Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett has become the latest indigenous player to be subjected to horrific racial abuse, with the 21-year-old targeted after his game-winning heroics.
Pickett bobbed up to kick the goal that gave Melbourne a five-point lead with just 11 seconds left in a thrilling contest against Carlton on Saturday, with the result leaving the Blues’ final hopes on a knife’s edge heading into the final round of the season .
Melbourne confirmed the club and the AFL were conducting an investigation to determine the identity of the person involved in abusing Pickett.
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“The Melbourne Football Club strongly condemns racial vilification of any kind,” a club statement read.
“Last night a Melbourne player was again subjected to racism on social media. This sort of behavior is abhorrent and needs to stop. It is saddening, angering and unacceptable that this behavior continues to occur.
“It is important that we, as a football community, call this behavior out and hold these individuals to account. It is simply not OK to remain silent.
“The club will work with the AFL integrity department to see if the account holder responsible for the comments can be identified.”
Pickett is the second indigenous player to be abused by a fan in a matter of weeks, after Brisbane’s Callum Ah Chee was also targeted in an online attack following a clash with the Blues.
“How can this still keep happening? Why can’t my brothers and I just play the game we love without having to worry about shit like this?” Ah Chee said last week.
“If my son grows up playing the game, I hope he doesn’t have to deal with this hate.
“It hurts and I’m sick to death of seeing it.”
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