Indigenous AFL nice Eddie Betts has defined there’s just one one who’s opinion actually issues within the Buddy Franklin booing drama — and that’s Buddy Franklin.
The Swans famous person was focused by Collingwood followers all through the Magpies’ 11.11 (77) to six.12 (48) win.
Watch each match of each spherical of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
While many believed it was both to do with the actual fact they needed to attempt to get beneath the pores and skin of the Swans’ greatest participant or struggle again after Sydney tried to tough up younger famous person Nick Daicos, there was a foul style left in followers’ mouths.
Some even questioned whether or not the booing was racially motivated by the Pies followers.
The footy world has all had its say with the Swans and AFL condemning the booing, the Pies apologising and standing alongside Franklin and each speaking head within the sport having their say.
Even former Collingwood legend and coach Nathan Buckley stated on SEN on Monday: “At worst, it’s ignorance and bigotry.
The only person to not really speak on the issue has been the man himself.
When doorstopped on the issue at training, Franklin said: “I’ve not got much to say, everything’s already been said so I’m not going to talk about it.”
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday, former Blues and Crows champion Eddie Betts stated Franklin’s opinion is the one one that actually issues.
“What everybody needs to understand about racism is that it’s not up for discussion,” Betts stated. “If you haven’t been racially vilified or you don’t understand it or you haven’t felt it, the most important person in this is Buddy.
“And if Buddy thinks it’s racist, it’s racist. If he doesn’t think it’s racist, it’s not racist.
“So the most important person is how Buddy feels.”
Betts stated that it was a lesson that persons are nonetheless studying however believes the following technology are those who’re going to make a change in terms of race.
“The more conversations we have, the more we educate each other, the better we’re going to be as a nation,” Betts stated. “But we’re on the right path.”
Asked if we must always hear from Franklin to grasp if or the way it’s impacted him, Betts stated: “It’s up to Bud if he wants to speak up but he’s just got to continue to keep playing good footy.
“Keep playing well for the Sydney Swans trying to get wins on the board for them and hopefully get a premiership with them. He’s an absolute superstar of the game,” he continued.
Four-time Hawthorn premiership winner Jordan Lewis additionally stated that he believed Franklin not talking out about it pointed to the actual fact he probably didn’t imagine it was racially motivated.
Lewis, who received two of his premierships alongside Franklin, stated be believed it was a response to the Swans attempting to ruffle the feathers of second-year wunderkind Nick Daicos.
“I think it was the Collingwood faithful going ‘you’re going after one of our stars, we’re going to go after your stars’ — Papley being one, Bud being the other,” Lewis stated.
“I think I’ve got a pretty good feel on when you go to a game and why stuff happens. I didn’t once think that this was racially motivated or anything. I just thought it was in the heat of the battle.
“If an opposition player was doing it to one of our young guns and really trying to ruffle his feathers, then that is a reaction that I would want from my home team.”
He added that it had been blown out of proportion and stated as a buddy and former teammate: “I don’t think it would have phased him one iota. And he would be one of those players that just wants to move on and that’s probably why he hasn’t come out and commented.”
Source: www.news.com.au