Hilarious truth behind Pies fan's classy moment at AFL grand final
The moment a Collingwood fan gave Dom Sheed a classy thumbs up after the West Coast star broke the Pies’ hearts in the 2018 grand final was lauded by many as a brilliant show of sportsmanship.
And it certainly was.
Former AFL player and media personality Ryan Fitzgerald highlighted the moment on his Twitter account recently, saying he ‘rated it massively’.
Everyone focussed on the numerous Collingwood supporters in the crowd who gave Dom Sheed the middle finger after he nailed that goal in GF, but I never noticed this Pies supporter who acknowledged the enormity of it and gave him a simple thumbs up 👍 Rate that massively. pic.twitter.com/EwyMx7hMcb
— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) March 2, 2019
But the fan behind the gesture has revealed how it wasn’t all it seemed.
Fitzy tracked down the Pies fan and interviewed him on the Front Bar on Wednesday night.
“It epitomises sportsmanship and every supporter should watch this. Look at the guy with the denim jacket on in the front row after he kicks the goal,” Fitzy said.
“We have tracked him down – Collingwood supporter Alex Davies.”
They found him!@fitzySA is with THAT Pies fan, who gave Dom Sheed thumbs up after he slotted the goal. But what did he do before that…#TheFrontBar pic.twitter.com/pHmAq8OPGW
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 20, 2019
Fitzy asked Davies about his gesture.
“Alex, can I just say that is a devastating moment for you. That was a knife through the heart when he slot that had goal. Can you remember what was going through your mind at the time?”
Davies replied: “You hit the nail on the head, absolute devastation, second losing Grand Final seeing the Pies, credit where credit is due it was a ripping kick,” Davies said.
“Just remember thinking gee she will need to be a good kick from there.”
But Fitzy also found video of Davies seconds before Sheed’s shot at goal, and he wasn’t in such a sporting mood then.
As it turns out, Davies was among those jeering and giving Sheed the finger.
“Just wished him luck for the kick,” Davies said with a smile.
However it’s fair to say his thumbs up outshone the middle finger salute.
“You’re a legend,” Fitzy said.