An Australian Football League (AFL) team's playful Instagram post aimed at the National Rugby League (NRL) has spectacularly backfired, leaving fans fuming.
The post, intended as a light-hearted joke, quickly turned into a PR nightmare as rugby league supporters flooded the comments with criticism.
What Went Wrong?
The AFL team shared a meme-style image comparing the two sports, suggesting their code was superior. While meant in jest, NRL fans took it as a direct insult.
Within hours, the post was inundated with angry replies, memes mocking the AFL, and even calls for an apology.
Fan Reactions Speak Volumes
Social media erupted as rugby league supporters defended their sport with passionate responses:
- 'This is why nobody takes AFL seriously outside Victoria'
- 'Try playing a real contact sport'
- 'The insecurity is showing'
The backlash was so intense that the AFL team eventually limited comments on the post.
A Lesson in Social Media Etiquette
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for sports organisations about the risks of poking fun at rival codes. What might seem like harmless banter to one group can easily be interpreted as disrespect by another.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: in the battle of AFL vs NRL, social media might not be the best battleground.
