Players and crowds.

[Gaspard]

The suggestion of a crack down on incidents like the Petty sledging at the weekend immediately made me think if hawthorn's Watson and the crowd. He was upset at a bottle thrown at him, but was happy to say he was giving the crowd plenty.
We are proceeding down a slippery slope. There is a sort of contract that allows footy to go on in the way it does. A mass crowd intensely involved in the actions of a small player group, the two separated by an imaginary line, the boundary. Both parties know which side of the line they have to stay on. When players deliberately bait the crowd, they threaten that contract. If the media continue to promote stupid "celebrations" and player interaction with crowds, I can see our sport going down the soccer road - razor wire fences to keep the parties separate. Much more of an issue than sledging.

 

[Hungdaddy]

Players giving a bit back isn’t the problem, fans throwing stuff is. If someone can’t handle a bit of swagger without losing the plot, that’s on them, not the player. Footy doesn’t need to be sanitised because a few people act like idiots.

 

[joe444]

I don't mind the cupping of the ear to the opposing fans after a goal, but otherwise don't engage.

Unless of course and apparently you are expressing your deep connection to your ancestors.

 

[Gaspard]

I don't mind the cupping of the ear to the opposing fans after a goal, but otherwise don't engage.

Unless of course and apparently you are expressing your deep connection to your ancestors.

There can't be any exceptions. As soon as players start to give it to the crowd, for whatever reason, escalation is going to happen. I don't like any form of crowd transgression of the boundary line, it is a recipe for big trouble, but the players have an obligation to keep their activities on the field too. React to opponents, not the crowd.

 

[Billy ray]

i still cant believe the bottle throwing from Essendon supporters against the Gold Coast SUNS back in 2024 was swept under the carpet, yet one against Hawthorn this past weekend is getting the attention and punishment it deserves.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

The suggestion of a crack down on incidents like the Petty sledging at the weekend immediately made me think if hawthorn's Watson and the crowd. He was upset at a bottle thrown at him, but was happy to say he was giving the crowd plenty.
We are proceeding down a slippery slope. There is a sort of contract that allows footy to go on in the way it does. A mass crowd intensely involved in the actions of a small player group, the two separated by an imaginary line, the boundary. Both parties know which side of the line they have to stay on. When players deliberately bait the crowd, they threaten that contract. If the media continue to promote stupid "celebrations" and player interaction with crowds, I can see our sport going down the soccer road - razor wire fences to keep the parties separate. Much more of an issue than sledging.

I’ve been to a lot of footy games over the years, starting in the early 90’s until now, across multiple codes in multiple countries. I’ve sat in the front, the middle, and the back. One thing I’ve never done is thrown anything at a player, or tried to grab them. I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to either.

Sport is entertainment, if behaving at public entertainment events is beyond you, you probably shouldn’t leave the house.

 

[PrancingPony]

I don't know, I'm all for players taunting the crowd.

If I was good enough to play footy at the top level you better believe if I kicked a game winning goal I would run straight to the opposition cheer squad and give it to them.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Nothing wrong with a bit of winding up. Either players winding up the crowd or the crowd winding up players. Just be safe and respectful about it.

I remember Goddard (?) spearing a goal kick in to our oppo cheersquad when running in to an open goal square at Etihad. That’s too far.