Big O counts down Australia's most polarising sportspeople since 1980.

15. WILLIE MASON: Fans grew tired of his boorish behaviour - the likes of urinating in public, impersonating a teammate's signature and jumping a taxi.

14. WARWICK CAPPER: His flamboyance, arrogance and at times overzealous behaviour wasn't well received through the eighties.

13. WAYNE CAREY: From an affair with a teammate's wife to drug-fuelled rampages and alleged domestic violence, it's little wonder he has lost a lot of admirers.

12. LLEYTON HEWITT: Especially when he was world No.1, fans struggled to warm to his on-court abuse of officials - in 2000 he infamously called Australian crowds "stupid".

11. PAUL GALLEN: From berating Queenslanders to the ASADA drug scandal, the former rugby league player-turned-boxer has earned the ire from both sides of the border.

10. ROBERT ALLENBY: The Jekyll and Hyde of golf has sacked more caddies than any other Australian golfer in the sport's history.

9. MARK JACKSON: Often referred to as a lunatic in charge of a mouthpiece, Jacko's on-field indiscretions were legendary.

8. WALLY LEWIS: Despised by NSW fans, he remains the only Australian captain to be booed on to the field as he led his country during a Test in 1984.

7. JASON AKERMANIS: The AFL star holds controversial views on drugs and homosexuals - he says they should stay in the closet - and he was sacked from his radio show for making derogatory comments about the late Jim Stynes.

6. SHANE WARNE: Extravagant lifestyle and sexual conquests have been the envy and angst of many, while his endless berating of Steve Waugh hasn't endeared him to the public.

5. DAVID WARNER: Copped the brunt after the 2018 sandpaper scandal in South Africa and his deplorable Ashes form divided opinion.

4. BERNARD TOMIC: A perceived lack of heart, which has seen him quit mid-match more times than anybody else, has infuriated fans for almost a decade.

3. MICHAEL CLARKE: Fast cars, model girlfriends, sleeve tattoos and feuds with teammates are not the traditional traits associated with Test cricket captains.

2. NICK KYRGIOS: He's argued with fans, abused officials, tanked matches, smashed racquets and thrown chairs - but his bushfire-fundraising heroics has the public back on side.

1. ANTHONY MUNDINE: His criticism of Brad Fittler and Laurie Daley, insensitive comments around 9/11, coupled with his outlandish boasting of his ability, has riled sports fans across the nation.

Originally published as Australia's most polarising sportspeople