West Coast Eagles star Liam Ryan targeted with another racist attack

The ugly trend of AFL players being targeted by racist trolls struck again as West Coast and the league united to shame the abhorrent abuse.

The AFL and West Coast Eagles have hit out after footy livewire Liam Ryan was targeted by a ”disgusting” racist attack on social media.

The 23-year-old was live streaming himself on Instagram with his daughter on Thursday night when one follower posted a racist comment.

Ryan saw the comment and singled it out. “No words can describe how disgraceful this comment is … epitome of a low life coward,” Ryan wrote.

West Coast released a statement on Friday saying the club was “sickened” by the attack.

“The West Coast Eagles are sickened by yet another abhorrent racist social media attack on Liam Ryan and his family,” the statement read.

“It is unfathomable that someone believes it is acceptable to post such a disgusting message.

“The club has reported the post and will do everything to ensure this person is held to account #whenwillitend.”

Multiple AFL clubs re-tweeted the Eagles’ message and the AFL also showed its support for Ryan, as did the league’s General Manager for Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch.

The AFL is disgusted by the continued abuse of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our game. Our society expects better and our players deserve better. This needs to end. https://t.co/vsViDXp4FI

— AFL House (@AFL_House) November 15, 2019

I send my apologies to Liam Ryan, the @WestCoastEagles & the @AFL community for the racist abuse Liam & his family has been subjected to today. Racism is no joke and is never acceptable. This is a vulgar act. #whenwillitend #istandwithLiam #racismitstopswithme

— tanya hosch (@tanyahosch) November 15, 2019

AFL Players Association boss Paul Marsh also slammed the vile behaviour.

“We encourage everyone to be respectful at all times, and for those who need it to be educated about acceptable behaviour,” Marsh said. “There is no place for this abuse in our game or in society.”

This isn’t the first time Ryan has been the victim of racist trolling. Earlier this year a fan was identified and banned from AFL matches for two years after calling the Eagles star a “monkey” on social media.

In May the Eagles launched an anti-racism campaign to call out the unacceptable behaviour permeating the sport.

We're taking a stand against racism.

We need your support.

Learn, share and start a conversation.

More: https://t.co/ictFarfiEC #whenwillitend pic.twitter.com/qaQSBPPRJR

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) March 26, 2019

Brisbane Lions star Allen Christensen was also racially vilified online earlier in 2019 while ex-Adelaide goalsneak Eddie Betts was another to be targeted.

“We as a game have come a long way, but ‘OK’ is not good enough and I know highlighting this type of racial stereotyping will all keep us going forward as a community,” Christensen said in July.