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On-field, the AFL is purring along, save for the Demons who are still struggling, but the biggest story is off-field and barely even involves the gladiators who we cheer on every week.
Before the preseason competition even started, the sporting landscape changed significantly when champion cyclist Lance Armstrong was finally pinged for years of cheating.
We know Armstrong spent a large portion of his career ‘on the juice’ and he managed to hide it very well until his accomplices could keep their lips sealed no longer. Whistles were blown, and a sporting empire collapsed.
The ramifications throughout the sporting world have been shocking, extraordinary and insightful.
When the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) announced Australian sports were not considered clean, AFL fans were bitterly disappointed.
The naming of Essendon as the AFL club suspected of routine doping during the 2012 season was not terribly well timed or thought out, as the announcement did not cite concrete evidence against the club. To this day the investigation continues.
As a Collingwood supporter first and foremost, this sports fan loves nothing more than to see the Bombers’ pants pulled down (especially on ANZAC Day), however this is different.
The news outlets have been sucking everything out of this story ever since the announcement was made, and the reporting is getting out of hand.
‘Reporting’ and ‘journalism’ are words that are generally associated with credibility and news. It’s not unusual for journalists to make assumptions or speculate on current affairs, but it is generally done in a professional manner that cites appropriate evidence and reasonably good taste.
Good reporters will tell a story from their own perspective in a way that interests the target audience.
Unfortunately, when the calendar clicked over to 2013, Melbourne’s journalists collectively lost the plot.
The ASADA-led conference was certainly the trigger, but what started as civil reporting has since turned into an alarming witch hunt that has changed the role of newspaper, television, radio and social media in the city that sells itself as the sporting capital of the world.
As of April 2013, the media is playing the role of judge and jury, and cares not for accuracy, evidence or casualties.
No person involved with the Essendon Football Club in 2012 has escaped strong accusations from the media, despite the fact nothing has changed in relation to the status of the ASADA investigations.
The most recent target, senior coach James Hird, is accused by the media of taking banned drugs from the former club sport scientist.
So intense is the media sensationalism, different outlets have called for Hird to be sacked, or to step down.
This is a terribly inappropriate call when nothing has been proven. Imagine if they did the same to suspects in an unresolved murder case – the legal process and natural justice would be irreversibly tainted.
Our favourite media outlets have been rubbing their hands together expectantly as their exposure soars on the back of their own controversial accusations and assumptions that can all be linked back to the early hashtag #drugsinsport.
As Melbourne’s former sports reporters and journalists revel in their new roles as scare mongers, hate campaigners and termination advisors, the potentially-innocent names of some of Melbourne’s most respected and high-profile sportspeople are being sullied.
The actual news is taking a backseat to pure speculation and deliberate character assassination.
Not only has the media tried to bring down the Essendon Football Club and their senior coach, they have even fabricated accusations about Collingwood’s Dane Swan, Richmond’s Dustin Martin and several well dressed non-playing power brokers of AFL clubs and league headquarters.
This article does not need to cite specific evidence, as the evidence is rife throughout all Melbourne media outlets and has been for the past two months.
Be it a newspaper article, a televised interview or radio commentary, you would have to live under a rock if you’re a Melbournian and you can honestly say that you’re not aware of the phenomenon that has been described in this article.
Is there a solution? Yes, but it requires a significant commitment from government and the leading sports bodies.
It used to be commonplace that media outlets would not comment on any unproven matter being investigated. The government has a media watchdog who can influence the way forward. The AFL, to a lesser extent, can also play a role.
The simple fact is the relevant media outlets must be held accountable, and should simply not be allowed to speculate or accuse any persons or parties without citing proven evidence.
This disease is affecting everyone involved in sport, and is plain unjust and cheap.
There are several high-profile media personalities in Melbourne that should be stood down in the wake of this circus.
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