The booing began when Isaac Quaynor pounced on a loose ball 10 seconds into last week's game between Adelaide and Collingwood. They booed Billy Frampton, a former Crows player. They booed Dan Houston. But most of the boos were directed at Quaynor, partly because of the history between him and Adelaide, and partly because he kept getting the ball.
Booing Erupts at Adelaide Oval
The resentment over the handling of Izak Rankine's homophobic slur last August was clearly still lingering. Local broadcaster Stephen 'Rowey' Rowe had predicted a cacophony of boos. 'I think they’re a bit dirty ‘cos he sooky-sooky la-lahed, and rightly so,' he told Eddie McGuire.
A significant portion of the Adelaide crowd didn't boo at all. The more Quaynor was booed, the better he played. Collingwood thrives in that environment.
Club Responses and History
After the game, Craig McRae called it out. 'I teach my children that we don’t boo,' he said. His Adelaide counterpart Matthew Nicks said: 'It’s not ideal.' The club's statement defended the passionate and respectful majority before clipping the idiotic few. The AFL reminded its fans they are 'the best in the world'. Patrick Dangerfield spoke about supporters having a release from pressures, a comment he later retracted.
Broader Implications
The Adam Goodes saga bubbles beneath every press release. Some booed because they resent being told what to do. Some because of residual anger over Rankine's suspension. Some simply thought Quaynor was a dobber. The booing was a reminder that any player who calls out racism or homophobia has a potential target on their back, and any gay or lesbian person in the crowd might question their welcome. Few official responses addressed those factors. The closest was McRae, effectively saying: 'Don't be a sook, don't be a bore, and don't be an asshole. It’s not hard.'
