OPINION
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What ever happened to the old adage ‘if you’ve got nothing nice to say, don’t say anything’?
It’s a lesson a large number of people in the crowd during Sunday’s football grand final should learn – specifically during the first grade clash.
Twice the referee had to stop play and ask ground officials see to the crowd with taunts, jeers and abuse being hurled from three sides of the Berrambool Oval.
I was on the clock to report on the game, but the action was hard to follow and the game was marred by the vocal bunch spewing hatred.
And many might tout it as being harmless ‘banter’, but in reality that is just a byword for relentlessly spitting acid over the top of play.
Admittedly there were some on-field tackles – from both sides – that were worthy of a bit of booing, but the sickening vitriol coming from all over the ground was disgraceful.
I mean seriously, take a look at yourselves.
Calling players and coaches ‘filthy dogs’ and actually calling for violence were among some of the milder remarks.
You can call me soft, or whatever you like, people were certainly saying worse on Sunday.
The big problem is what kind of message are you sending to the kids who were in attendance?
Those impressionable young minds should not have been exposed to the absolutely toxic remarks from the sidelines.
It ruined the day for me and I know I wasn’t alone.
So remember, next time you’re out at the sport, If you’ve got nothing nice to say; don’t say anything.