Doug Hill, you racist dill
A HIGHTON man who hurled racist abuse at a player in this year’s Bellarine Football League grand final and intimidated footy fans who asked him to stop was fined in court yesterday.
Torquay supporter Douglas Hill, 67, directed his taunts at Geelong Amateur player Baden Dodd from behind the goals at the game at Drysdale in September, later admitting it was the “stupidest thing I’ve ever done”.
Geelong Magistrates’ Court was told a nine-year-old boy was among the people who heard and commented on Hill’s repeated abuse of Dodd and references to the colour of his skin.
At one stage during the game when Dodd missed a shot on goal, Hill said “suck s---, you f------ black c---”.
Although that comment was said to have been delivered just 20m from the player, the court was told Dodd did not hear anything directed at him by Hill during the game.
However, he later heard what had happened.
Police at the game were called after other patrons failed to get Hill to stop. One wit-
“It’s a real shame that in 2017 these things are still happening. To the people who stood up and challenged Mr Hill, I just want to commend them.” GEELONG AMATEUR CO- COACH JARROD YOUNG
ness was reduced to tears after the confrontation became heated and Hill refused to apologise and behaved aggressively and smugly.
Hill was charged with using obscene language and unlawful assault for his threatening behaviour towards the other footy fans, and pleaded guilty in court yesterday.
Magistrate Leonard Brear said the community and the court had no tolerance for such “boorish and offensive behaviour”. He convicted Hill and fined him a total of $2500.
Geelong Amateur co-coach Jarrod Young said after the hearing that Dodd had dealt with racial slurs for much of his life and wanted to make a stand to help ensure his young son could grow up in a world without similar taunts.
“Firstly, I just want to say Torquay footy club clearly deserved to win the game and this had nothing to do with football,” Young said. “I know (Torquay officials) wouldn’t stand for it, either. They were the better team on the day, deserved to win and we take nothing away from that.
“As for the incident, we support Baden 100 per cent. It’s a real shame that in 2017 these things are still happening. To the people who stood up and challenged Mr Hill, I just want to commend them.
“It’s something that needed to be done and we’re really proud that people stood up for one of our players.
“Hopefully, moving forward, AFL Barwon can make a stand, along with all the footy clubs in Geelong, that this sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable.
“If you’re going to make comments like this, you’re better off staying at home, because you’re not welcome at any local footy games.”