'Don't like it': Nathan Buckley slams fans over 'unacceptable' drama
Collingwood great Nathan Buckley has taken aim at his beloved club's own fans after brandishing their treatment of Geelong veteran Joel Selwood "unacceptable" and "disrespectful" on Saturday night.
Magpies fans relentlessly booed the Geelong skipper in a win for the Cats that saw Selwood break the record for most games as a captain in AFL history.
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In his 227th game as Cats skipper, Selwood overtook Carlton legend Stephen Kernahan as the longest-serving captain in league history.
However the milestone was somewhat overshadowed by Collingwood fans' treatment of the history-making star.
The 33-year-old was influential for the Cats with 22 disposals and five clearances as his side stormed back late on to clinch a 16.8 (104) to 13.13 (91) win.
However, Magpies fans in attendance at the MCG continually booed Selwood every time he touched the ball as the Cats stormed back to win 16.8 (104) to 13.13 (91).
Collingwood fans gave their biggest roar of the night when Selwood was caught in possession deep in defence by Oliver Henry, gifting the Pies a goal during their third-quarter blitz.
They were seemingly incensed by a first-quarter incident involving Selwood and young Magpies forward Jack Ginnivan, and made their feelings clear to the Geelong captain by booing him for the rest of the game.
Speaking on Monday about the fans' controversial treatment of Geelong's record-breaker, Buckley - the former Magpies player and coach - said he was vehemently against it.
“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.
“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.”
Fans condemned over treatment of Joel Selwood
Buckley admits that he was often booed by opposition fans during his playing days, but thinks it's a "disrespectful" act from AFL supporters that has no place in the sport.
“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.”
A number of fans and pundits also took issue with the treatment of Selwood in his milestone match.
“The booing of Joel Selwood was a disgrace tonight. Last laugh, Joel," reporter Tim Yeatman wrote on Twitter.
Journalist Peter Ryan posted: “Shame on those who boo a champion”.
While sports reporter Andrew Wu wrote: “Why the boos for Joel Selwood from the Collingwood fans? He’s breaking a Carlton record, isn’t he?”.
Cats coach Chris Scott refused to weigh in on the controversy during 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.”
Selwood ultimately had the last laugh as Geelong made it two wins out of their opening three games to sit seventh on the ladder.
Collingwood and Geelong players both formed a guard of honour for Selwood as he left the field after the game.
The Cats next face ladder-leaders Brisbane on Friday night, while Collingwood takes on West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday evening.
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