AFL world in uproar over 'disgusting' scenes in Collingwood loss

Sydney Swans fans have been widely condemned around the AFL after booing Collingwood young gun Jack Ginnivan after he was subbed off with an injury.

Sydney have leapt into the AFL top-two with a commanding 27-point victory over Collingwood on Sunday that left coach John Longmire delighted the Swans' hopes of a home final were now in their own hands.

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The Swans made a profound statement in the high-stakes clash between the top-four contenders with an ominous four-quarter performance in the 11.11 (77) to 7.8 (50) triumph at the SCG.

However there were unsavoury scenes when Ginnivan was subbed out of the game at half-time after tweaking a hamstring.

Swans fans loudly booed the 19-year-old livewire when he was shown on the big screen at the SCG, with Ginnivan grinning cheekily when hearing the treatment.

However AFL fans and commentators were left fuming over the ugly scenes, with some labelling Swans fans 'grubs' and 'disgraceful'.

Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams, who didn't play on Sunday because of injury, tweeted: “Imagine booing an injured player. Grubs.”

Veteran journalist Mark Stevens said: “Booing a young kid, while injured on bench, pathetic. Feel for Ginnivan. A blight on fans.”

Former Collingwood player Dale Thomas said on Channel 7: “I think it’s absolutely disgraceful.

“He’s a young kid going about his business. He’s injured, they pan to him on the bench and the Swans fans boo.

“I know they’re (Swans fans) catching up a bit to what we do in the AFL but I don’t think that is the right thing they should have been doing.”

Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy: "I just think we’ve got to have a bit of respect.

“We all understand he’s now become the pantomime villain of the AFL, but he’s also said a couple of times now, as recently as this week, that he’s battled with mental health issues.

“You can talk about whether the media has inflated some of that but I think you need to have more respect for Ginnivan there, especially when he was injured.”

Sydney Swans leap into top two after win over Pies

Sydney have now won their past seven matches on home turf by an average of 43 points, are 9-2 this year at the SCG, and could secure a qualifying final there if they beat St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

The Swans (15-6) will also have to maintain a slim advantage in percentage over the winner of the third-v-fourth match between Melbourne and Brisbane but will know what is required after that game is played on Friday night at the Gabba.

The loss leaves the Magpies (15-6) in fifth place on percentage, but victory over Carlton on Sunday will ensure they start the finals with a double chance.

"We've got a bit of work to do next week. It's going to be a big job next week," Longmire said.

"It was important today to come out and do what we did, but we need to back that up next week and finish the home-and-away season really strongly.

"We've been able to learn what we know works over the last little period, and the last stretch, and we need to finish that off next week.

"It just gives us an opportunity to make sure we have our destiny in our own hands."

The Magpies rarely looked like adding to their stunning 11-match winning streak as the Swans controlled the ball early and held the visitors at arms-length in the second half.

The Swans could have settled the contest much sooner but for missing several simple shots that kept the Magpies dreaming of another improbable comeback in front of 44,659 fans - the second most ever at the SCG for a home and away match.

with AAP

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