Brendan Fevola gets a hand pass away under pressure from Daniel Bradshaw during the AFL Women’s Round 11 match between the Brisbane Lions and the Carlton Blues at the Gabba.The Slattery Media Group
Let’s be honest, Brendan Fevola isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed and his drunken Brownlow display was inappropriate. But does his behavior really warrant the media coverage it has received not to mention the growing calls for his dismissal from Carlton?
Yes, it was poor from someone with a heavily pregnant wife and an obligation to his club, league, fans and Channel 9 to act in a civilised manner, but the reality is he was doing what thousands of Australian men his age do on an average night out.
His folly was doing it in such a public forum with a microphone in hand and a camera in front of him.
Should he be crucified for that reason?
Fevola is the latest in a long line of footballers disgracing themselves with their off-field behaviour, but what has been fascinating is the public, media’s and codes’ reaction to these sagas and how the ‘crimes’ are becoming so much more mundane.
Without wanting to condone his behaviour, the reality is Fevola didn’t sexually assault, beat up or racially vilify anyone at the Brownlow. He was just acting like an idiot with a belly full of Crown Lager.
While people like Rebecca Wilson are entitled to their opinions, the media needs to reevaluate its new found role as moral adjudicator in every off-field indiscretion.
Remember the Tim Cahill saga? Did that warrant the front page of the Sunday Telegraph, with everything else that was going on in the world?
What’s worrying is the conviction in which editors justify their focus on the behaviour of footballers, as witnessed in this heated conversation between Alan Jones and Sunday Telegraph editor Neil Breen.
These athletes are role models but do these indiscretions really deserve such press?
Fevola may have acted like an idiot, but what of Channel 9 who gave the Carlton player the job of hosting ‘Street Talk’, a segment on the AFL Footy Show, knowing, if not expecting, he would deliver a drunken performance, as has been the case on that specific segment by others.
What’s odd is that Australians love their sporting larrikins and yet the modern day versions are being stifled out of existence.
We bemoan the lack of personalities and yet increasingly demand athletes tow the PR line and fit the mould of ‘role model’.
Do we really want our leading athletes to be one-dimensional puppets?
Take for example Kimi Raikkonen, the stoic Finnish Formula 1 driver whose press conferences are as monosyllabic as they come.
Raikkonen’s typical public persona hides a dry sense of humour which is rarely seen.
It’s a shame this dry wit is stifled by the corporate world of Formula 1 which desperately needs such personalities.
Yes, there is a difference between displaying a sense of humour and public drunkenness, but the continued blurring of what’s acceptable social behaviour from our athletes is what’s making them bland.
They are human and flawed like the rest of us.
Many footballers have forgone an education to pursue their careers and have lived in a bubble of a footy culture that, at its core, is still one big boys club in which such behaviour is lauded.
As a result some, like Fevola, have distorted views on societal expectations.
The codes and clubs cannot bear the responsibility of babysitting and it’s up to these athletes to ensure they behave according to societies norms.
But to continually chastise them with trial through the media is setting a very dangerous precedent, especially with the power the media has in such cases, and how the clubs and codes react in such a submissive way.
Fevola needs to be educated, to understand the boundaries and expectations on him, but to call for his head seems harsh.
captain nemo
Roar Guru
the night after the brownlow medal, the Fevola story was the sports headline on sky NZ. they ran the story ahead of their story on the netball test match against OZ showing heaps of Fevolas drunken antics. It also received heaps of coverage in Sydney
Pauly Walnuts
Guest
Pressure point, pressure point, pressure point
westy
Guest
Marion my apologies.
Marlon
Guest
Westy, learn how to spell. Its CARLTON !!!!!!!
bluesfans
Guest
all blues fans show brendan fevola your support by coming to princess park this sunday!!!! kraft changed the name of vegimite! Blues we can make a difference for fev!
Redb
Roar Guru
My money is on Collingwood.
Redb
Roar Guru
yeah but that would mean you have to live in Adelaide !!! Yikes Adelaide is a really nice retirement village :-)
Gibbo
Guest
i suspect he'll be back at carlton next year. they've been all talk the entire time.. its a shame because geelong have done such a good job with steve j through action rather than words
megatron
Guest
They put a lot of players on notice by saying they could be traded including the likes of Kane Cornes. Maybe would be best for Fev to get away from Melbourne too.
Redb
Roar Guru
Burgoyne?
Redb
Roar Guru
Agree. No longer a good option to transport the convicts to Sydney.
megatron
Guest
I've heard Port Power is also interested. They have some trade potential that would interest Carlton.
Redb
Roar Guru
Westy, no they definitely want to trade him, his $700,000 salary and off field record will be the difficult selling point. It was reported that the Carlton maybe willing to pay some of his salary at a new club. I think they're very keen - err like mustard, to get rid of Fev. ;-) Redb
Redb
Roar Guru
Very strong rumours that there are only two clubs in the running: Collingwood and St Kilda. Redb
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
Fevola is a larrikin and a fool who has an alcohol problem. Pretty much describes a large cross section of Australia's male population. You can't legislate or regulate against stupidity. There is no cure for it. Following coverage of his behaviour at the Brownlow I was struck by two things. One - Fevola's behaviour was inappropriate and inexcusable. Two - The dereliction in the duty of care by his Carlton teammates and every other AFL person at the function. Fevola was clearly drunk and out of control and in no position to act responsibly or take resonsibility. Why didn't anyone else take responsibility for him? Put his behaviour in a playing context, if he took a heavy knock and was staggering around the ground in distress how would his teammates and medical staff react? Why did his teammates and friends not react in the same way when he clearly needed help. Why didn't his wife ask any of his teammates to help her put him in a cab and go home? Why didn't someone at Channel 9 recognise the signs earlier when it was clear to all watching on the night that he was substantially tanked during the proceedings? That's what I would do for a friend and teammate of mine and expect them to do the same for me. The whole scenario stinks and unfortunately Fevola is carrying the can on his own but there are many other parties that should also be held accountable and be apportioned some blame for what happened that night. It would have taken just one person to say no, you've had enough Brendan and I'm getting you home and this would have just been another footnote of his stupid behaviour in his playing career.
megatron
Guest
And he has an idiocy problem.
Gibbo
Guest
uh, alcohol is a drug...
Warren Vargas
Guest
He has an alcohol problem and a gambling problem.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
According to the Papers he is due a big paying year in 2011 where his contract is loaded becasue thats when he would been able to fit on the veterans list at Carlton. The timing is wrong otherwise he would have been a good target for the Gold Coast as they would have the cap room and they have already shown they aren't scared of controversey. Would be bad for the AFL if he moved to Sydney, he would end up the face of the AFL in NSW and he doesn't fit the image the AFL are tring to portray there.
Westy
Guest
Adrian have you actually considered that carleton already knew no one would bite?