Sydney fans have been labeled “grubs” by Collingwood star Taylor Adams for booing his injured teammate Jack Ginnivan during the Swans’ 27-point win on Sunday.
Ginnivan had been subbed out of the match at half time, moments after winning a high tackle free kick that led to Collingwood’s third goal of the day.
He returned from the rooms with his right hamstring heavily iced and sat on the bench for the final half.
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When his face was put on the big screen, boos rang out from the record crowd of more than 44,000.
Ginnivan’s injured teammate Adams took to social media to slam the treatment of the 19-year-old.
“Imagine booing an injured player. Grubs,” I tweeted.
Ginnivan pulled a pout when he was initially shown on the screen as the boos began before then laughing as he was again shown and the boos increased.
Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph called on those in the crowd to “have some respect” for Ginnivan.
“I just think we’ve got to have a bit of respect,” Ralph said.
“We understand he’s become the pantomime villain of the AFL.
“He’s also said a couple of times now as recently as this week that he’s battled with the mental health issues. You can talk about whether the media has inflated some of that, but I think you need to have a little bit more respect for Ginnivan there, especially when he was injured.”
Commentator Alister Nicholson agreed with Ralph’s assessment.
“I reckon Jack Ginnivan is extremely stiff and its got to be a bit unwarranted that you’re injured and still getting booed by the crowd,” he said.
AFL commentator Dale Thomas said Sydney fans should know better, given the treatment of their star Adam Goodes that led to his early retirement.
Goodes was widely booed at every ground around the country late in his career.
“Even without the Adam Goodes stuff, I think its absolutely disgraceful (the booing of Ginnivan),” he said on 7’s Sunday Session.
“He’s a young kid going about his business, he’s injured and they pan to him on the bench and the Swans fans boo.
“I don’t think that’s the right thing.”
Ginnivan’s injury summed up a tough day for the Pies that began with star Jordan de Goey a late withdrawal for the match with the Swans with a hip flexor issue.
“This is far from ideal for the Collingwood Football Club at the worst possible time of the season,” Ralph said.
“(Ginnivan) will have to play potentially a qualifying final a day or two short of the perfect 21-day recovery time after he was subbed out with that hamstring soreness.
“The very best case, the Pies are going to have to play Taylor Adams first up off a 30-day break with that groin tear and Ginnivan with a question mark on his body and won’t be sure if either of those players will last out the game.”
Fox Footy’s David King said Goey’s Collingwood shouldn’t risk for the clash with Carlton next week – despite the result determining their top four hopes.
“I think it’s a no risk policy for me,” he said.
“I’m not risking losing him for an elimination final next week. If it costs you one position on the ladder, so be it.”
Brad Johnson agreed and said the club should take a “100 per cent fit or not” policy from this point on.
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