Social media users have lambasted the Adelaide Crows media team for their 'tone deaf' Twitter post celebrating the return of Taylor Walker to the AFL.
Mr Walker was suspended for six games after he made a racist comment towards Robbie Young during a SANFL match in August last year.
He was also required to donate $20 thousand dollars to a First Nations program in South Australia.
Featuring a beaming Mr Walker, the post exclaimed 'He's back', and included an emoji and the hashtag #weflyasone.
The post in question. Source: Twitter.com: Adelaide Crows
Considering the cause of his absence, many users took issue with the lighthearted tone of the post, and indeed that the club have so prominently trumpeted his return.
"This is not it," wrote former rugby league star Casey Conway.
"Maybe the social/media team need some cultural training."
Freelance journalist Andrew Stafford, who has a sizeable following on the site, commented on the AFL's ongoing legacy of racism, and purported efforts to combat it.
"No room for racism in the @AFL, no sir," he wrote sarcastically, "at least until the star full-forward returns after being suspended for vilification. Then you get a "cool" emoji...
"Meanwhile, Adam Goodes and Cyril Rioli are lost to the game."
"Yuck," tweeted social media user Jules.
"Dude comes back after being suspended for racial vilification and you use the cool emoji. Way to completely sweep racism under the carpet."
Leroy Kamilaroi tweeted: "Facing Essendon but not any adverse effects of being racist. Yay"
Ngarrindjeri, Narungga and Kaurna man Robbie Young, the target of Walker's comment. Source: NITV News.
It's not the first time the club's management of the incident has been questioned. Mr Walker and Mr Young appeared together in a taped apology last year, which many said seemed forced and awkward.
The former captain returns to face an away Essendon crowd at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. He has not played at any level this year, with the AFL blocking an Adelaide request to allow him to play trial matches.
