of banter out there and every single player does it, but there’s a certain line you don’t cross.”

Headland was unsure if the AFL should sanction those who throw personal barbs.

But he said perpetrators must put themselves in their victim’s shoes.

“The person who said it has to think in their own mind what’s wrong and right to say,” the Brisbane Lions premiership player said.

“With my incident, at the time I don’t think Selwood had any kids. I’m sure if he did he wouldn’t have made that comment.

“People have to put it back in their own perspective if it was said to them.”

Headland urged the Blues to throw their arms around Murphy.

Headland said he moved on personally, but struggled as members of the public continued asking him about the incident in social settings.

“I knew what was said (to me) and was lucky I had great support from family, friends and the Fremantle Dockers,” he said.

“It was pretty tough, don’t get me wrong. I’m sure Marc’s going through a similar thing at the moment.”

Selwood denied making a sexual taunt while Headland was eventually cleared on the grounds of “exceptional and compelling circumstance by way of provocation”.

GWS ruckman Shane Mumford admitted on Sunday he regretted sledging Lance Franklin about mental health issues last year.

“Heat of the moment you get a bit worked up and say things you would like to take back,” Mumford said.

“You’ve just got to hold back and try and keep your cool in the moment.”