’Pathetic’: Blight on game continues as indigenous players racially abused online

Two indigenous Fremantle players have been sent vile messages online as the shameful racial abuse of AFL stars continues.

Michael Walters was targeted with racist and homophobic abuse on social media following Fremantle’s game against Adelaide. Picture: Daniel Carson / Getty Images

Two Fremantle players have been targeted on social media with racist and homophobic abuse as the scourge on the game intensifies.

Indigenous duo Michael Walters and Nathan Wilson both reported abusive comments to the Dockers after their loss to Adelaide on Saturday, with the club slamming the “abhorrent and archaic” treatment of its players.

The latest episode comes just a day after Adelaide star Izak Rankine was sent a vile message on Instagram by an account with zero followers and no posts – a sign of an account set up with the intent to abuse players.

Wilson was attacked online by a similar account on April 2 and again on Saturday, and like Rankine, shared the message to his Instagram story in disgust.

Fremantle defender Nathan Wilson (pictured) and star forward Michael Walters were both subjected to vile abuse following the Dockers’ game against Adelaide. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“What do you have to do to stop people like this. Embarrassing,” Wilson wrote.

Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick said the people who continued to target AFL players from behind fake social media profiles were “pathetic”.

“This unnecessary and disgusting abuse should not happen; it saddens me, and everyone at our club, that it does,” Garlick said.

“Individuals that hide behind fake accounts to hurt others are pathetic and we need to be able to curb this capability on social platforms.

“In the meantime, I urge fans to use this conversation to call out racist and homophobic slurs for the abhorrent and archaic discourse that it is.

“It has no place in our game or in our community … enough is enough.”

Adelaide star Izak Rankine received vile racist messages online from an anonymous Instagram account over the weekend. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty Images

The messages to the Fremantle duo and Rankine follow a string of racism scandals in the game, with Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan subjected to vile remarks while playing against St Kilda in round 2.

The AFL Integrity Unit said last month it was working with St Kilda to identify the perpetrator and ban them from the game.

The AFLIU was also investigating the abuse of Rankine with the Crows, a league spokesperson said.

“The AFL in the strongest possible way condemns the hurtful and abhorrent racist remarks directed at one of the Adelaide Crows players over the weekend via social media,” they said.

“We stand with the club in calling out the racist comments; comments that cause significant hurt and harm for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“The AFLIU has been contacted by the Adelaide Crows and will now provide support for those impacted and investigate the matter, working towards identifying the individual concerned.”