AFL stars battle escalating online abuse

AFL players are facing an alarming surge in online abuse from anonymous trolls, prompting calls for intervention. 

West Coast coach Adam Simpson expressed his dismay at the worsening situation.

"The online abuse some of our players have received this year has probably gone up to another level, to the point where you need to get the police involved," Simpson said. 

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"We need to keep that in check as an industry because that's definitely not getting better."

The Eagles coach's admission highlights the gravity of the situation, as he grapples with the challenge of protecting his players from cyberbullying.

"Trying to support our players in that space has become a big part of our jobs," he said.

Fremantle defender Jordan Clark echoed these concerns, calling for the AFL to take decisive action and provide more robust protection for players. 

"There needs to be more protection of players, certainly with social media and that sort of thing, whether it be racial, homophobic, or just generally attacking someone, I think yeah there has to be more protection for sure," he said.

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The issue gained further attention following a recent incident involving Docker Michael Walters, who was subjected to verbal abuse by a spectator after a match at Optus Stadium. 

In response to the growing problem, the AFL introduced a zero-tolerance approach to racial abuse last year, implementing lifetime bans for perpetrators.

The focus is now shifting towards addressing the broader spectrum of online abuse and holding keyboard warriors accountable for their actions.