The AFL has long been debating how best to tackle racist comments from the sidelines and sledging on the field, but when it comes to footy shows the boundaries become even murkier as Sam Newman frequently proves.
But it came as a surprise to some Fox Footy lovers that Bounce host Danny "Spud" Frawley would resort to antiquated racist humour on Sunday night when mocking the historic Shanghai AFL game between Port Adelaide and Gold Coast being broadcast in China.
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AFL show Bounce slammed for 'blatant racism'
Danny Frawley portraying a Chinese commentator, is it light-hearted entertainment or blatantly racist?
The show's chief host and AFL Hall of Famer Jason Dunstall introduced the segment by segueing from a discussion between Spud and Cameron Mooney about the Shanghai game by saying: "I'll tell you what was interesting, they did cut a deal to televise the game locally and to listen to the local commentary made the game very interesting." It then cut to vision of the game, with overlay commentary in an attempted Chinese-accented English, "No tackle, tackle over there, the pollock on the left", that quickly descended into gibberish.
When it cut back to the studio, Dunstall, Mooney and Brian Lake were in peals of laughter, with Mooney trying to restore some dignity by suggesting "you can't be serious".
But that wasn't the end of it, after revealing that it was Spud providing the so-called commentary, he then continued by holding up a Chinese menu saying: "I tell you guys, what about the Chinese footy record over there, it was absolutely outstanding and Moons how good was No.9 over there?" To which a confused Mooney answered: "Gaz [Gold Coast Suns' Gary Ablett] wasn't that great."
"No, No.9 ... the steak and black bean sauce, it was unbelievable," Spud guffawed.
Viewers took to Twitter to question the humour of the segment.
@FOXFOOTY #bounceWow, really? Bad Chinese accent by spud to the game... is it the 1950's? Absolute pathetic "humour"
— Mr Awesome-O (@davidsffs) May 14, 2017
Is there a worse show on tv than The Bounce @FOXFOOTY? #racism
— Wenger Out (@DrobsonKanu) May 14, 2017
I only caught the end of it but it did seem that @FOXFOOTY just aired a piece of racism on The Bounce. How does this happen in 2017?!
— Adam Bishop (@AdaBish) May 14, 2017
First AFL game in China and we get "jokes" on #Bounce @FOXFOOTY like passing off a chinese restaurant menu as an AFL record? *sigh*
— Christopher Johnson (@Dream_Brother_) May 14, 2017
Really @foxfooty just some casual racism to start the bounce. Who the hell thought that was a funny idea?
— Steve (@steviejvic) May 14, 2017
A Fox Sports spokesperson said: "It was never Danny's intention to upset or disrespect anyone and we apologise to anyone who may have taken offence."
The show quotes itself as taking "a lighter look at a big weekend of footy ... the Bounce team poke fun at themselves as well as everything in and around footy".
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