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Demons stand up against cyberbullying

by Melissa Woods , 5 years ago

3 minute read

Melbourne are taking a stand against online trolls with a custom-made banner they will run through before their AFL game at the MCG on Friday night.

LIAM RYAN looks on while from the field following a West Coast Eagles AFL pre-season training session at the WA Athletics Stadium in Perth, Australia.
LIAM RYAN looks on while from the field following a West Coast Eagles AFL pre-season training session at the WA Athletics Stadium in Perth, Australia. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Melbourne players will run through a banner made up of abuse in a stand against cyberbullying before their AFL clash with Essendon at the MCG on Friday night.

The specially-made banner will contain tweets and online comments posted by people attacking AFL teams and players, with the premise that the Demons players will "tear the abuse apart" as they run through.

Online bullying has been in the spotlight this season, most notably hateful comments at AFLW star Tayla Harris over a photo and racial abuse at West Coast forward Liam Ryan.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin, a father of teenagers, said he was proud of his club for taking a stand.

"To fight online bullying is something I'm incredibly proud of as it's a prominent issue in our society," Goodwin said on Thursday.

The statement towards online trolls will form part of the "Round for Reach" game in conjunction with youth organisation Reach Foundation, which is in its 25th year after being founded by late Melbourne great Jim Stynes.

Reach says cyberbullying affects one in five young Australians.

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