Essendon fans get slammed for ‘horrid’ treatment of struggling star Ben McKay after they sledged him by making a noise that’s ‘worse than booing’

​A civil war has erupted amongst Essendon supporters after some fans directed a sledge branded ‘worse than booing’ at their own player Ben McKay – despite the ‘Dons winning the match.

The key defender transferred from North Melbourne to Essendon in late 2023 as a restricted free agent, signing a six-year deal with a seven-figure annual salary.

This move reunited him with coach Brad Scott, who previously coached him with the Kangaroos.

Since joining Essendon, McKay has faced heavy scrutiny over his performance, with Scott defending him against what he terms ‘unfair’ criticism.

That reached its law point in the Bombers’ 9.18 (72) to 8.12 (60) win over Port Adelaide on Thursday, with McKay struggling in the early exchanges.

His own fans responded with Bronx cheers – also known as blowing a raspberry, when people make the sound of flatulence with their mouths – when he did take a mark, treatment Bombers fans said was patently unfair.

‘Credit to Ben McKay tonight, after a slow start to the game and unfortunately getting the Bronx cheers, he settled into the game nicely in the second half and finished with an equal team high of 6 intercept possessions alongside Nick Bryan,’ one posted.

‘Considering Ben McKay was the leading intercept marking player on the ground. I think we can stop with the Bronx cheers and support him as club ‘supporters’,’ another angry fan posted.

‘Bronx cheering Ben McKay what a horrid mob,’ commented another.

Two-time AFL premiership winner ​Corey McKernan said the Bronx cheers impacted players much more than booing did.

‘Being booed is easy to deal with, Bronx cheers off your own fans is next level.,’ he posted.

‘Carlton fans Bronx cheering me against Essendon 2002, after the game left me in tears.’ 

Others said the treatment of Ben and his twin brother Harry had been over the top this season.​

Harry McKay, a key forward for Carlton, has been sidelined due to personal reasons.

After missing last week’s game against Hawthorn, he returned to training but will also miss Friday’s match against the Western Bulldogs

‘Both Harry and Ben McKay deserve so much better than what their respective fan bases have dished their way,’ a footy fan posted on social media platform X.

Others said the continued abuse of Ben McKay was only contributing to his form slump. 

‘He’s a confidence player, Bronx cheers are the worst thing you can do to him,’ a Dons fan posted. 

‘Honestly think we’ve never seen a worse era of football fandom on social media like we are in now,’ lamented another.

However several Bombers fans feel they are justified in hammering Ben McKay after

‘If I was getting paid $1m + a year, I reckon I could handle a few jeers here and there,’ fumed one. 

Another posted: ‘Ben McKay’s contract is the biggest heist since the great bookie robbery of 1976.’

‘Is Ben McKay the most overrated and overpaid player in league history?’ asked anotther

Meanwhile Scott said he didn’t believe McKay had been subjected to Bronx cheers, but threw his support behind the under-siege defender anyway.

‘It’s funny that. I don’t think it was Bronx cheers – maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t,’ he said.

‘But he was the leading intercept defender on the ground for the most part of the game … he was really, really important for us tonight.

‘Ben McKay’s got all the attributes of a really good key defender. He’s a great size. He can play on all the big strong key forwards.

‘When you have breakdowns all over the ground defensively, it’s usually the last line, key defenders, that get hung out to dry. And we hung them out to dry last week.

‘We can get going and keep improving our system. Ben McKay is a really important part of what we’re doing, and I have great belief in his capability.’