'Shame on you': AFL world left seething over 'disgusting' scenes

The AFL world was left fuming on Saturday night after Collingwood fans relentlessly booed Joel Selwood as the Geelong skipper broke the record for most games as a captain.

In his 227th game as Cats skipper, Selwood overtook Carlton legend Stephen Kernahan as the longest-serving captain in league history.

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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.

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 for the rest of the game.

A number of fans and pundits 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?”.

Collingwood and Geelong players both formed a guard of honour for Selwood as he left the field after the game.

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Geelong's victory looked unlikely when they conceded nine goals during the third quarter and trailed by 30 points at the last change of ends.

But they responded with 7.2 to 0.1 in the fourth quarter in a salute to captain Selwood.

In doing so, the Cats improved their season record to 2-1 and handed first-year Collingwood coach Craig McRae his first taste of defeat.

Their victory came despite Collingwood dominating contested possessions (159-136) and inside-50s (59-47).

"The overwhelming sense that I have, and what I'm proud of our players for, is that they believe," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

"It's been a constant trait of our playing group for a long period of time.

"At three-quarter time they didn't have many reasons to believe that we could turn it around the way we did.

"I suspect in part that it was about Joel (Selwood) but it was also about our young guys who haven't been a part of games like that before."

Scott said he raised Selwood's new record in his three-quarter time address as he urged his players to lift themselves off the canvas.

"Hopefully, it was channelled the right way," Scott said.

"Joel didn't want it to be all about him but it's a record that's very hard to achieve and will be very hard to chase down.

"It was a significant milestone and one that we should recognise."

Scott played a straight bat when asked about Selwood being booed.

"It's really hard to hear that stuff," he said.

"I say to players all the time that we understand the heat of the battle is very different to the climate-controlled silence of the (coaches') box, where it is very calm 99 per cent of the time.

"Even if I had an opinion (on the jeering), I wouldn't give it.

"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."

with AAP

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