Collingwood release statement as AFL rallies around Buddy Franklin

Collingwood has released a statement after the AFL world slammed the treatment of champion Buddy Franklin at the MCG on Sunday.

The Pies have apologised to Buddy. Photo: Getty Images

Collingwood have apologised to Buddy Franklin after the AFL champion was booed by fans at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The AFL world has rallied around Franklin after the Magpies’ 29-point win over the Swans in the first regular season clash between the clubs at the MCG since 2013.

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In front of 71,463, the Magpies fans made the most of not seeing one of the greatest goalscorers of all-time, quite potentially for the last time, booing him mercilessly at every touch in the 11.11 (77) to 6.12 (48) win.

The booing caught the attention of both coaches and was panned throughout the Monday morning wash up after the weekend of footy.

But in a statement released under the names of Collingwood captain Darcy Moore, coach Craig McRae and CEO Craig Kelly, the Magpies hit out at the fans who booed Franklin.

“We apologise to the Sydney Swans and to Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin,” the statement began.

“The Club does not support booing, particularly champions of the game.

“Yesterday was the first time we played the Swans at the MCG in a decade – it provided an opportunity to respect a champion of the game and we fell short.

“Buddy is a great of Australian football – what he has achieved on the field over a long period of time demands a high level of respect.

“To our Members and supporters, we are on an exciting journey at Collingwood and we do not take for granted the unwavering support you provide us with at every game – home or away. Our fans turn up like no other – you’re our 19th player – you’re loud, you’re passionate, you’re emotional.

“We hope the next time we get the chance to witness a champion of the game we treat them with respect, the same respect we ask for when it comes to our players and our champions.

“When our Club has the opportunity, we stand side-by-side with the greats of our game.”

McRae and Moore were united in the statement. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It comes after some legends of the game hit out at the treatment of Franklin.

Collingwood legend and former coach Nathan Buckley said the rest of the fans should drown out the boo-ers, saying the issue could be construed as “bigotry”, regardless of what the intent of the booing was.

“I love the Collingwood faithful, but I’ve got a message (for them),” Buckley told SEN.

“Your team is the toast of the town and they’re handling themselves on and off the field with class and poise.

“So, let’s try and fall into line on the other side of the fence.

“At best, it was a begrudging acknowledgment of the sustained brilliance Franklin has brought against Collingwood and at worst, it’s ignorance and bigotry.

“It’s been 10 years since he played Collingwood here. Why would you boo one of the champions of the game? It doesn’t make sense.

“If we get another chance, I hope Collingwood fans that aren’t ignorant and that aren’t bigots – because there will be some booing – stand up and applaud every time he gets a touch and try and drown that (booing) out.

“That’s exactly what the stars of the game and his status in the game deserves.”

Buddy Franklin had a shocker. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Swans legend Michael O’Loughlin called for the AFL to stamp out booing, telling the Herald Sun it needed to be stamped out.

“Listening to it was disgraceful. I am not sure why you would boo a legend of the game,” he told the Herald Sun.

“You have the last couple of opportunities to watch a great player in action and I can’t for the life of me get it. I don’t know what the reasoning behind it is but it’s absolutely not on and I am very disappointed.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people need the rest of Australia to join in to help stamp this out. We can get up and talk and say how disappointed we are but it’s got beyond a joke. We are tired, we are physically and emotionally tired. You hear Eddie Betts talk about it, you hear countless other people talk about it.

“To see an unbelievable player like Buddy, there is only one more game at the MCG and hopefully he is fit and healthy for that game. And then you won’t see another player like it for a long, long time. I don’t know the reasons why. I am putting two and two together and coming up with an answer.

“It is disappointing and frustrating. There is a mixed bag of emotions I am going through but celebrating this incredible player is getting lost on many people.”

Michael O’Loughlin remembered what booing did to former stars.

Swans boss Andrew Pridham also released a statement via Tom Browne on Triple M Footy.

“We’ve seen this before and too many people have learned nothing,” the statement said.

“Booing of any player unrelated to an incident during the game is mindless and an act of group bullying.

“20 years ago, if there was a fight in public people would stand around and cheer it, today people will step in and stop it.

“The best solution is for fans to tell anyone booing in circumstances such as yesterday to stop. Positive group action is the best way to stop bad group action.”