Round 14 of the AFL saw some amazing football played, from Thursday to Sunday.
We had Essendon’s emotional, impossibly resilient victory to kick off proceedings.
The Swans put the heat on the Blues the next day, possibly consigning them to missing finals in Mick Malthouse’s first year.
The Dangerfield Crows kept their season alive on Saturday arvo, while Port continued on their giant-killing ways, further widening the already dangerously simmering cracks at the Collingwood Football Club.
On Saturday night, Geelong out-Freo’d Freo, and Melbourne won their second match of the year in the most thrilling circumstances, staving off a nine goal Western Bulldogs final quarter surge and thus preventing their fans from spiralling into an even deeper depression.
Sunday played out with a series of predictable big wins, as the Hawks and Tigers continued their surge.
But the biggest issue of the entire round if social media, talkback radio, forums, and media commentary is to be believed? The booing of Jobe Watson by the partisan Subiaco crowd.
It was hard to work out what was more inane, the booing itself or the ensuing debate.
As one wag on Twitter put it – “Every time I hear a crowd boo, it just makes me sad knowing 90% of them are adults. Who actually boos past the age of nine?”
If they are indeed the sample of the Australian public at large, then it’s not hard to understand our politicians behaving the in the childish way they do. We get the politics we deserve in this country.
That said, when it comes to crowd behaviour, the West Coast throng set the bar so low that even one of their players couldn’t duck under it. They are the finest example of uneducated mob mentality or mass psychosis we’ve seen since the Fanatics.
At least the latter mean well, and are not the ill-humoured, mean-spirited mass that present themselves at Paterson’s Stadium every second week.
They make Eagles home games nigh on unwatchable.
So, even allowing for the fact that booing is for children and those unworthy of civilisation, was Jobe Watson worthy of any sort of taunting or abuse after his frank interview during Fox Footy’s On The Couch?
The simple answer for any respectable, mature person is of course not. There may be equals of Jobe in AFL circles when it comes to carrying themselves with class, dignity and respect, but none surpass him.
And didn’t he do exactly what we want out of our elite sports people in the era of vanilla, robotic, unemotional answers? He didn’t hide behind company talk, didn’t speak about processes and structures, or mention taking anything one week at a time. He spoke the frank truth lucidly, however controversial it may have been.
He was open and honest about the situation he and his club face, and should have been applauded for his candour. If he was a touch naïve, then so be it. He can’t be blamed for having an optimistic outlook in a dire situation. Firstly, it is a line being peddled by the club, and secondly, it’s human nature to hope for the best.
Surely there’s no doubt among reasonable people that Jobe Watson isn’t what we’d consider a drug cheat in a Lance Armstrong/Marion Jones way, and any attempt to tar him with the same brush is a despicable act that speaks volumes about those who would.
I’d be surprised if there are more than a handful of people who know the precise details of the ASADA investigation into the Essendon Football Club. And how many people really have an understanding of the complexities and legalities involved in such a case?
Everyone is looking for, and expects there to be, an easy and simple answer. Are Watson and his fellow players guilty, or innocent? Will they be suspended or not, and if so, for how long?
Why is it so hard to admit that there might be shades of grey, and that, perhaps, just maybe, you don’t know as much as the authorities?
While it’s tempting, and easy, to grab the pitchforks and storm the club in search of Watson after his supposed admission of guilt, it’s better for all concerned to take a deep breath and a step back.
There are plenty of people riding a schadenfreude-induced wave at the breaking of every piece of news pertaining to the Essendon drugs saga. And those people may well get their druthers. But spare me the bloodlust in the meantime.
ASADA will complete their investigations, and when they do, we will all be made aware of the outcome. They will not tread lightly if guilt is to be apportioned. One suspects the penalties may send shockwaves through the sporting landscape of this country. It could get incredibly ugly.
Or they may determine that the Essendon players don’t have a case to answer. If so, it won’t be an AFL-led conspiracy protecting the code or the club. Make no mistake though, there’ll be more than a few north of the Victorian border trying to enforce that argument.
Patience, so my mother used to tell me, is a virtue. Let’s exercise some of it.
And in the meantime, just worry about your own team or enjoying each game you watch, and leave the booing to those in the schoolyard. In other words, grow up.
Stu
Guest
Meanwhile Chris Judd, Dane Swan, Buddy Franklin, Joel Selwood, Stephen Milne, Hayden Ballantyne, Greg Williams and COUNTLESS others are all sitting at home thinking "We got boo'd for much less every time we go near the ball, where the F#&$ is our sympathy and media puff pieces"
Deep Thinker
Guest
ala the Shane Warne 'I didn't know a diuretic is banned' defence. Didn't work for him. Shouldn't work for Jobe.
kim
Guest
I have followed Essendon for 43 years, first in Perth where I grew up and then in Melbourne. I often go back to Perth, but it is 15 years since I've seen a game there. I was there last Thursday. I would contend the booing won us the game. It was counterproductive; it lifted Essendon and it showed Jobe Watson's true class. As for the ASADA investigation, I am surprised the media have permitted such uninformed comment. The investigation is a quasi-judicial process, so that even though it is the AFL, not ASADA, that determine the penalties, it is clear the investigation has been prejudiced by excessive commentary. In other jurisdictions, such commentary would be in contempt of court. It may well also be the case in this process. I am sure, whatever the penalty, there will be room for legal challenges. And many of them. As a final comment, the Eagles should look closely at the facilities they provide for spectators. The facilities at Subiaco Oval have not improved in 20 years. (toilets, ticketing, seats, food outlets, scoreboard) They are so far below the facilities at Etihad and the MCG, you have to question how the ticketing agencies can sell tickets at similar prices. Given that the new stadium won't be available for 5 years, surely WA football (and interstate visitors) deserve better.
Redb
Roar Guru
AR, It's very simple . Hird would put the club before everything, he loves the club and I beleive he would not deliberately put it or the players at risk. As for Knights it is an irrelevant comparison. The only reason it gets raised is that irks fans of other clubs that Hird is held in such high esteem. I pity those fans that they don't have an individual so revered.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
A very vexing issue this one. I didn't see or hear this match. Did the booing begin en masse the moment Watson got the ball? Or did it build gradually like a Roman Coliseum or a Mexican wave? That is, everybody else is doing it, I don't wannabe left out! ?
Jeremy
Guest
@ Opposition supporters What if Essendon were told by WADA and ASADA the AOD was OK (as has been reported)? Then later down the track found out it wasn't...? I think people are getting a tad ridiculous about this. You guys realise protein powder is more 'performance enhancing' then this particular AOD?
JamesStKilda
Guest
Some fans have started a petition - https://www.change.org/petitions/suspend-jobe-watson-captain-of-the-essendon-football-club when is Essendon going to react?
Not quite right
Guest
Again for the slow learners...take your time, read it a few times if you need to.... On April 26 Calzada released a statement saying that AOD-9604 had no authority in any jurisdiction to ''be marketed as a pharmaceutical product''. This, though, is materially different to having no approval worldwide for human therapeutic use. Calzada's statement goes on to say that AOD-9604 can be legally prescribed by Australian-registered medical doctors and prepared and supplied by qualified compounding chemists. Moreover, AOD- 9604 has been granted unconditional ''generally recognised as safe'' status by the US Food and Drug Administration, meaning it can be included as an ingredient of foods, drinks and supplements marketed as safe for human consumption.
Not quite right
Guest
Hmmm, I love these statements... "not fit for human consumption" maybe that is the case with your cooking fadida, but according to the company that owns the AOD-9604 IP that is not correct. On April 26 Calzada released a statement saying that AOD-9604 had no authority in any jurisdiction to ''be marketed as a pharmaceutical product''. This, though, is materially different to having no approval worldwide for human therapeutic use. Calzada's statement goes on to say that AOD-9604 can be legally prescribed by Australian-registered medical doctors and prepared and supplied by qualified compounding chemists. Moreover, AOD- 9604 has been granted unconditional ''generally recognised as safe'' status by the US Food and Drug Administration, meaning it can be included as an ingredient of foods, drinks and supplements marketed as safe for human consumption.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Very, very good Nathan. Quality response. :)
Broken_chairs
Guest
it's about as laughable as the prejudice you've shown towards west coast supporters in this piece.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Oy vey, Cam, oy vey. Here West Coast supporters have stood up for the rest of the league's supporters, have done the Lord's Work in registering our opposition to this fine farce the AFL is carrying on and here we get pot shots in the back from your poisoned pen! Well, I never... Oh that we should have lived to see such days, that such burdens should fall upon our weary shoulders, to take up voice against the turbulent aristocracy of the Channel 7 commentariat and the byzantine corridors of AFL House, and yet receive no thanks or courtesy, merely to carry on under the tutting of our social betters! Yet stood we did, and shall, and from this defiance grow a new and better league tomorrow. And if we did not, then who would have made the stand where we had shirked? The baton will be long in the passing, until it reaches our black and white brothers-in-larynxes of Collingwood in Round 19 (since I have little hope for Footscray and away Hawthorn supporters getting sufficiently vocal). I have no doubt that, should Essendon not yet be blotted from the wholesome earth, they will take up the People's Cry! I don't expect you to thank us today, Cam, I don't expect you to apologise tomorrow even. Just remember us when you enjoy your better tomorrow, that's all we ask. (All in fun, Cam ;) )
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Rubbish. You'd still hear the rustling of the brown paper bags in the Carlton section ;)
Nathan of Perth
Guest
It is mainly the pantomime - like all good pantomime, there are villains and there are heroes, and sides of good (West Coast), bad (the opposition) and downright evil (the Umpires). It could be seen in effect in that West Coast-Geelong game when we copped eight deliberate OOB decisions and by the third quarter you would find an entire wing of supporters giving the DOOB umpiring signal every time it went out of bounds, even if it came off our own player last!
Australian Rules
Guest
I've got no interest in one-upping Redb...I'm just pointing out the obvious bias. That is, Hird is being unequivocally supported by the fans on the basis of his personality & status...not for what he actually did or didn't do.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Josh, It genuinely cracks me up when people call me a biased Victorian when it comes to football, it really does. I actually can't understand people who do have a bias. We all barrack for clubs, so I can never work out why it matters where the other 17 come from. I've got a mate who was born and bred in Melbourne, but barracks for Sydney. Who is he supposed to be biased for or against. Laughable!
Cameron Rose
Expert
G'day Whitestar, Thanks for the overall support mate. The West Coast match was the spark of the debate, but my target was all fans, while I concede that it has come across as Eagles-bashing to those on your side of the country. I do believe the reaction was unreasonable, and if Essendon had been playing Collingwood with the booing such an issue, my piece wouldn't have remained basically the same. I did slap the West Coast crowd along the way because I do believe they behave poorly. Cracking opening paragraph too!
Redb
Roar Guru
Disappointing from you AR, I thought you were better than a cheap one upmanship type post.
Josh
Guest
http://www.reddit.com/r/AFL/comments/1her3o/journalist_slams_wce_fans_the_finest_example_of/ Looks like you've made it onto the AFL subreddit mate. I encourage you to check out some of the top comments to get a bit of a broader view of how people perceived your article. While I don't condone the actions of the crowd on Thursday night, I do think that you should look at the facts of the situation. Jobe admitted to taking a banned substance and I think that every ticket payer had the right to voice their outrage on the subject, but I suppose you want to vilify eagles supporters because 'Jobe is a genuine bloke.' As soon as I read the snippet on you at the bottom of the article "Cameron Rose is a born and bred Melbournian" it all seemed to fall into place. Great work on the quality unbiased journalism champ.
Broken_chairs
Guest
@ TomC what the hell are you talking about? not every player in the league has admitted taking a banned substance. no one else has to prove anything. fact is, claiming ignorance is the number one excuse by drug cheats everywhere. why are we giving jobe the benefit of the doubt? because he says he thought it was legal. why are we so happy to take his word for it?