Gary Ablett attempts to calm abusive fans after crushing loss to Demons

AFTER a crushing defeat, Gold Coast Suns skipper Gary Ablett found himself in a heated exchange with fans after being hit with a wall of abuse.

Ablett was forced to try to stem the abuse.

FOLLOWING the Gold Coast’s hammering at the hands of Melbourne on Saturday, Suns fans were less than impressed with their team’s performance.

And as if the loss wasn’t enough to dishearten a struggling Suns team, players then had to cop a spray of abuse from a handful of rowdy fans.

As proceedings wrapped up at Metricon Stadium, Suns captain Gary Ablett took exception to something said by a member of the crowd, and took it upon himself to try to ease the hostility.

Natives a restless on the Gold Coast. Gary Ablett trying to calm some frustrated fans. Not a good look. #AFLSunsDees pic.twitter.com/yEqa6hwbGQ

— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) May 7, 2016

“The Gold Coast fans having a real go at the Gold Coast players,” Fox Footy commentators said.

“Gary Ablett just trying to calm things down, it got very unsavoury there at Metricon Stadium.

“Scenes that we don’t wan’t to be seeing in AFL games. Ablett is not very happy at all.”

The abusive spectator was later removed from the ground by security.

Fox Footy presenter Eddie McGuire got behind the Suns captain, condemning the negative actions of the supporters involved.

“When things are tough, you need supporters rallying around you,”McGuire said.

“You don’t need to be giving everybody an ear ache going off the ground. You can see supporters of the Suns on the other side of the race getting behind Gary there and just trying to calm things down.

“So well done to Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett, the sensible head among everything there.”

If things weren’t looking bleak enough for the Gold Coast, the axe shelved last week by Suns coach Rodney Eade looks set to swing after Melbourne came alive in the second half to run out 73-point AFL winners.

The Demons (4-3) remain in touch with the top eight after launching a stunning third-quarter assault to overwhelm the Suns 24.16 (160) to 14.3 (87) in front of a 12,780-strong Metricon Stadium crowd.

Eade opted not to make widespread changes after their last-round, 120-point humiliation at the hands of Geelong to give players one last chance to “show their worth”.

But it seems his hand has been forced after the Suns’ listless second-half display.

It has been a tough ride for Gary.

Melbourne kicked eight unanswered goals on either side of half-time to turn a five-point lead at the main break to 44 by the final interval.

Ruckman Max Gawn (46 hitouts, two goals, 17 touches) dominated as the Demons finished with eight players two or more goals. Melbourne dominated most categories, including inside 50s (75-35), disposals (412-317) and clearances (48-30).

Star forward Tom Lynch almost single-handedly kept the hosts in the contest in the first half, booting four majors as Melbourne snuck ahead 8.7 (55) to 8.2 (50) at half-time.

Then all hell broke loose.

Melbourne kicked nine goals to three in the third term as their statistical dominance finally showed where it counted — on the scoreboard.

Overall, the Demons booted 16 second-half goals to six to bounce back from their 39-point last-round loss to St Kilda.

Suns captain and dual Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett was again quiet despite finishing with 22 touches and two goals.

To add injury to insult, the Suns lost Alex Sexton (suspected broken arm) and Matt Rosa (hamstring).

— with AAP.

Originally published as Gary Ablett attempts to calm abusive fans after crushing loss to Demons