Collingwood Magpies star Scott Pendlebury speaks on the booing of Isaac Quaynor by sections of Crows fans at Adelaide Oval
Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury says the Adelaide Oval crowd’s booing of Isaac Quaynor on Thursday night said more about those fans than about his teammate.
Playing his 150th game, Quaynor was booed on each of his 20 disposals by the bulk of the 50,109 fans as the Magpies turned a 27-point first-half deficit into a strong 34-point win over Adelaide.
Quaynor was also targeted by Crows fans during last year’s qualifying final, two weeks after he became the victim of homophobic insults from Adelaide star Izak Rankine.
“I definitely noticed that at the start of the game,” said Pendlebury, who had 29 disposals, six clearances and kicked an momentum goal late in the second quarter.
“It probably says more about the crowd than it does about Isaac.
“There’s always something going on in football, but I think we need to be better for fans from all sides and the league as a whole.”
Pendlebury does not believe Quaynor was upset by the hostile reception, but said he and his fellow Magpies would rally around their gun-toting rearman regardless.
“He’ll be fine,” said Pendlebury.
“Isaac probably knew this was coming. We’re all big kids and we’re going to work our way around Isaac, but he’ll be fine.”
Victorious Collingwood coach Craig McRae brought his daughter Charlie to the post-match press conference. While questioning why Quaynor was being treated as if he had done something wrong, he used the opportunity to talk about the values he instilled in his family about not booing athletes.
“I’ve got my little girl in the room; she’s 10,” McRae said.
“I’m teaching him [that] We can’t boo. It’s the only thing I can control.
“It’s a fascinating story about why they would boo him.
“I understand he was the victim of a homophobic slur and that’s why he’s being booed? It’s a fascinating world we live in.”
Although unhappy with the fans’ behavior, McRae also made it clear that he had no ill will towards Rankine, whom he called out after the final siren.
“I actually grabbed Izak Rankine at the end of the game and said, ‘We have a lot of respect for you, young man,'” McRae said.
“People are allowed to make mistakes, that’s the way it is. We’re all human.
“We have great respect for him; he is a sensational player.
“I don’t know him as a person, but the way he rose up and handled what happened – [he] he took it on his shoulders – there’s something to be said for that.
“Isn’t that life? Make mistakes, correct yourself and improve yourself.
“We were so excited about Isaac’s game tonight. God, he must have gotten the ball too early because he got booed so much.
“We’ll put our arms around him [Quaynor] And let’s show him how much we love him.”
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has pleaded with Crows fans throughout the week to treat Quaynor with respect. The call to arms fell on deaf ears.
“The game is a passionate game, and sometimes we lose our way a little bit with that,” Nicks said.
“Given the background and backdrop of this game, the way it was played tonight was not ideal.”
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