Essendon create unwanted history in AFL defeat as racism storm erupts around Suns hero Mac Andrew

Essendon have been left to wonder what might have been after suffering an agonising one-point loss to Gold Coast on Saturday night. Six days after breathing life into their AFL finals hopes with a win over Fremantle, the Bombers undid their good work in an error-plagued 13.9 (87) to 12.14 (86) defeat at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

The Bombers kicked 1.9 in the final quarter as they threw away what should have been a victory before Suns big man Mac Andrew took a pack mark in the dying seconds and slotted a goal after the siren, to all but end Essendon's finals hopes.

Andrew's goal means Essendon have been beaten by a goal after the siren for the third straight year, adding to its pain from 2022 (Collingwood's Jamie Elliott) and 2023 (Port Adelaide's Dan Houston). The Bombers are just the second club in history to lose to a goal after the siren in three straight years with the only other club to suffer such a fate Carlton, between 2000 and 2002.

Gold Coast take stand after racist abuse hurled at star online

Andrew's match-winning goal came after the defender was involved in a half-time melee. Following that incident every time he touched the ball a chorus of boos rang out around the stadium. And after kicking the game-winning goal to hand the Suns their first away win of the season, he shushed the Essendon crowd.

However, that celebration mixed with the fact he ended Bombers fans' finals dream saw a handful of social media trolls target him with racial slurs online, prompting the Suns' social media page to urge fans to celebrate the stars of the game not abuse them. "If you’re racist, you’re not welcome in our game," the Suns wrote on X after several racist posts were directed at the Gold Coast defender. "Let’s celebrate the stars".

Essendon shared the post on social media adding: "There is no place for racism of any kind in society".

It is not the first time the Suns star has been targeted by racial abuse. Last year verbal abuse of Andrew, who was born in Egypt to South Sudanese parents, was made public on social media by a concerned Brisbane Lions member who called out another member for the racist remarks.

While Andrew did not hear the abuse during the game he was reportedly upset after being told about the inappropriate behaviour. And after another incident, the Suns and the wider AFL community were quick to throw their support behind the Gold Coast defender and call out the unacceptable behaviour of certain fans online.

Mac Andrew could be in trouble for half-time melee

Andrew could come under some match review officer scrutiny after throwing some jumper punches in a half-time melee, including one that appeared to catch Bomber Archie Roberts in the head. Speaking about that incident after the game Suns coach Damien Hardwick said his temper is an area he needs to work on.

"I don't want to say he's a volatile character, but he's assertive, he's aggressive, he loves that side of the game, and he responded well, which is great," Hardwick said. "So it's a great learning curve for me, personally, about what Mac can do and how he tolerates things, but also for Mac to control and educate himself on that as well."

with AAP