GEORGIE PARKER: Carlton fans abusing Harry McKay for his AFL mental health break from Blues is not on

AFL fans are you guys OK? Look, I get the frustration when your club seems to do everything possible to disappoint you.

I haven’t seen my team, Adelaide, win a flag in nearly 30 years. The last time they had a strong chance to do so during these three painful decades they finished top of the ladder in 2017 only to lose the grand final before the first bounce with the infamous power stance that still haunts us Crows fans to this day.

But the line of what is acceptable frustration has been blurred when it comes to personal attacks, and what gets thrown out online and at players as they’re coming off is absolutely appalling and embarrassing.

Carlton’s Harry McKay did not play against the Bulldogs for personal reasons on Friday night a week after not playing against the Hawks because the club said he was ill.

In an age where mental health is at the forefront of player welfare and suicide is the leading cause of death for young men in Australia, you’d think the fans would respect his decision. Well, that was clearly not the case.

Some of the comments I read about McKay online are far beyond what is acceptable to say about anyone regardless of their public profile. After the death of Troy Selwood last month there were calls for a mental health round, but when a player admits they need a week off the tools they get abused.

If fans do care about their team’s players, they should not abuse them just because the team is going poorly like the Blues are.

What is wrong with people online? The abuse hurled towards a player taking personal leave, a player in poor form, or anyone who disagrees with a point of view is rife.

I’m utterly sick of the anonymous trolls crossing the line of what is fair, reasonable and good-humored banter. Viciously abusing anyone is ultimately dangerous.

I only need to say water is wet online for abuse to come my way, God forbid I have an opinion on sport, and even worse, be a male AFL player out of form.

Melbourne have also been in the firing line online and at the ground after they also started the season badly.

It sickens me how a bunch of lowlifes sitting safely above the race yell at players below as, if they were to win, the same fans would kiss the ground these same players walked on.

Abuse of players both online and at the ground also spills into our homes.

In Victoria, police have reported there is a 20 per cent increase in family violence on AFL grand final day while NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics show there is a 40.7 increase in family violence on NRL State of Origin nights.

Enough is enough. I understand that sport is important to you as a fan. I understand disappointment and frustration can lead to resentment, but if you can’t control your temper while watching your team lose, you don’t deserve to watch them play and win.