Taunting of an opposition player – of any opposition Club – is not on. Not even in jest, not jokingly. It just serves no purpose.
One of the Club’s values is to be dignified in defeat and in victory. That extends to the way we conduct ourselves – and we’d like to think it’s a quality that also extends to the wider community of the Club – including Members and Supporters.
The person involved in the weekend’s incident was not a member but we’d like to think that this principle applies to all supporters of the club.
It’s our experience that the vast majority are (indeed) dignified in so far as not taunting an opposition player. But to the minority who may be inclined to do so, we ask you to first stop and think about the implications and the possible consequences.
It should also be clearly understood that a recent report suggesting our Club wished to engineer a feeling of hatred against an opposition Club can only have come from a misunderstanding. It has never been said or considered – publicly or privately – and is simply not part of the Club’s thinking.
Our Club – and everyone associated, including Members and Supporters – should relish the fierce rivalry that exists in the AFL. While we aim to aggressively defeat all others in the AFL in all aspects of what we do, we must always understand that this is a game. A high stakes game – but a game nonetheless. And it follows that such things as ‘hate’ campaigns against certain other Clubs is a ridiculous notion.
So to all of our incredibly loyal and passionate supporters, please continue to barrack, support and love this great game with us – as passionately as you always have. But please, let’s do it as a Crows Community – with real dignity.
Steven Trigg
Chief executive officer
