Stephen Milne (R) and Nick Dal Santo (L) of St Kilda celebrate after the AFL 2nd Preliminary Final match between St Kilda Saints and the Western Bulldogs at the MCG, Melbourne. Slattery Images
Well, it’s 2011 and 60 Minutes’ story on the teenager previously known as ‘the St Kilda schoolgirl’ has wrapped up the scandal that careered across our television screens for the past year into a neat 15 minute package.
Now it’s time to look for the Gen Z phenomena of the new year.
Sunday night’s expose saw Kim Duthie tell her side of the story, and in it she revealed to the world that she was, cue gasp, a liar.
Journalist Liz Hayes did her best impersonation of a nodding dog during the interview; her head wobbling as she attempting to keep a serious face while Duthie took us through her motivations.
But for all the gravitas journo Hayes could muster, you couldn’t help but think about what a joke this whole story was.
60 Minutes rolled into A Current Affair territory as it delved into the salacious ins and outs of the schoolgirl’s accusations.
In the wash up, as she told us herself, all of Duthie’s claims, except the fact that the stupidly egocentric Ricky Nixon had slept with her and plied her with drugs and alcohol, proved to be lies.
At this point, Nixon has not told his side of the story but given the situation he is in, and I’m not sure that he ever will.
We will be left to view him as a silly old man, who thought he could outwit a teenager and failed.
Maybe absence will make the heart grow fonder and the reprobate Nixon may return and he and Duthie will be reunited in a New Weekly wedding extravaganza, at which Roberta Williams, in her new career as marriage celebrant, will perform the nuptials.
Now that’s a story!
For months now 17-year-old Duthie has strung along the football world and its associated media circus, convincing people that she had a story to tell.
At no point has she been made accountable for the harmful lies that are, ultimately, the only things she has given birth to in this whole sordid tale.
She lied, breached privacy and stole property from St Kilda footballer Sam Gilbert’s computer, ruining reputations in her wake with little or no remorse.
But all that was okay because she was a teenager taking control of her life and getting back at a massive corporate powerbroker, an organisation which provides more media accreditations than Parliament House.
While footballers were castigated and lampooned for their buffoonery, this young lady was lauded as a new feminist icon.
Now, any young ladies who have concerns about the way they have been treated by a footballer will have to travel in the long shadow cast by Duthie.
Far from being a role model for women, she has made life tougher for them.
Duthie, as of Sunday night’s report, is still staying in a hotel room paid for by the Saint Kilda Football Club.
Her notoriety is likely to gain her some employment, with several media outlets desperate to gain a commercial edge apparently sniffing around her.
Is it possible that, given her ‘exclusive’ aired on Channel 9, the network might have a future planned for her?
Given the manner in which she has garnered attention, it would be fair to ask whether the network paid for her yarn and what else the contract might entail.
Generally what happens with these stories once the exclusive is delivered is that the notoriety lasts for slightly longer than Warhol’s proverbial 15 minutes.
There’s also the probability of a cover shoot with a lads mag.
Funnily enough, slightly less of her will be revealed in any future photo shoot than there was of St Nick Riewoldt and his mates in the files she professes to have illegally procured from Sam Gilbert’s computer.
The media will use her and spit her out (just as she claimed her former lover Gilbert did).
Will she seek revenge then? Or will she just disappear into the sunset, like a gunslinger whose nerves and wit have deserted them?
Don’t get me wrong, there is a narcissistic element in top flight sport and some boys will be boys and treat girls like playthings.
There is no doubt our sportsmen should assess the way they treat women.
But the fall out from this girl’s anger has gone far beyond the hurt that she claims to have felt when she was originally rejected by the object of her affections.
The St Kilda Football Club and all others involved in this lurid story will be tainted for years to come.
It hardly seems fair when Duthie, herself, has revealed how much of her story is a lie.
Farewell Kim. In five years time we’ll be wondering what did happen to that schoolgirl.
Some of us may even wonder if she wears a school uniform whilst making guest appearances at football club fundraisers.
My guess is, she will be sitting at a bar with 2008’s social network phenomena Corey Delaney and the 2009 Generation Z champion Claire ‘Chk, chk boom’ Werbeloff, and wondering how they can once again be the apple in the eye of a hungry media.
The question is, who will be the next Generation Z celebrity to emerge in this new social media world we find ourselves?
KickIt2Duck
Roar Rookie
and now the girl has come out and apologised to Riewoldt, Dal and Dawson re the photos that she stole and had no right to publish, going along with her apology to Sam Gilbert for the false pregnancy claim. I wonder how many more apologies will be forthcoming in future weeks?
Yes amazing how people can rearrange the facts to suit their way of thinking (or maybe just can't admit they were wrong.) Moving sideways.....Just whos hands should we put the conspiracy theories in KlD ? :)
KickIt2Duck
Roar Rookie
It's ironic on here that there seem those not willing to believe a young woman who admits to having lied from the outset. So, are they suggesting the only lie she's told is now.......and been paid off? by Channel 9? and they are the one's suggesting someone like Redb has a biased agenda. Gawd guys - conspiracy theories can be dangerous in the wrong hands.
Swampy
Guest
Why is this deemed poor. The suspect behavior of some past club presidents and the Milne case do deserve more air. Being a little thin skined arnt we.
Swampy
Guest
Swampy aint no girl. Although I wouldn,t mind coming back as one if I get anothet go at life. Any way I,ve changed my mind. I,m with GrantS now and I want to play on his team. Get coke, protection, heaps of young chicks, condom lessons. Milnies tips on looooove making. and much much more.
Matt S
Guest
RedB, did you get those pom poms from the AFL last Xmas? You are an AFL cheerleader, warts and all.
st penguin
Guest
Did anyone else find it funny that the article was about whether the police force has an information leak, and then goes on to say that their own "police source" said the number was closer to 100??
db swannie
Guest
I wonder would those files "GO MISSING " too . As i said that was only a part of it... You implied it was all of it.. Unethical & immoral ,
Redb
Roar Guru
"The deal also gave the AFL permission to ”investigate matters of illegal betting" you were saying.
db swannie
Guest
No one twists the facts like you.. Here is part of the article.....& Match fixing was only one part.... A CONTROVERSIAL deal struck between Victoria Police and the AFL to co-operate on criminal matters gave the league extraordinary rights to investigate football identities and to vet public disclosure of police inquiries. Previously secret details of the deal, made public yesterday, show that police were required to consult the AFL before commenting on their own investigations into AFL players, coaches, board members or even staff. The deal also gave the AFL permission to ''investigate matters of illegal betting'' and serious crimes such as drug trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault. The police-AFL ''relationship'' was formed so both could investigate ''any criminal activity that would be prejudicial to the interests of the AFL'', the contract says.
floppybottom
Guest
you're a very funny fussball bunny
Redb
Roar Guru
Nowhere near as cosy as the relationship between News Ltd and the NRL. Maybe you should look at the suppsoed cosy relationship between the Vic media and the AFL re Fevola, nixon,etc. As for the Police you of course have proof, not questions?? The AFL and the Vic Police had an agreement re match fixing, something the NRL should look into.
Redb
Roar Guru
st penguin, St Kilda are an easy target re the treatment of the girl. Like I said given one of their players got involved with the girl and it blew up massively, mostly with incorrect information does not mean they should whether its for PR or not help the girl. Especially when they went very hard legally on her initialyl to rpevent further publicatin of the photos, perhaps too ahrdin the publics mind, so its understandable they needed to show a bit more compassion. Where are her parents?
Redb
Roar Guru
Me Too, you must be a St Kilda supporter or Board member. Those photos are pretty ordinary (that's being kind) whatever you say, Gilbert took them and kept them. They got out into the public domain and have damaged the image of certainly St Kilda and the AFL by association. yes the girl has lied, I have been pointing that out repeatedly on the Roar for awhile.
Rob McLean
Guest
You're right DB, but rules don't stop curiosity. I just threw that up as an option, suggesting those figures might not be as sinister as we all think. It will be interesting to know...
st penguin
Guest
"Cynics automatically assume its a sign of guilt rather than support" Alas I have beceome cynical with age. No, I dont think St Kilda have any interest in genuinley supporting this girl. Reminds me of a line in Yes, Minister where Humphrey defines "cynic" as "what an optimist calls a realist"
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
On another thread, I mentioned how early in his tenor, Buckley held a press conference to announce a new sponsorship for the FFA or A-League, and the whole room gave him a standing ovation. That would never, ever happen in a Demetriou press conference, regardless of what he has to annouce. For instance, he will soon announce the $1 billion TV rights deal - there will be no applause - but plenty of hard questions about the exact details and make up and what it means for live games.
I've lost track of who is paying for her hotel room! First it was St.Kilda, then the AFL, then the Sun Herald and then (maybe) Channel 9, and Ricky helped out where he could I wonder if the bill includes meals, room service, laundry etc. (I hope they emptied the minibar! )
karlos
Guest
I think the cosy relationships between the vic media, afl and cops is well enough established that we need no longer question it.
Me too
Guest
@ Redb - what exactly has Sam Gilbert done? He took photos on a team trip, and didn't delete them. He met a girl at an over 18s event and began a relationship. the girl accessed his computer and stole the photos He found out the girl lied about her age and ended the relationship. The girl sought revenge. Now hypocritical high grounders like yourself villify a young man and continue to do so in spite of the girl's admissions. St.kilda knew the story and knew Sam had already paid enough for the stupidity of not deleting the photos. What sanctions exactly would you impose on him?