Fans were furious they didn’t see Matthew Pavlich get chaired off the ground

MATTHEW Pavlich is loved not only by Fremantle fans but by the whole footy community so when Channel 7 didn’t show him being chaired off after game 350, fans weren’t happy.

Pav getting the treatment he deserved.

IT WAS milestones galore in the AFL this weekend.

In Geelong on Friday night Jimmy Bartel celebrated his 300th game in the blue and white hoops while veteran defender Corey Enright played his 326th game for the club, making him the most capped Cat in history after surpassing Ian Nankervis’ record.

Then on Saturday night it was all about Brent Harvey. Boomer became the AFL’s all-time games record holder when he pulled on the Kangaroos guernsey for the 427th time in North’s win over St Kilda, overtaking Michael Tuck.

Geelong and the Roos both won their games, but Matthew Pavlich’s Fremantle wasn’t so fortunate in the evergreen forward’s 350th career match.

Pavlich’s day was both memorable and forgettable all at once.

The Dockers got hammered by a dominant Swans outfit in Perth, souring the one-club player’s milestone achievement in front of his home fans.

While Purple Haze supporters would have been disappointed enough with such a heavy loss compounding an already miserable season on their club icon’s special day, their sadness soon turned to anger when he suffered a further blow.

Channel Seven’s broadcast of the game reportedly missed the scenes after the full-time siren of Pav getting chaired off the ground by his teammates through a guard of honour formed by both sides — their way of showing how much the 34-year-old is respected.

Cue the vitriol of unhappy viewers on Twitter.

That's ok didn't really want to see Pav get chaired off #AFLFreoSwans

— Adam Curley (@AdamCurleyMedia) July 31, 2016

@Smithersss Goose - channel 7 for failing to show Pavlich leaving the ground.

— Anthony Leach (@ahleach) July 31, 2016

Wow. Channel 7 can't give a couple of minutes more to show Pavlich being cheered off for his 350th. #NobodyScrewFootballLike7 #AFLFreoSwans

— Peter Phoebe (@EatDrinkCricket) July 31, 2016

I would have thought Channel Seven would have stuck around to show Pav getting chaired off despite the loss #disappointing

— Micky T (@mikkithompson93) July 31, 2016

I kept watching this horror show for Pav and then @Channel7 cuts the telecast off before he's chaired off #foreverfreo #AFLFreoSwans

— Sean R B (@Critica1_ma55) July 31, 2016

I would have liked to have seen Pav get chaired off, but I really like this episode of Seinfeld #AFLFreoSwans

— Steve (@stevejme) July 31, 2016

Typical Channel 7 rot post Freo v Syd for Pavlich in his 350..... Couldn't hold off for another minute to see him chaired off pathetic....

— Glenney (@glenneywilson) July 31, 2016

The “4 Freo Dockers Fans” Twitter account uploaded the moment so many fans missed.

Matthew Pavlich gets chaired off after his 350th AFL game pic.twitter.com/HjTLuO9vAE

— 4 Freo Dockers Fans (@We_Bleed_Purple) July 31, 2016

It’s not the only time a milestone snub has come under fire this season. Adelaide veteran Scott Thompson played his 300th AFL game a couple of weeks ago in a win over Collingwood at the Adelaide Oval, but Port Adelaide legend Kane Cornes lashed the Pies for their lack of respect after the game.

Writing for the Adelaide Advertiser, Cornes said the Melbourne club’s actions ruined what should have been a memorable occasion.

“The one sour note is no fault of Thompson, the Adelaide Football Club or the Crows fans. It falls on Collingwood — and their captain Scott Pendlebury,” Cornes wrote.

“The Magpies failed to form a guard of honour for Thompson as he left Adelaide Oval on Saturday night — a salute that has almost become an unwritten rule in significant milestone games across the AFL.

“Collingwood’s actions show extremely poor leadership. Pendlebury failed. This only adds to the public perception that the club is arrogant.

“In round five, the Adelaide players formed a guard of honour as Shaun Burgoyne left the MCG to honour his contribution in 300 AFL games. It is a tribute that still means a great deal to the star Hawk.

“Scott Thompson deserved the same.”

Thompson celebrating in style.

Originally published as Fans were furious they didn’t see Matthew Pavlich get chaired off the ground