'Show some respect': Fans slam AFL over unfortunate Danny Frawley gaffe
The AFL haw come under fire in the wake of the Danny Frawley tragedy after a poorly-worded app notification sparked fan uproar.
Fans were left baffled on Saturday night when the official AFL Live app sent out a push notification for journalist Damian Barrett’s new column.
Barrett’s column addressed the life and tragic death of Frawley in a heartfelt tribute to his former colleague.
However in alerting users that the weekly ‘Sliding Doors’ column was live, the app appeared to get the wording of its notification very wrong.
The notification that popped up on users’ phones read: “DING DONG: If Spud is gone... THEN. Sliding Doors is LIVE”.
The actual column from Barrett read: “If Spud is gone ... then his laugh, the laughter he created, his warmth, his childish ways, his obsession with bringing people together, his complexity, his pure love of family and friends is eternal.”
AFL fans flocked to social media to hit out at the poorly-worded notification.
Just no words
That's a disgrace....— Rebecca Hayne (@BeccaHayne) September 12, 2019
To make the Spud part the clickbait on the website is horrendous enough
To go from that to making it the notification with DING DONG as the trailer to it
It just lacks all decency....— Rebecca Hayne (@BeccaHayne) September 12, 2019
As someone who wrote an article about the dearly departed Mr Frawley earlier in the week, there is a way to do it without it being clickbait. Show some respect, AFL app.
— William Olson (@DeadSexyWaiter) September 13, 2019
What the f**k is this @AFL. The person running the AFL Live app needs to be fired. This is a HORRIBLE headline. So disrespectful to a legend of the game. Should be ashamed whoever came up with this @FOXFOOTY @FOXFootyLive @7AFL pic.twitter.com/2NfmGKdxGR
— Steven bourke (@Bourky123) September 13, 2019
The “Ding Dong” is how AFL Live use to notify the new “Sliding Doors” every week. Those that run the app either forgot about it or have ever seen “The Wizard of Oz” .. Barrett was good friends with Frawley and I highly doubt he would do something like this.
— Mammoth Sloth🐗 (@Gojirahawk) September 12, 2019
I'm generally a fan of the @afl inclusiveness policies in all facets. However, following the horrowed app notification tonight regarding the late Danny Frawley, I'm appalled, saddened and hurt. Death isn't a gimmick or substance for promotion of the game.Neither is mental illness
— Ali Uguz (@aliuguz20) September 13, 2019
St Kilda to host Danny Frawley funeral
The scene of many of Frawley's greatest AFL moments will be the setting for his farewell.
St Kilda's Moorabbin headquarters will host Frawley's memorial service this Wednesday.
The ex-Saints captain, Richmond coach and prominent AFL commentator died last Monday in a car crash near Ballarat, the day after his 56th birthday.
The service will start at 3pm and the public will be able to watch a live stream of the private funeral at Moorabbin.
There will be a lap of honour at 5pm.
Instead of flowers, Frawley's family has requested donations to Beyond Blue.
with AAP
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.