‘Unacceptable’: Nathan Buckley blasts his own Collingwood fans

Nathan Buckley has given Collingwood fans a serve after Geelong captain Joel Selwood was booed over an incident in Round 3.

Nathan Buckley and Joel Selwood. Photo: Michael Klein, News Corp Australia, Getty, Dylan Burns.

Magpies legend Nathan Buckley has given his own fans a bake over the “disrespectful” treatment of Geelong captain Joel Selwood.

Selwood was repeatedly booed by spectators at the MCG during the Cats’ epic comeback win on Saturday night.

Geelong celebrated Selwood becoming the longest serving captain in AFL history by pulling off an extraordinary 16.8 (104) to 13.13 (91) comeback win.

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He was booed by Collingwood fans every time he touched the ball in the second half — a response from Pies supporters to an earlier high tackle.

Buckley on Monday said the fans’ behaviour crossed the line.

“Unacceptable. Don’t like it. Don’t like it at all,” he said on SEN Breakfast.

“I understand the emotions that come with following your team and witnessing a great contest before your eyes. There is a cathartic effect of going to the footy where we release those emotions; anger, stress et cetera and we get emotionally involved.

Nathan Buckley and Joel Selwood. Photo: Michael Klein, News Corp Australia, Getty, Dylan Burns.

“I think cheer as loud as you want, hoot and holler as loud as you like, but I just think booing or denigrating someone is just not something that needs to happen. That doesn’t mean that I don’t understand it, but I just don’t like it.”

He said he was regularly booed by fans during his career and does not believe players should have to deal with the hostility.

“Yeah I did (get booed) and maybe that’s why I hold this in ... when I hear it, I don’t like it,” Buckley said.

“When I’m sitting in a crowd or I’m sitting in an environment and I see it, I think that’s just disrespectful. That’s my opinion.”

Cats coach Chris Scott chose not to respond to the booing when asked in his post match press conference.

“Even if I had an opinion, I wouldn’t give it,” he said.

“This is a stretch, but after two and a half years of a pandemic, I think people are a bit sick of being told what to do.

“I’m not going to start.”

The match reached boiling point in the third quarter when the Pies kicked back to back goals following a wild melee in their forward fifty.

The brawl appeared to be the result of a Collingwood star mouthing off towards Selwood before a Geelong teammate ran in to push the cheeky Magpies player.

Joel Selwood of the Cats and Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies. Photo by Michael Klein.

Selwood was one of the reasons the Cats fought their way back into the contest in the second half and finished with 22 touches.

Collingwood fans clearly had no intention of showing respect to Selwood as he captained his team for a record 227th game, which took him past Carlton legend Stephen Kernahan for most AFL games played as a club captain.

Some AFL commentators were not happy with the reaction from the Magpies faithful.

Racing reporter Tim Yeatman posted on Twitter: “The booing of Joel Selwood was a disgrace tonight. Last laugh, Joel”.

Veteran sports journalist Peter Ryan posted: “Shame on those who boo a champion”.

Sports reporter Andrew Wu cheekily wrote: “Why the boos for Joel Selwood from the Collingwood fans? He’s breaking a Carlton record, isn’t he?”

Collingwood players formed an honour guard for Selwood as he walked off the ground.

Joel Selwood of the Cats leaves the field after a win. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Selwood was still smiling at the end of the night.

“This group, seriously,” he said.

“There is just something special about it. We had confidence at three quarter time even though the third quarter just wasn’t ours. We got outplayed big time but outstanding by the boys. Big efforts and big moments going into that final quarter.”

Jeremy Cameron stood up when he was needed the most, nabbing six, including three in the final quarter, equalling his best game for the club.

A Luke Dahlhaus behind put the Cats ahead 23 minutes into the final term, and despite Jamie Elliott evening it up for the Pies soon after, Tom Hawkins and Cameron put the game beyond doubt.

Originally published as ‘Unacceptable’: Nathan Buckley blasts his own Collingwood fans