Sydney coach John Longmire has launched a passionate defence of Lance Franklin after the champion forward was booed during the club’s loss to Collingwood.
Jeers could be heard around the MCG on Sunday whenever Franklin got the ball in the Swans and Magpies’ first game at the venue since 2013.
Speaking post-match, Longmire, who coached from the sidelines, was left perplexed as to why one of the all-time greats received such treatment.
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“(Swans footy boss Charlie Gardiner) and I actually didn’t know (he was booed), we don’t sit back like a spectator,” the Swans boss told reporters.
“But I don’t know why they would … why would you boo him? Probably celebrate a 36-year old wouldn’t you, that’s been a champion of the game.
“It’s been 10 years since we’ve played Collingwood here, why would you boo one of the champions of the game? It doesn’t make sense to me.”
It came in a game Franklin, who’s contracted until the end of this season, was down on his best form, being held goalless for just the second time this year against Collingwood’s stingy defence.
AFL players getting booed has been a key discussion point this season after Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne-Francis has copped the negative reception from all rival fan bases.
And Collingwood coach Craig McRae, who’s previously voiced his opposal of players getting booed, again reiterated that message.
“I’ve said this before, I’m not a booer and we don’t boo at home,” McRae said post-mach on Sunday.
“You pay your money and do whatever you want.
“I must admit, I didn’t hear it, I don’t know if (it’s because) we had the headsets on or whatever. But we just don’t boo.”
Franklin, a two-time premiership player, eight-time All-Australian and four-time Coleman medallist, last year became the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to boot 1000 goals.
