Devout AFL fan Patrick Smith, who writes for The Australian, is at it again. Poor Mr Smith has not been a happy vegemite of late, and one can certainly understand why.
The GWS Giants continue to be the laughing stock of Australian sport, and the Essendon drugs scandal and possible implication of Andrew Demetriou in the whole saga meant Smith had only one option in his mind – time for a soccer shame article.
For starters, Smith seems to have no concept whatsoever of football – what it means to people, how complex it is, the skill involved or the passion of the fans.
Yet he still insists on commenting on it maybe once or twice a year.
It’s like Craig Foster writing about the Australian fiscal policy in the Sydney Morning Herald. Of course, it goes without the mention that the only time Smith writes about football is when he has something negative to say.
Where were Smith’s comments when:
– The Western Sydney Wanderers won the A-League Premiership, with a higher average attendance than the GWS Giants on a budget that the Giants would burn through in a matter of weeks?
– The Wanderers fans travelled in numbers of 5,000 to 10,000 to significant away games and sang their hearts out in the rain?
– The Socceroos qualified for Brazil 2014, the greatest show on earth, in front of a mid-week crowd of 80,000 in the rain?
– The visits of world sporting icons such as Manchester United and Liverpool wowed the country with attendances of 82,000 and 95,000 at the matches in the heart of the AFL and NRL season?
– 95,000 sang ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ at the MCG with the kind of passion that the AFL could only dream of?
– World football icon Alessandro Del Piero joined Sydney FC, a man of such fame and glory, yet such humility?
So when does Smith finally comment on football? When ten no-name football players are busted for match fixing in a state league team.
Here is what Smith had to say in The Australian on Tuesday:
“Soccer joins the NRL and AFL in a year the three codes will be desperate to both forget and remember.”
Excuse me? Is Smith trying to say that this incident exceeds all of the positives moments for football listed above?
Incredible.
Smith is of the opinion that this incident was on par with the Essendon scandal. A scandal which involved the systematic use of performance enhancing supplements at a club in the highest level of their sport and implicated a former legend of the game in James Hird.
All the while, the AFL and Essendon management are playing Chinese whispers with the media and with the report.
Contrast this to the FFA, who hired sports betting watchdog Sportsradar to keep an eye on the betting market.
Sportsradar shared information with the FFA, who immediately passed this information onto the police. Sounds like it was seamlessly managed to me.
It would be great if Patrick Smith could stick to what he knows, which is AFL. His attempt to drag down football out of jealousy for the lousy year that the AFL has had sounds like a schoolyard child throwing a tantrum.
Anyone can see that football in Australia has had a great year and will only get better with the A-League soon to start again. Bring it on!
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Well I can't read his whole article but he states that football is part of the "big three" in the beginning of the piece so in a way that's a compliment.Football was"the fifth major code,always will be"in the past,if he is the football hater people make out at least he knows where the code sits now.
Paddo
Roar Rookie
And the wheels on the bus go round and round, !.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Paddo I say he is ignorant, based on his published comments.
Paddo
Roar Rookie
Who says he is ignorant about the machinations, the politics, management, the back room deals and reporting on scandals in sport, including SOCKAH. As i said, just because he does not understand the off side rule, or juggle a soccer ball, does not mean he cant comment on SOCKAH.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The problem with sports journalists, who don't follow SOCKAH, is that they don't undertake "meticulous research" - i.e. they are football-illiterate. Many of them proudly admit they are football-illiterate, before writing 1000 words on the subject, of which they are ignorant. "Meticulous research" should be the cornerstone for every professional journalist. "Reporting without fear or favour" is meaningless if you're an ignorant person, who hasn't got any knowledge of the subject matter.
Paddo
Roar Rookie
You said it ....... "reporting without fear or favour", but of course, you may only report on soccer if it is favourable !, or you can juggle a soccer ball.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"a journalist does not survive without recieving varying degress of condemnation or adulation, bland does not cut it." Nonsense. Pullitzer Prize winners are lauded because of their commitment to quality journalism - meticulous research, reporting without fear or favour & an ability to convey their thoughts through an easy-to-understand & compelling writing style. Journalists who rely on churning out daily content that annoys people are simply lazy.
Paddo
Roar Rookie
Journalism has always relied on how many hits they recieve, even the ABC, a journalist does not survive without recieving varying degress of condemnation or adulation, bland does not cut it. You honestly think that their is a brave new world of journalism ? ... not since the last 'brave new world', i suppose !.
realfootball
Guest
Just a silly old fella, well past his use-by date. In the brave new world of journalism, writers like Smith are judged on how many hits their piece's receive. Expect more articles like this.
jamesb
Guest
Simple advice for football fans...................just ignore Patrick Smith
Kasey
Guest
Enjoy this time ladies and gentlemen. The old media is dying and football is unquestionably on the up. Patrick Smith, Fitz-Simons, Wilson etc and their garbage matters not. For nigh on 20+ years the old media has ignored football, treated it with disdain, contempt or worse, used it as a big stick to brow-beat their captive audiences into following like lemmings the sports of the mainstream media's choosing: "You'd better get out there and support foody-ball-X or else the big bad Sokkah will get your kids!" Has it worked? like hell it has;) Picture the graph of the the ASX200; our sport may have its weak trading days, but like Australia's primary share-market index the overall 10 year trend of football is UP. The-anti Sokkah histrionics of Smith and his Trollumnist ilk have been about as effective as trying to stop the tide. AUS Football is coming off quite possibly its biggest year Domestically ever, did anybody not expect to see a few punches thrown in return? (especially after the scandal plagued year of the major footy codes) Our collective response ought to be..."really? Smith you hit like a child. Is that all you've got? Some lower league journeymen caught out by the FFA and the Police and who will face appropriate and severe punishment. Smith you are a garbage troll and over the next 10 years you can enjoy watching younger and more enthusiastic journalists/bloggers more in tune with the actual sporting landscape(where football is vibrant, relevant and accepted) taking over the opinion-making role you used to have. Enjoy irrelevancy. We no longer need or desire your approval or cheer-leading look how far we've come without it, we'll finish the journey on our own thank you.
c
Guest
foster should do an article on the efc " supplements " program :)
Avon River
Guest
OMG. Agreed. Just to add. Agree with others that Smiths comparison is a tad off the mark. The author of this article though does simlarly.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
*Then No idea why I can't edit my comments right after I post them.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
You're looking for the answer yes. Than I must say yes.
mahonjt
Guest
No only those who seem to spend their time telling everyone about it out of sheer insecurity. They inevitably demonstrate their ignorance (as Smith does here) and this is what identifies them as being bogans. I am pleased I was able to clear this up for you. You’re welcome.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Is everyone that doesn't like football a bogan?
peeeko
Roar Guru
You are completely right here Fuss, best to ignore them.
peeeko
Roar Guru
You are no better than Patrick white with comments like that
Australian Rules
Guest
I don't ;)