When the Brett Stewart affair blasted its way on to the radio airwaves, the television screens and the newspaper front and back pages, the immediate reaction was what did the self-styled Eagles Angels, a group of prominent women in Sydney, make of it all.
The Angels include Johanna Griggs, Sarah Murdoch (who is often photographed in a Manly jersey), Louise Sauvage, Layne Beachley, Brooke Hanson, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, triathlete Nici Andronicus, and Wendy Harmer, the no-nonsense comedian.
Many of the Angels are mothers.
All of them, one would guess, have come up against objectionable male macho behaviour in their private and public lives. All of them, too, have passion for rugby league generally and the Manly club in particular.
Their Angels support group for the club reflects that passion and also a PR attempt to match the ‘soccer mum’ syndrome that has helped football to spread throughout the suburbs of Sydney.
The day the Stewart affair broke in the Sydney Morning Herald, Jacquelin Magnay, an award-winning sports writer, ran an article which was headlined: Angels give their vote of support.
The vote of support, amazingly, was for Stewart and not the teenager who was allegedly harassed by the Manly star.
Harmer was quoted as saying that many of the Angels would be very pleased to provide a reference for Stewart: “On a personal basis, we have found him very respectful, well-mannered and a humble person.”
My wife (who was a founder of the Women’s Electoral Lobby in New Zealand) could not believe this statement when she read it: “Where is the concern for the young women in all of this?”, she asked.
Magnay also reported that many of the Angels were too distressed about the allegation to comment.
Again, the emphasis seemed to be on protecting Stewart rather than showing even a shred of solidarity or concern for a teenager who was put through an experience that the Angels would surely not wish any of their daughters to have to go through.
Even after Stewart was charged by the police, we are still waiting for the Eagles Angels to express their outrage at what has happened to the teenager.
For that matter, we are waiting still for them to apologise to the young woman whose father (a Manly sponsor) was hit by Anthony Watmough when he tried to stop the player from pestering his daughter at the now infamous Manly 2009 season launch.
Lenin knew a thing or two about propaganda and he used the phrase the ‘useful idiots’ to describe true believers who were prepared to put the cause ahead of the any other consideration.
The Eagles Angels have been ‘useful idiots’ for the Manly Eagles club.They had stood by their man, Stewart, despite the allegations and the court charge.
Their credibility is destroyed.
Their reason for existing, which was to show how women-friendly the rugby league code really is, has been destroyed. Their judgment is appalling.
How they could defend Stewart, before the facts of the matter had been established and later by their silence after he has been charged, defies all understanding.
How can anyone take seriously what Harmer has to say about social issues, or sports matters, when she puts forward the notion that “we found him (Stewart) very respectful, well-mannered and a humble person” as an argument against him doing what he was alleged to have done to a teenager who had none of the prestige or standing in the community that she and the other Eagles Angels had.
The point about thuggish behaviour by drunken players is that it is invariably inflicted on people who do not have the power to stop it. Even the ‘useful idiots’ should have known this.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's never too late to apologise and wake up to yourself.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Anyone wondering why it's not wise to attack people who have not gone to trial yet should read this article and thread. It might make you feel superior and upstanding for a while but your foolish unfairness gets recorded for all time.
Luke
Guest
Anything to say, Spiro?
Ronald Jock
Guest
So is Spiro going to make a comment after the story in the Brisbane Times over the weekend?
ilikelollies
Guest
Anything else to say Spiro after the story over the weekend or more interested in hits then credibility. Question is rhetorical btw.
Matabele
Guest
Both Spiro and Gallop should get off their high horses. http://www.thebigtip.com.au/league/ya-high-horse-gallop?page=0,1
Craig
Guest
Well Spiro - where is your credibility now? Have you and several other Fairfax fellow travellers apologised to Brett Stewart yet? Such delicious fun reading your wildly inaccurate ramblings again, regarding Brett Stewart, being shown to be completely false.
Ted Skinner
Guest
Originally Posted by Martyn Thomas, rfu Chairman "Rugby [union] has moved on from the 'white, middle-class' stereotype: like any other sport, it reflects society in the round. And where are we, as a society? We're seeing children playing games of all descriptions who come from families who have either struggled to find work or have shown no great desire to work, and quite often, we find ourselves trying to inculcate values that should have been inculcated already. As a union, we have to stay aware of developments. Of course we do. But to a certain extent, we've all failed, haven't we? Bad behaviour of the kind we're discussing is reflected in sport, not necessarily caused by it." Source:Unhappy union: what has gone wrong with rugby union, Chris Hewitt,the independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/unhappy-union-what-has-gone-wrong-with-rugby-2270522.html
Reason
Guest
Still waiting for an apology.
Ted Skinner
Guest
hey Farmer see this: http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/apology-to-brett-stewart/story-e6frep5o-1226047831821
Ted Skinner
Guest
Wendy harmer replies: "...I want to thank "Crosscoder" who made this comment on The Roar site: "Criticising the Eagles Angels for offering to give references to Brett Stewart is laughable. Any upstanding citizen can and does offer verbal or written references to people at the centre of allegations." In his column in the Herald, Peter Fitzsimons was one who questioned the wisdom of the character reference for Stewart. I had occasion to meet up with Fitzy at a charity do some months later and put the argument to him. "Peter, if you were being held on suspicion of murder and I was called for a comment, I'd say that, in all my dealings with you I had found you to be a fine person," I said. "Now that, you must agree, in no way condones murder. Nor does it lessen my sympathy for your alleged victim." He may have nodded in agreement, but he's too tall for me to be sure. None of us should ever be cowed, too frightened, to offer a character reference for someone we know. If we take away this plank of decent, civilised society we'll be the poorer for it. When we offer such recommendations, there's always the possibility the person will be found to be guilty of the crime he or she is accused of. Should that stop us from speaking our personal truth? No. I take my cue from the interview with Brett Stewart which is still posted on the Australian Diabetes Council website. For the families and friends of people with diabetes, he has this advice: "Just give them personal space when they want a bit of space, and caring when they want caring." On that Sunday night, the overwhelming instinct was that Stewart, a person I knew, needed someone to care, no matter what he might be eventually charged with. As for the young woman at the heart of this sorry saga, if she were a friend of mine, I would have stepped up for her, too. Now, according to the 12 jurors in the case, my faith in her would have been dashed. Would that stop me from caring? Never. When you see "no comment" after my name, come over and bring a shovel, because I'll be dead. *Wendy Harmer is a broadcaster, an author and a mother
Ted Skinner
Guest
Spiro Who is looking an 'idiot' now?
AJ
Guest
Now that Brett Stewart has been cleared of all charges,what do you say now?Will you have the guts to apologise to Brett,the Eagles Angels,the Manly Club,and it's supporters/You probably won't!!
Matabele
Guest
What do you have to say for yourself now Zavos. The Eagle Angels, Manly club and the playing group have court prrof to suggest they were 100% correct in backing Stewart. Your slights and comments above, about people not being very smart and calling them useful idiots now seems to bounce back on you. A very useful idiot in propogatin g media myth about the case. Do you have the bals to apologise?
el_capitan
Guest
I'm not sure on how most people found this site, however in my experience I was informed of the site via Spiro, when I sent him an email about the lack of passion the Reds had under Eddie Jones. He indicated to me that this website was established for the public to post articles on what they see as troubling them at the moment. If he has put forward the same response to other rugby supporters that have written to him, then it could be an indication of why there is a high rugby contribution. I say if you know of people that are supportive of any sport, get them to sign up, and contribute articles. I for one have found the info on the English Premier League most inlighting, and have actually started to watch some games. Thats my 2cents worth
Redb
Guest
Everyone has different perceptions I would say the Roar is rugby, followed by futbol, then maybe AFL and rugby league. As I said on another thread (defending AFL again) the Roar is not a true microcosm of sport support in Australia - not by a long shot. Redb
Crosscoder
Guest
I contribute(FWIW) on the LU site,simply because rl is the game I am passionate about.There was a reference in one discussion as to the Roar site.I thought i would take a peek and see.I too noticed a preponderence of AFL/RU "chatter". That being the case I decide to contribute (if that is the right word) my views from a rl perspective(and a person brought up on union),to at least give further balance to what i considered heavily loaded at times debates. I genuinely find in the main the debates to be open, honest with the usual anti rl and rl fans flame thrown up on occasions by it appears the usual suspects.I can handle that ,however expect suitable response to the latter. It is true as Westy has conveyed,many on LU consider the Roar to be a ru/AFL site. Hopefully time and the easing off of the anti rl stuff,will change that.
Norm
Guest
agree with John Ryan.
westy
Guest
Zac. I like my sport and enjoy this site as a general sport site.Where I live and work most of the conversation around the water cooler is about rugby league. to participate i watch the game and support a team. My first preference is rugby but it seems to only get general attention when the wallabies play, there is aWorld Cup or the Waratahs are in the semi finals. I sometimes reflect the rugby league points of view to much on this site simply at times to even up the debate. in other words the site does not reflect the general sporting public as yet. AFL. Rugby league and even cricket discussion about games is not reflective of general community discussion i realise it is a work in progress. i am not talking about robust debate or name calling. I have never and would never complain. i am talking about the participation of a unrepresentative sample of the sporting public. On one robust discussion I was told to piss off to League unlimited. I have encouraged some of my friends at work to go on the site. they are ardent rugby league supporters. They have told me they have had a look but it is a rugby site. " They just put shit on us was one reply." and they were not talking about aticles about poor player behaviour. i have a belief probably misguided that rugby league is in reality a reservoir of support and juniors for rugby now but especially in the future. i do not want it to disappear. What i experience at games and television viewing figures does not simply match up . A lot of rugby people watch and enjoy some rugby league (not just Eddie ) but you would not know it from the roar. The language on league unlimited may not be as good but it does not have the vengeful overtones displayed by some rugby posters and some mindless articles that simply denigrate a game. My fear is that if league does fail acode that should be the natural beneficiary may not be so due to percieved bias. You must encourage the rugby league supporters to get on here and the AFL posters not just 2 or 3 regulars.Representative numbers will provide a natural balance and assist me in not having to stick up for rugby league which i genuinely like but it is my number 2.
Zac Zavos
Editor
I'd like to address on behalf of The Roar the two frank comments above by Midfielder. Firstly - thanks for taking the time to share your views. As you say, we are heavily invested in this site and so welcome your opinion given the length you've been involved with the site. Midfielder, contrary to what you imply, we're always seeking feedback on the site. While the nature of media often leads to critical analysis, we take on board your comments regarding negative articles on the site. We work very hard to ensure all sports have a voice on The Roar. We are constantly working to bring on new sports writers. In additional to Jesse Fink, football is now covered by Adrian Musolino, Mike Tuckerman and Paddy Higgs. We have Gabriel Knowles now writing NRL in additional to Steve Kaless. And we're actively working on sourcing more AFL writers to complement Bruce Walkley. We have Geoff Lawson writing cricket, and had Stuart MacGill writing periodically. We also have Natlie Medhurst writing a fortnightly column on netball and sport generally. So I disagree that we aren't making any efforts to grow the site outside of rugby. We are constrained simply by resources - but this is improving. We have limited control, however, on the spirit of banter on the site. When we are alerted to a negative or inappropriate comment - we act immediately by removing the comment and explaining the reason for it to the commenter. This takes up a significant amount of our time - but we do it as we believe in quality, sports debate and don't want it hijacked by a few idiots. But we rely on all Roarers to report these comments - we can't monitor all comments on the site. Finally, your anecdote regarding not being taken seriously is of interest, but flies against what we hear from a wide pool of contacts. The Roar is trying to do something different in the Australian sporting landscape. We're about sports opinion rather than news. Enabling an environment of participation in sports content. And enabling informed discussion on all Australian sports. We won't always get it right - so welcome Midfielder's comments - but we hope you share in the vision and do what you can to nudge the site in the right direction. If anyone would like to email me direct on this, or any other element on the site, feel free to email me: zac ( at ) theroar.com.au Cheers, Zac The Roar