Both the AFL and NRL have endured vile instances of racism this season, now footy superstars Latrell Mitchell and Nicho Hynes have combined to say plenty.
The NRL superstars have both spent their lives battling racism and were disgusted when footy legend Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin was repeatedly booed in the rival AFL code by Collingwood supporters last weekend.
While some speculated it was an attempt to rattle the Swans’ star player, or a reaction to Sydney’s rough treatment of young talent Nick Daicos, the jeering left a sour taste in many fans’ mouths.
There were even suggestions that the jeers were racially motivated. Former Sydney Swans champion Adam Goodes was expelled from the AFL in 2015 after being relentlessly booed after berating a young fan for a racist remark.
Both the Swans and the AFL have condemned the conduct.
The Swans’ Lance Franklin and the Magpies’ Darcy Moore talk after the match as Collingwood fans jeered the Sydney champion
Mitchell has been booed on the football field and has faced racism both on and off it. He has thrown his support behind Franklin
Hynes is a proud Native man and wonders why anyone would make fun of a champion player like Lance Franklin
Collingwood apologized and offered support for Franklin, and even former coach Nathan Buckley spoke out against the jeers, describing it as “ignorance and bigotry” at worst.
Now Mitchell and Hynes had added their voices in support of Franklin, who will line up for the Swans against Fremantle today.
“I get it a lot, so I know what it feels like,” Mitchell told the Daily telegram.
“I understand it’s a competition. But you want to go to a game to play and enjoy it, not get booed. Otherwise, we can sit back at home and not worry.
‘That’s how I feel. We have work to do to enjoy ourselves, but to be jeered at, what’s the point?’
Mitchell said there was no doubt Franklin’s jeers were targeted.
“He’s (Franklin) obviously a proud Native man,” Mitchell said.
“Obviously it’s a targeted thing.
‘It [booing] is clearly difficult to police.
Agree with Luke Parker here, bad form berating Lance Franklin, I trust he also spoke out after this unsavory episode: pic.twitter.com/gWWMTQUEDA
— Mocca’s Mail (@notsuredontknow) May 8, 2023
But there are a few things that stand out to me. He’s an Aboriginal man, he’s proud and he’s a big name, so he’s a target.
“It could be because of how great he is. But racism comes in and out of that game [AFL]and it does the same for us [NRL].
“One thing is for sure, if he (Franklin) needs to get in touch, or maybe I’ll get in touch with him, we’ve got each other’s backs.
Mitchell is no stranger to racism on and off the football field and was the subject of vicious abuse this year when the Rabbitohs played the Penrith Panthers.
The abuse was condemned by Souths coach Jason Demetriou, who called for life suspensions for fans who use racism.
“He’s tired of it,” Demetriou said of Mitchell’s experience of racial abuse. “Like why wouldn’t he be? You should be able to come here as a star of our game and not be racially abused. Who cares what color he is? It’s just not on.’
Sharks star Nicho Hynes also condemned the spectator’s alleged racist remarks and called on the NRL to monitor the teenager’s well-being.
Shaquai Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell of the Indigenous All Stars pose with the Aboriginal flag after the 2023 competition in Rotorua
Mitchell and his coach Jason Demetriou (pictured) have called for life bans for football supporters who are racist towards players
Franklin will line up with the SCG today for the Swans game against Fremantle where he is expected to have strong home support
Hynes, who is Mitchell’s Indigenous All Stars teammate, said he was ‘heartbroken’ after hearing about the incident and called for racism to be banned from the game.
“It’s not what we want in our game, it’s not what we want in our society. It’s just not good enough,” Hynes said.
“We don’t need any more of it and hopefully now people are going to learn and bring it to light that we’re going to rub this out of the game, none of us will stand for it.”
‘What good is it for them to call him names [Franklin]?,’ said Hynes.
‘Serious? Every athlete I know, of all the sports I’ve come across, all we want to do is entertain the fans.
“We play for the fans. We do everything, sometimes even more, for the fans, so I don’t get why fans come to a game that is for pure entertainment, why they think it’s okay to call names and be racist against one player?
“They have to think about whether that was their son or daughter or relative out there doing something good and fun, entertaining people.
‘How would they feel then?
“I understand when Latrell or myself line up a goal kick in front of a packed house at Suncorp Stadium and they boo us.
“But not every time someone touches the ball. That is ridiculous.’