Fans rage at AFL social team for trolling Adelaide after loss to Hawthorn
After the Hawks' lucky escape on Friday night (the Crows led the game for more than 105 minutes while Hawthorn spent less than nine minutes in front), the AFL's account posted a mock image of Jack Ginnivan holding a phone and pretending to call 'Adelaide'.
The phone used the Crows logo to complete the drama, and the post was brutally captioned: 'Hawks are calling to say goodnight.'
The AFL Media team will say they were referencing a viral TikTok trend where people call their boss to say goodnight. And just a few days ago Ginnivan — the cheeky Hawthorn forward — shared vision of himself calling his coach Sam Mitchell and indeed saying goodnight to his bemused boss.
Of course, passionate football fans don't take well to losing games, and tormenting them in the aftermath — especially when supporters feel their team should have won — is rarely wise.
But the AFL decided to go there, and the backlash was inevitably swift and ferocious.
It was a brave move considering the AFL (based in Victoria with 10 out of 18 teams coming from that state) is regularly accused of 'Vic bias' by non-Victorian fans (and, at times, non-Vic clubs).
'This tweet is not a good look coming from a governing body imo. Its unprofessional and only helps consolidate certain narratives among fans about AFL attitudes to non-Victorian AFL clubs,' one fan said.
And another: 'Can't say I've ever seen a league wide account take sides and troll an individual team. If it was from HawthornFC, then sure, go right ahead, but really bizarre coming from AFL.'
Australian Olympic volleyball player (and Crows fan) Andrew Schacht also joined the pile on.
'Jesus, are you serious? You are supposed to at least pretend to be unbiased. VFL,' he fumed.
The backlash continued.
'Why is the official, impartial account posting this?' one fan asked on X.
And another: 'God the AFL is cringe. Not even hiding their bias and careless at the state of the game.'
And another: 'Disgusting post AFL showing your true colours Vic team.'
The rage also spilled over onto Reddit.
'This is bad taste, A team doing it immediately after a match would be poor, but from the official AFL accounts, it is really disappointing (even if they are 'separate' they represent the AFL),' one user said.
And another: 'Why the f*** do the Crows always cop it from the AFL?'
Other comments also called the post 'weird' and 'embarrassing', and many suggested it would be OK from a Hawthorn fan page or a teenager, but not an official account from belonging to league HQ.
'This is really weird from competition management. I'd expect it from a 13 year old Hawks fan. Quite embarrassing,' a fan said.
And another: 'The AFL posting this is a genuine disgrace. You guys are the AFL not a Hawthorn Fan Page made by a 12 year old kid. Scheduling a night game in Tasmania at this time of the year with two top 4 teams is embarrassing to play in those conditions, sort yourself out.'
And another: 'Not sure about this! Not a good look from the 'governing body'.'
And another: 'Seriously the AFL needs some new social media people. Not this work experience trash.'
And another: 'AFL Social Media department is a rabble.'
The post comes a week after AFL boss Andrew Dillon drove to the home of Geelong star Bailey Smith to discuss Smith's own social media behaviour and headline-grabbing indiscretions.
7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed last Sunday that Dillon organised the meeting after Smith made a post that alluded to illicit drug use.
Geelong coach Chris Scott defended Smith, saying: 'I think he responded to a troll in the way that modern day players respond to trolls.
'I think it was a joke and it should have been intended that way.'
The problem, of course, is humour is subjective and humans are sensitive.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Ordinary Open start from Aussie battalion at Portrush
Blustery, challenging conditions at Royal Portrush have blown the early Australian challenge at the 153rd British Open slightly off-kilter, with big guns Cameron Smith and Jason Day having their struggles on the opening morning in Northern Ireland. Yet on a day when heavy rain and worsening weather suggested the two major winners had enjoyed the kindest of the conditions at the County Antrim links, Smith's one-over 72 and Day's two-over 73 could still end up looking rosier come the end of Thursday. Still, halfway through the opening day, there were 33 players in the under-par red figures, led by surprise frontrunners, world No.354 Jacob Skov Olesen and China's Li Haotong, as well as Britain's former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who all shot four-under 67s. Even more ominously for the field, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler finished with a three-under 68, just a shot adrift. So, both Smith, the 2022 Open champion, and Day, the 2015 PGA winner, are already playing catch-up. They both hit miserable drives off the opening tee, struggled to three-over across the first nine holes before at least rallying in pedigree fashion after the turn. Smith smiled that he had shown a bit of "Queensland spirit" over the final nine holes, after his awful, scuffed 150-yard drive at the first had set an early dispiriting tone. "I think I tried to hit that one underground - and almost missed it. Not the greatest start to a major championship I've ever had," he sighed. A double-bogey at the ninth left him in strife, but he pulled back two shots to par on the homeward stretch, sinking a 30-footer at the short 16th to give him a real shot in the arm. "I did a really good job of hanging in there," Smith said. Day was not so happy about his effort. "To work hard coming into this week and then to go out there and have poor process is not acceptable, especially in my eyes," said the 2023 Open's joint runner-up at Hoylake. "I've got to do a better job of it and hopefully come back tomorrow and do it again, play better." The in-form Lucas Herbert started brightly and was among the early leaders at two under, but four bogeys over the last eight holes left him with a three-over 74. Ryan Peake's big adventure in his first major went somewhat awry as he ended with a six-over 77. The Australian former motorcycle gang member, who turned his life around through golf after spending time in prison for assault, has been the centre of much attention at Portrush this week after gaining his place thanks to a fairytale win at the New Zealand Open. Partnering former champion Phil Mickelson on Thursday, 31-year-old Peake admitted to being a bit star-struck and ended up getting the six-time major winner to sign his glove and give him his ball after the round. "Lefty'' Mickelson conjured up some of his old magic in a one-under 70, the highlight being his holed bunker shot for par at the third hole after he'd left his first effort in the sand. However, Peake struggled, admitting: "Very disappointed with the round. "Not what I want, pretty flat at the moment. Was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up out there." Among the rest of the nine-strong Aussie contingent, Adam Scott, the day after celebrating his 45th birthday, was two over after 11 holes, Marc Leishman three over after 13 and Elvis Smylie three over 10. Blustery, challenging conditions at Royal Portrush have blown the early Australian challenge at the 153rd British Open slightly off-kilter, with big guns Cameron Smith and Jason Day having their struggles on the opening morning in Northern Ireland. Yet on a day when heavy rain and worsening weather suggested the two major winners had enjoyed the kindest of the conditions at the County Antrim links, Smith's one-over 72 and Day's two-over 73 could still end up looking rosier come the end of Thursday. Still, halfway through the opening day, there were 33 players in the under-par red figures, led by surprise frontrunners, world No.354 Jacob Skov Olesen and China's Li Haotong, as well as Britain's former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who all shot four-under 67s. Even more ominously for the field, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler finished with a three-under 68, just a shot adrift. So, both Smith, the 2022 Open champion, and Day, the 2015 PGA winner, are already playing catch-up. They both hit miserable drives off the opening tee, struggled to three-over across the first nine holes before at least rallying in pedigree fashion after the turn. Smith smiled that he had shown a bit of "Queensland spirit" over the final nine holes, after his awful, scuffed 150-yard drive at the first had set an early dispiriting tone. "I think I tried to hit that one underground - and almost missed it. Not the greatest start to a major championship I've ever had," he sighed. A double-bogey at the ninth left him in strife, but he pulled back two shots to par on the homeward stretch, sinking a 30-footer at the short 16th to give him a real shot in the arm. "I did a really good job of hanging in there," Smith said. Day was not so happy about his effort. "To work hard coming into this week and then to go out there and have poor process is not acceptable, especially in my eyes," said the 2023 Open's joint runner-up at Hoylake. "I've got to do a better job of it and hopefully come back tomorrow and do it again, play better." The in-form Lucas Herbert started brightly and was among the early leaders at two under, but four bogeys over the last eight holes left him with a three-over 74. Ryan Peake's big adventure in his first major went somewhat awry as he ended with a six-over 77. The Australian former motorcycle gang member, who turned his life around through golf after spending time in prison for assault, has been the centre of much attention at Portrush this week after gaining his place thanks to a fairytale win at the New Zealand Open. Partnering former champion Phil Mickelson on Thursday, 31-year-old Peake admitted to being a bit star-struck and ended up getting the six-time major winner to sign his glove and give him his ball after the round. "Lefty'' Mickelson conjured up some of his old magic in a one-under 70, the highlight being his holed bunker shot for par at the third hole after he'd left his first effort in the sand. However, Peake struggled, admitting: "Very disappointed with the round. "Not what I want, pretty flat at the moment. Was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up out there." Among the rest of the nine-strong Aussie contingent, Adam Scott, the day after celebrating his 45th birthday, was two over after 11 holes, Marc Leishman three over after 13 and Elvis Smylie three over 10. Blustery, challenging conditions at Royal Portrush have blown the early Australian challenge at the 153rd British Open slightly off-kilter, with big guns Cameron Smith and Jason Day having their struggles on the opening morning in Northern Ireland. Yet on a day when heavy rain and worsening weather suggested the two major winners had enjoyed the kindest of the conditions at the County Antrim links, Smith's one-over 72 and Day's two-over 73 could still end up looking rosier come the end of Thursday. Still, halfway through the opening day, there were 33 players in the under-par red figures, led by surprise frontrunners, world No.354 Jacob Skov Olesen and China's Li Haotong, as well as Britain's former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who all shot four-under 67s. Even more ominously for the field, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler finished with a three-under 68, just a shot adrift. So, both Smith, the 2022 Open champion, and Day, the 2015 PGA winner, are already playing catch-up. They both hit miserable drives off the opening tee, struggled to three-over across the first nine holes before at least rallying in pedigree fashion after the turn. Smith smiled that he had shown a bit of "Queensland spirit" over the final nine holes, after his awful, scuffed 150-yard drive at the first had set an early dispiriting tone. "I think I tried to hit that one underground - and almost missed it. Not the greatest start to a major championship I've ever had," he sighed. A double-bogey at the ninth left him in strife, but he pulled back two shots to par on the homeward stretch, sinking a 30-footer at the short 16th to give him a real shot in the arm. "I did a really good job of hanging in there," Smith said. Day was not so happy about his effort. "To work hard coming into this week and then to go out there and have poor process is not acceptable, especially in my eyes," said the 2023 Open's joint runner-up at Hoylake. "I've got to do a better job of it and hopefully come back tomorrow and do it again, play better." The in-form Lucas Herbert started brightly and was among the early leaders at two under, but four bogeys over the last eight holes left him with a three-over 74. Ryan Peake's big adventure in his first major went somewhat awry as he ended with a six-over 77. The Australian former motorcycle gang member, who turned his life around through golf after spending time in prison for assault, has been the centre of much attention at Portrush this week after gaining his place thanks to a fairytale win at the New Zealand Open. Partnering former champion Phil Mickelson on Thursday, 31-year-old Peake admitted to being a bit star-struck and ended up getting the six-time major winner to sign his glove and give him his ball after the round. "Lefty'' Mickelson conjured up some of his old magic in a one-under 70, the highlight being his holed bunker shot for par at the third hole after he'd left his first effort in the sand. However, Peake struggled, admitting: "Very disappointed with the round. "Not what I want, pretty flat at the moment. Was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up out there." Among the rest of the nine-strong Aussie contingent, Adam Scott, the day after celebrating his 45th birthday, was two over after 11 holes, Marc Leishman three over after 13 and Elvis Smylie three over 10. Blustery, challenging conditions at Royal Portrush have blown the early Australian challenge at the 153rd British Open slightly off-kilter, with big guns Cameron Smith and Jason Day having their struggles on the opening morning in Northern Ireland. Yet on a day when heavy rain and worsening weather suggested the two major winners had enjoyed the kindest of the conditions at the County Antrim links, Smith's one-over 72 and Day's two-over 73 could still end up looking rosier come the end of Thursday. Still, halfway through the opening day, there were 33 players in the under-par red figures, led by surprise frontrunners, world No.354 Jacob Skov Olesen and China's Li Haotong, as well as Britain's former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who all shot four-under 67s. Even more ominously for the field, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler finished with a three-under 68, just a shot adrift. So, both Smith, the 2022 Open champion, and Day, the 2015 PGA winner, are already playing catch-up. They both hit miserable drives off the opening tee, struggled to three-over across the first nine holes before at least rallying in pedigree fashion after the turn. Smith smiled that he had shown a bit of "Queensland spirit" over the final nine holes, after his awful, scuffed 150-yard drive at the first had set an early dispiriting tone. "I think I tried to hit that one underground - and almost missed it. Not the greatest start to a major championship I've ever had," he sighed. A double-bogey at the ninth left him in strife, but he pulled back two shots to par on the homeward stretch, sinking a 30-footer at the short 16th to give him a real shot in the arm. "I did a really good job of hanging in there," Smith said. Day was not so happy about his effort. "To work hard coming into this week and then to go out there and have poor process is not acceptable, especially in my eyes," said the 2023 Open's joint runner-up at Hoylake. "I've got to do a better job of it and hopefully come back tomorrow and do it again, play better." The in-form Lucas Herbert started brightly and was among the early leaders at two under, but four bogeys over the last eight holes left him with a three-over 74. Ryan Peake's big adventure in his first major went somewhat awry as he ended with a six-over 77. The Australian former motorcycle gang member, who turned his life around through golf after spending time in prison for assault, has been the centre of much attention at Portrush this week after gaining his place thanks to a fairytale win at the New Zealand Open. Partnering former champion Phil Mickelson on Thursday, 31-year-old Peake admitted to being a bit star-struck and ended up getting the six-time major winner to sign his glove and give him his ball after the round. "Lefty'' Mickelson conjured up some of his old magic in a one-under 70, the highlight being his holed bunker shot for par at the third hole after he'd left his first effort in the sand. However, Peake struggled, admitting: "Very disappointed with the round. "Not what I want, pretty flat at the moment. Was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up out there." Among the rest of the nine-strong Aussie contingent, Adam Scott, the day after celebrating his 45th birthday, was two over after 11 holes, Marc Leishman three over after 13 and Elvis Smylie three over 10.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I was nervous': Peake speaks about playing with Mickelson
Shooting six over in your first round of a major was not how Australian Ryan Peake saw things panning out on Thursday at Portrush. He jokingly referred to himself as 'Father Christmas', that he just kept giving the golf course mistakes wrapped as presents. But a five-hour walk with six-time major winner Phil Mickelson, who gifted him a golf ball and signed his glove for him was an experience he will never forget. The convicted ex-bikie gang member, who spent five years in a WA prison for assault, has been one of the most talked about players in the tournament in the build up to the 153rd Open Championship, such is the intrigue in his story from media outlets around the planet. But the former New Zealand Open winner who, like Mickelson, is a left-hander, admitted to being desperately disappointed in his opening round, which included eight bogeys and two birdies. When he was asked about the experience of playing with Phil, however, it put a smile on his face. 'It was pretty good. I just asked for his golf ball and got him to sign a golf glove for me after. 'I know everyone is going to look at it and say you take the experience in and stuff like that, but obviously very disappointed with the round. Not what I want. So pretty flat at the moment. Was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up out there.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
‘I was nervous': Peake speaks about playing with Mickelson
Shooting six over in your first round of a major was not how Australian Ryan Peake saw things panning out on Thursday at Portrush. He jokingly referred to himself as 'Father Christmas', that he just kept giving the golf course mistakes wrapped as presents. But a five-hour walk with six-time major winner Phil Mickelson, who gifted him a golf ball and signed his glove for him was an experience he will never forget. The convicted ex-bikie gang member, who spent five years in a WA prison for assault, has been one of the most talked about players in the tournament in the build up to the 153rd Open Championship, such is the intrigue in his story from media outlets around the planet. But the former New Zealand Open winner who, like Mickelson, is a left-hander, admitted to being desperately disappointed in his opening round, which included eight bogeys and two birdies. When he was asked about the experience of playing with Phil, however, it put a smile on his face. 'It was pretty good. I just asked for his golf ball and got him to sign a golf glove for me after. 'I know everyone is going to look at it and say you take the experience in and stuff like that, but obviously very disappointed with the round. Not what I want. So pretty flat at the moment. Was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up out there.
