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Sydney co-captain Brett Kirk has warned Barry Hall to pull himself together or face an uncertain future – on and off the football field.
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Kirk today claimed Hall’s reputation and opportunities after football – not just his AFL career – hinged on the way he dealt with his on-field aggression.
Kirk said he and the rest of the Swans supported the club’s decision to suspend the gun forward indefinitely following his latest indiscretion.
The respected on-baller said the rugged spearhead needed to take responsibility for his actions before he could take the field again, regardless of how long that took.
“One of the main things I said to him was he has to take responsibility for what’s happened,” Kirk said at the SCG today.
“He has to put his hand up and admit that his actions aren’t acceptable and it’s not acceptable at our footy club and he needs to do something about it.
“When he does that, I’m sure he’ll be able to work through (them).
“I believe Barry will be able to get himself back playing footy.”
Hall accepted an early guilty plea this week for attempting to strike Collingwood’s Shane Wakelin in Saturday night’s loss to the Magpies at ANZ Stadium.
The incident came in just his third match back following a seven-week suspension for punching West Coast’s Brent Staker in round four.
Hall, who joined in training with his team-mates today, came out publicly after the Staker incident to say he was determined to prove he was a footballer and not a “thug”.
Kirk said his reputation was again at stake, with his response to the current situation about more than just football.
“Football’s not here forever … and your reputation’s one thing that he needs to keep intact,” he said.
“And I’m sure, I believe, he can work through these challenges … and come out on the other side.”
Hall has stood down from his role in Sydney’s leadership group.
Kirk said one of the worrying aspects of the swing Hall took at Wakelin was that he appeared to snap without being aware of what he was doing.
“It’s just totally unacceptable,” Kirk said.
“I think it’s a reflex action that he doesn’t even know he’s done.
“I think that’s why he’s come out and said he was pushed because I don’t know if he realises what he’s actually done, which says to me there’s something going on that he needs to work through.”
Club psychologist Grant Brecht will decide when Hall plays again.
But Kirk conceded it would be difficult to ever say with certainty that Hall had changed enough to guarantee he could take the field without reoffending.
“It’s not a black-and-white thing. You can’t say ‘ok, you can tick this exact box and everything will be fine’.
“He needs to work through the right things and seek out the people in those fields that can help him and all we can do is support him in that process.
“All we continue to do as a football club is stand for something that we believe in.
“We’ll continue to stand for a certain type of behaviour, even if it is one of our best players.”
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