AFL superstar Nic Naitanui reveals one in ten of the Instagram messages he receives each season are full of awful racial abuse
- West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui has revealed extent of abuse he faces
- He said during the AFL season one in ten messages were racist in their nature
- ‘If I showed you my inbox during the season, it’s full of that stuff,’ footy star said
- 29-year-old said problem was just as bad for some of league’s indigenous players
AFL superstar Nic Naitanui has told of how he is racially abused in one in ten messages he receives on social media during the season.
The popular West Coast Eagles ruckman, who is of Fijian descent, said while he used to mostly receive taunts from opponents and spectators during games, the abuse has now moved over to social media.
Naitanui said he had previously called out those who had attacked him online but he no longer wants to give them a voice.
AFL superstar Nic Naitanui (centre) has told of how he is racially abused in one in ten messages he receives on social media during the season
‘You get a lot of players who will post it (a post criticising racial abuse) and put it out there. To me that’s beneficial at times, because it is calling them out – I’ve done it a few times,’ he told The Age.
‘But then it gets to a point where how much voice do you give these people?’
The ten-year Eagles veteran said the worst of the verbal abuse came when the AFL season was in full swing.
‘If I showed you my inbox during the season, it’s full of that stuff – it’s one in ten which is more than enough,’ he said.
The 29-year-old (pictured against the Geelong Cats in this year’s AFL semi-final) said the problem was just as acute for some of the indigenous players in the league, like fellow Eagles star Liam Ryan and Carlton’s Eddie Betts
The 29-year-old added the problem was just as acute for some of the indigenous players in the league, like fellow Eagles star Liam Ryan and Carlton’s Eddie Betts.
The footy star did admit the AFL and Australia had improved in its stance on racism in recent years, and he no longer feared going into a pub in rural parts of the country.
Naitanui was discussing the topic of race, while promoting his children’s book ‘Little Nic’s Big Day’.
The book encourages kids to accept each other regardless of their background.
Naitanui was was discussing the topic of race, while promoting his children’s book ‘Little Nic’s Big Day’ (pictured). The book encourages kids to accept each other regardless of their background