The sporting public seem divided pretty much down the middle: West Coast's Patrick McGinnity was totally out of line in sledging Melbourne's Ricky Petterd about his mother and deserves to be harshly sanctioned - or McGinnity is the victim of the AFL's politically-correct nanny state and this sort of ribald exchange has been going on in sport for years.

Either way, the Eagle has been fined, suspended for one week and forced to issue a public apology for the remarks, made during Sunday's clash at Etihad Stadium.

The wording of the sledge has yet to be published but, rest assured, it won't be long before a reporter gets to the bottom of what exactly was said and gives it a public airing.

Presumably, though, it was pretty offensive because an umpire, who overheard the exchange as the players left the field at half-time, chose to report the Eagle. And they'd hear this sort of sledging and banter all the time. Well, maybe not exactly this sort - but there's not a lot they wouldn't have heard out on the field.

And it is reported McGinnity said the offending words twice, so he probably can't hide behind the 'said-in-the-heat-of-the-moment' defence.

I can recall two similar incidents in recent years, which involved a reference to a wife and a daughter, that caused far greater outrage - mainly, it should be said, among people who have not been involved in competitive sport, and who were blissfully unaware of the mindless, foul-mouthed nonsense that gets spewed out each weekend on sporting fields across the country. 

During an AFL derby at Subiaco Oval in 2007, Fremantle's Des Headland, who had a tattoo of his six-year-old daughter on his arm, accused Adam Selwood (another West Coast player) of saying he'd had sex with the girl depicted on Headland's bicep.

In papers filed by Fremantle with the AFL, the following exchange was alleged:

Selwood: "I f----- her last night."
Headland: "What the hell are you talking about? It's my six-year-old daughter."
Selwood: "Yeah, she's a slut."

Selwood was later cleared by an AFL hearing after admitting to making sexual references about the tattoo on Headland's arm, without having any idea it was Headland's little girl.

Then there was the time in Antigua in 2003 when Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath tried to unsettle West Indies vice-captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was proving difficult to dislodge.

Having been belted for 21 runs in two overs, McGrath could not contain himself and the first thing that popped into his mind was a deeply unoriginal and unfunny sledge.

McGrath to Sarwan: "What does Brian Lara's ---- taste like?"
Sarwan replied: "I don't know, ask your wife."
McGrath began to walk away before turning back and heading to within a foot of Sarwan, screaming: "If you ever f------ mention my wife again, I'll f------ rip your f------ throat out."

I remember being asked to discuss this incident, and others like it, on ABC Radio at the time and the female presenter couldn't believe that this sort of thing was said on sporting fields. But it is, every week, and in every nation where a ball is kicked, whacked, bowled or spiked.   

Because we don't know exactly what McGinnity said, plenty of people seem prepared to cut him some slack - if the comments at the bottom of the stories on the News Ltd and Fairfax websites are any guide. 

Absolute joke. AFL is becoming increasingly tiresome and a nanny game. I have come to realise if I want action than I watch union and I want skills well soccer, says JPc of Melbourne.

Come on princesses, get over it. Sticks and stones anyone?? says Wake up!! of Yarraville.

Obviously, though, he has his detractors as well.

Those ... who think this sort of thing is OK need to understand that there is a line and this wacko crossed over it by a long way. If you think it is OK to say something cruel or lewd to an opposition player then how would you like it if your mother, wife, sister or daughter were spoken about in such a way? Football is about playing the game not indulging in this sort of abuse, said Robin of Mt Eliza.

Obviously his intelligence level matches his rude head! added Shane Dillon of Geraldton, WA. 

I'd expect the tone of the debate to change, and sense of outrage to increase, if McGinnity's remarks are published and they demonstrably exceed the bounds of what might be considered 'acceptable' in the hurly-burly of an AFL game (if not the local cafe or bowls club). 

In a statement released by West Coast, McGinnity said: "I deeply regret the words I used in a verbal altercation on Sunday.

"The heat of the moment is no excuse for over-stepping the mark and I sincerely apologise to the Melbourne player who my comments were directed at."

The Herald Sun has reported Ricky Petterd's father said McGinnity "crossed the line" with a string of ugly comments about Petterd's mother. Petterd's father said McGinnity's comments "disrespected the family".

But former AFL star Brad Hardie told 6PR radio this morning he was appalled McGinnity had been publicly named and shamed over the remarks.

"This is just something that didn't need to be highlighted,'' Hardie said. "What's the game coming to? There's no doubt that we need to have respect for women."

So the dinosaurs and unreconstructed blokes are lined up against the SNAGS and PC merchants on this one, and it'll be interesting to see which direction public sentiment heads in the next day or two.

What we do know is this: after a bruising couple of weeks for the AFL in which they've fought battles on a number of fronts, including tanking, GWS recruiting strategies, a series of blowout results and stalled pay negotiations with the players, this is probably the last thing they needed.