Colleen McKaye, a 59-year-old long-time Adelaide Crows supporter, has been identified as the fan who wore blackface while dressed as club mascot Claude the Crow during Saturday's AFL elimination final against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval. Footage of her painted face and red bow tie went viral and drew widespread accusations of racism, given blackface's historical association with racist minstrel shows, prompting a national backlash and forcing her into hiding from friends and family.

McKaye, named the AFL Fans Association's female Fan of the Year in 2018, has served for over a decade on the Crows' official cheer squad committee, working as assistant treasurer and fundraising manager. Her son told the Daily Mail she is "deeply distressed" and not answering calls, and will not travel to Brisbane for the Crows' semi-final against the Lions. Crows Supporters Group president Peter Kauschke defended her, saying she had bought a mascot costume and added the bow tie only because the headpiece kept coming off, a defence echoed by a TV commentator who argued the reaction reflected an "obsession with race" rather than any racist intent.