Alleged assault charge overshadows Pies’ win
Roar Guru By Justin Rodski, 5 Oct 2010 Justin Rodski is a Roar Guru
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- AFL, AFL grand final, Collingwood Magpies, St Kilda Saints
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It’s just what the AFL and the Collingwood Football Club didn’t need. Police are currently investigating an alleged assault involving a player during the Magpies post-grand final celebrations.
And while no charges have been laid, and a number of players have voluntarily submitted interviews, unfortunately the incident threatens to overshadow the Magpies’ premiership.
It’s obviously too early to jump to conclusions, and without the facts, only the people involved know the truth of what really happened.
No names of any players have been released at this stage, and in my opinion, nor should they be.
In the interest of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, isn’t it important the identity of the accused remain confidential through the investigation?
The image of footballers can be tarnished very quickly and unfairly due to an allegation as serious as this, and I think on the back of the recent acquittal of Brett Stewart in the NRL, all speculation and judgment must now be reserved until a later date.
This is someone’s life we’re talking about, after all.
Now, I’d much rather be talking about some of the truly amazing stories from the grand final.
Like the class and dignity of Luke Ball when his moment for vindication arrived on the final siren, instead of celebrating, he chose to console former teammates Brendan Goddard and Lenny Hayes.
Then there was Heath Shaw’s now famous smother.
Although it happened early in the game this was a moment that will always be shown on the highlights reel of the 2010 Grand Final. His teammates praised the incredible effort and described it as a tone setter for the rest of the day.
Or what about Steele Sidebottom’s incredible performance on the big stage or Dale Thomas’ outstanding finals series.
This is what we should be talking about, but instead unfortunately these allegations have somewhat soured what has been a fantastic year for Collingwood.
I’ve heard people say sportsmen are a product of their own environment, and at times I agree they might not be to blame. But despite all the education, when alcohol is involved reasonable judgment goes completely out the window.
There is no simple answer or explanation either, but the reality is, it keeps happening across all codes.
Football clubs are notoriously thick skinned. They have to be. But when a player damages the brand and acts outside the law, often they are left with no choice but to take action.
Just take a look at Andrew Lovett at St Kilda. Whether he is proven guilty or not at trial, he was sacked earlier in the year for bringing the club into disrepute.
How much could the Saints have used his pace and skills on Saturday?
If the allegations are proven to be true against a Collingwood player then he must face the full brunt of the law. But until then, I think as a society, and especially within the media, we need to be more understanding of the process of justice.
Otherwise a natural injustice might occur and the reputation of a young man has the potential to be destroyed forever.
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October 5th 2010 @ 7:42am
Dan Dresden said | October 5th 2010 @ 7:42am | Report comment
Funny how now that the boot is on the other code’s foot, everyone thinks its entirely fair and appropriate to hold back on making comments about the code and its culture.
It never stopped opinions flying across the Murray when Matthew Johns and the Sharks were getting attention, or when the Stewart matter broke.
October 5th 2010 @ 8:08am
Kurt said | October 5th 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Yes, Melbourne was well and truly awash with gossip and debate about Matthew Johns, Brett Stewart and the Cronulla Sharks. It’s all people talked about for months on end…
October 5th 2010 @ 8:33am
Brendan said | October 5th 2010 @ 8:33am | Report comment
I think you’re right Dan it will be interesting to see the differences in how this story evolves. I’m sure that after Brett Stewart was found innocent people won’t be so quick to judge.
If these guys are charged then it will be even more interesting considering how Matty Johns was treated. He wasn’t charged with a crime but was convicted guilty by “fans” and the media of crossing moral guidelines by having consensual group sex. If group sex has occurred with the AFL guys will they receive the same treatment as Johns??
In short No…
October 5th 2010 @ 8:48am
MAF4174 said | October 5th 2010 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Wow what an intersting line “No names of any players have been released at this stage, and in my opinion, nor should they be” Fevolas name was splashed over every paper in the country when he supposidly commited his sin (which to this day is still under investigation) I wonder if it was any other club than Collingwood if these blokes would have had their names released. The other amazing thing about this is that nearly every story on the Herald Sun websites provides an opportunity to make a comment on except for, yes you guessed it – the report on the alleged sexual assualts by 2 Collingwood players – again Fevola was never afforded that censorship, every man and their dog had an opportunity to express their opinion on his situation, yet in this case “its to early to jump to conclusions and without the facts only the people involved know the truth”
Either this situation smacks of double standards or I’m missing something – I know Fev had done himself no favours but why should these 2 players be afforded any more privacy than he – “Otherwise a natural injustice might occur and the reputation of a young man has the potential to be destroyed forever” Should not that quote apply to everyone!
October 5th 2010 @ 9:39am
John Ryan said | October 5th 2010 @ 9:39am | Report comment
What an utter load of rubbish I know that in WA the AFL media had a ball kicking crap out of RL over Stewart and Johns,trial by media I think they call it,and on here as well by various people who should have known better.
October 5th 2010 @ 3:34pm
beaver fever said | October 5th 2010 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
No one really gave a stuff here mate, 95% of people in perth would not even know who they were.
October 5th 2010 @ 10:56am
Andrew Sutherland said | October 5th 2010 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Modern professional footballers drink so little, as far as we know, throughout the year i’m surprised they can hold down a shandy!
October 5th 2010 @ 11:44am
Brendan said | October 5th 2010 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Its eerily quiet on The Roar today…
October 5th 2010 @ 12:07pm
Justin Rodski said | October 5th 2010 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Former player Spida Everitt weighing into the debate
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/spida-turns-on-women-over-collingwood-sex-allegations-20101005-1659d.html
October 5th 2010 @ 2:12pm
Brendan said | October 5th 2010 @ 2:12pm | Report comment
Classy stuff…
October 5th 2010 @ 2:58pm
JVGO said | October 5th 2010 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
I don’t know what’s happening been across all codes? Do you mean trial by media followed by acquittal? That’s what’s been happening in RL and if it was RL again in the spotlight it would be the same holier than thou I told you so crap coming from all the familiar quarters. When is the ABC investigation of Collingwood happening? Oh maybe in 7 years time of course the names will finally come out. In the end I guess you will reap what you sow.
October 5th 2010 @ 6:20pm
Chris said | October 5th 2010 @ 6:20pm | Report comment
NRL fans really do have an inferiority complex. Nobody in Melbourne paid any attention to the whole Johns situation. It just seems that way when you have a victim mentality.
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October 5th 2010 @ 8:06pm
Brendan said | October 5th 2010 @ 8:06pm | Report comment
Who cares about Melbourne its the people in Sydney im talking about…
October 6th 2010 @ 12:12am
JVGO said | October 6th 2010 @ 12:12am | Report comment
Well when Justin says ‘it happens across all codes’ he seems to be casting aspersions somewhat. Would he like to back that up maybe Chris? When was the last sexual assault conviction in RL or Union. But of course Justin is an employee of Channel 9 who have some connections I believe with the President of Collingwood so his call for everyone to be reasonable bears so much credibility. And noone cares about AFL in Melbourne by the way,(I couldn’t even name two Collingwood players) it’s the media where Justin is an employed we are sick of.
October 6th 2010 @ 4:48am
Stephen said | October 6th 2010 @ 4:48am | Report comment
There is no charge, alleged or otherwise–using ‘alleged’ doesn’t mean there isn’t a defamatory imputation in your headline.
October 6th 2010 @ 9:53am
Amanda said | October 6th 2010 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Since most of the comments here are from men, I thought I would drop a note from a woman who was raped (allegedly) fortunately not by a footballer. How do you think it feels waking up and hearing yet another RAPE? Spare a thought for the woman reporting RAPE it is horror and terror not a walk in the park. Then she spends the next few days with Dr’s, Police and phycologists. For these footballers a team of legal boys step in then, the power of the club and the AFL “wow now that’s something you want to go up against” especially when you are in a state of shock, trauma and fear.
Then there are the endless men that spend hours commenting on the news, radio and here. Not women? Where are the women? As for the other comments in the story you have written “recent acquittal of Brett Stewart in the NRL, all speculation and judgment must now be reserved until a later date $200,000 in legal fees? “The father caught him with his old feller hanging out?” Oh but she was mentally ill? How much were her legal fees? Many barristers admit they wouldn’t put their own child through a rape trial why? Because the point is to degrade the woman and make her look like she wanted it and it was her fault. RAPE is the most degrading and humiliating experience any person can experience often resulting in trauma for many years. No one wants to go to court and be re-humiliated, re-degraded and re-traumatised. Consenting to sex is one thing, consenting to being abused in the middle of sex well no that’s RAPE and very difficult to prove. In the moments of that terror, that shock, it flips your brain. Spare a thought for the woman in this.
October 7th 2010 @ 10:33am
Gob Bluth said | October 7th 2010 @ 10:33am | Report comment
I agree Amanda. I must admit I feel for the girl in that she has already been labelled as “stray” by Kerri Anne (the biggest media whore of all time) and people have automatically just tossed her in teh bin of one of these girls that throws themselves at players.
Of course, the story so far is that see actually went home with her boyfriend of a few months, which is a different story all together.
Who knows what happened afterwards but that is an important distinction to make. Funny the Channel Nine release also made sure we were aware of the two sides to the story, I wonder how much input McGuire had in that.