Gold Coast Suns player Mac Andrew is facing criticism after television footage showed him making an obscene hand gesture toward Collingwood supporters during halftime of the teams' match on July 4. The incident occurred during the Suns' Round 17 loss to the Magpies.
Moments after Andrew's gesture, teammate Joel Jeffrey was also seen interacting with the crowd, making a mock crying gesture toward Collingwood fans. Neither player has been sanctioned by the AFL for their actions.
The footage became a topic of discussion on Channel Seven's The Agenda Setters, where commentators questioned Andrew's professionalism and the culture at the Suns. Nick Riewoldt, a former St Kilda player, described the behavior as "absolute garbage" and suggested it indicated a lack of focus within the team.
"If I'm the Gold Coast captain and I see my teammates interacting with, I assume, the Collingwood fans in the crowd, when up the other end, what do you reckon Nick Daicos is doing?" Riewoldt questioned. "What do you reckon Brayden Maynard was doing at halftime, getting around his teammates."
Riewoldt also raised questions about Andrew's performance relative to his contract, suggesting the player is not living up to his significant deal. Andrew signed a reported nine-year, $12 million contract extension in 2024, which was the richest in AFL history at the time. "We've spoken a lot about the off-field leadership from Damien Hardwick, what about the lack of on-field leadership?" Riewoldt asked. "Players with big contracts – and Mac Andrew is one of them. The answer is no, he isn't anywhere close to living up to it."
Commentators debated whether the responsibility for such behavior lay with the players or with coach Damien Hardwick. Tom Morris suggested the players' actions might be a reflection of what they consistently see from their coach, while Caroline Wilson stated the issue was "collective." Hardwick himself had previously commented on Andrew's behavior, saying the young defender "has got to pull his head in."
This incident follows a prior disciplinary issue for Andrew earlier in the season. During a game against West Coast, Andrew grabbed Eagles debutant Milan Murdock by the scruff of the neck and threw him to the ground, resulting in a 50-meter penalty. Following that match, Hardwick publicly expressed disappointment, stating Andrew had "overstepped the mark."