Port Adelaide loves star defender Aliir Aliir and have slammed the ‘fools’ who abused him online

From racial slurs to abuse from aggrieved punters, footballers cop it every week, and one coach has called the online trolls out for what they are.

Aliir Aliir of the Power was best on ground in Showdown 50. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Foolish decisions by idiots and “di*kheads” to abuse AFL players like Port Adelaide star Aliir Aliir only widens the gap between the lowly trolls and stars embraced by the clubs that love them.

A racial online slur directed to Aliir after his Showdown medal-winning performance against Adelaide on Saturday night highlights the weekly abuse players suffer, according to Port assistant coach Nathan Bassett.

He was stinging in his assessment of the offenders and quick to point out how the cocoon of a football club could support all players from any puerile attempt to get under their skin.

Bassett said everyone at Port “loved” Aliir, who is in his first season at the club after crossing from Sydney, and such instances only heightened their desire to support him.

“At different stages lots of people make foolish decisions to make comments and, more than foolish decisions, they make an idiot of themselves,” Bassett said on Monday

“We embrace diversity as a football club.” @PAFC assistant Nathan Bassett speaks brilliantly on the troll who sent a vile message directed at Allir Allir following Saturday night’s Showdown. @9NewsAdelpic.twitter.com/lUPdIXEl4Z

— TomRehn9 (@tomrehn9) August 9, 2021

The club has issued the following statement in response to a racist social media post directed at Showdown Medallist Aliir Aliir following Saturday night’s game at Adelaide Oval ⤵️#weareportadelaidehttps://t.co/9LVnpe9lRB

— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) August 8, 2021

“Some do it because they are an idiot, some do it because we give it the airtime. It’s extremely disappointing.

“Aliir has been a fantastic person for our footy club, we love him. You can’t not love Aliir. We’ll keep loving the person he is and the high quality performances he has been producing for us.”

Bassett said abuse was all too common for players and even coaches.

“It happens right across the AFL. It’s the racism thing this week or it’s players coping heat because they didn’t kick the extra goal for someone to complete a stupid multi,” he said.

“Or it’s random abuse anyone attached to a footy club can cop and that we all occasionally get, and it’s because some people are looking for a response. Other people, well, they are just d*ckheads.”

“It’s all poor either way.”

The after-match attack took the shine off not only a glowing performance from Aliir but also a stirring Port win after a slow start Bassett said was because of a “difficult” week leading into the clash with the Crows.

“We didn’t have a terrific week and it certainly came out in both our games. The great thing is the guys showed some good resilience to fight back and get the result,” Bassett said.

“We’d expect a better training week, to be able to train properly for a couple of sessions and that would give us a better chance to prepare to play Carlton.”

Bassett said key forward Charlie Dixon remained sore and had “maybe a few parts that weren’t working to full capacity” against the Crows.

But he said more game time into recent returnees, including Robbie Gray and Orazio Fantasia, would have Port looking at a top-four finish.

“It’s more about getting them in to the form which gives them the best chance to play well when we get to finals,” Bassett said.

Steven Motlop is edging close to a return and could come through the SANFL.