Essendon fans have been slammed for booing former Bomber Paddy Ryder in clash with Port Adelaide

JOHN Worsfold has urged the Essendon faithful to stop booing former players after Patrick Ryder was continuously jeered on Saturday night.

JOHN Worsfold has urged the Essendon faithful to stop booing former players after Patrick Ryder was continuously jeered on Saturday night.

Ryder left the Bombers at the end of the 2014 season, seeking a fresh start after being worn down by the supplements saga.

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Saturday night was the first time Ryder has played against the Bombers since 34 players from the club’s 2012 list were handed one-year bans for their part in the scandal.

Essendon fans turned on Ryder, booing him each time he touched the ball.

Worsfold was noncommittal post-match but on Sunday said the booing did not sit well with him.

“The point I was trying to make is I don’t like it as part of the game,’’Worsfold told 3AW.

“I wasn’t sure why they were booing. It didn’t appear Paddy did anything in the game to earn their wrath.

“If it was just the fact he has left the club, as an industry we understand that’s part of the game.

“We had Josh Green who was playing well for us and James Kelly coming from other clubs.

“I don’t enjoy seeing any player booed for any reason. If they are just a player moving on we have to understand that’s part of the way it goes.”

The antics were met with disgust from former players on social media.

Former Port Adelaide player Tom Logan said:

As if the Essendon fans are booing Patty Ryder after what their football club has put him through. #afldonspower

— Tom Logan (@Tomlogan44) June 10, 2017

Former Gold Coast Sun Josh Toy also weighed in:

Followed the bombers my entire life...quite embarrassed that our supporters are booing Patty Ryder! Wonderful servant and quality person 👍🏻

— Joshua Toy (@Joshua_Toy) June 10, 2017

During the initial stages of the drugs saga, Ryder expressed a desire to remain with the Bombers.

However, after two years of scrutiny he decided he needed a fresh start.

“If it had been done and dusted and all wrapped up within six months, as I trusted it would — and everyone was telling us that it was going to be over soon — then I would still be happy to be at the footy club,” Ryder said in an interview with the Herald Sun in 2014.

“But two years is a long time to be worrying and having a lot of uncertainty ¬ surrounding everything.

“It has just got to the point now where I feel for me to keep playing footy, I need to be elsewhere.”

Football fans slammed the Essendon supporters for their treatment of Ryder.

Pretty disgusting to see Paddy Ryder getting booed. Really???? 170 gamer who left for personal reasons and hasn't made a fuss about it!

— AJMFIFA (@AJMFIFA) June 10, 2017

Booing Paddy Ryder how low can Essendon supporters get.

— Kathy 🔴⚪⚫ (@matoots57) June 10, 2017

@Essendonfc supporters - stop booing Paddy Ryder, there's no need for it and just idiotic. We are better than that

— Shayne (@shaynehoney) June 10, 2017

Pathetic Essendon supporters booing Paddy Ryder #AFLDonsPort #AFLDonsPower

— John Baker (@JackDyer17) June 10, 2017

@EssendonFC the group of supporters booing former player Paddy Ryder, are a disgrace after what he's been through #bebettrrthanthat

— D.March (@MarchyTweets) June 10, 2017

So much to like about Essendon tonight. But the booing of Paddy Ryder from some fans is nothing short of disgraceful!

— TomRehn9 (@tomrehn9) June 10, 2017