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Darren Jolly’s parting shot at his former coach only serves to damage his own reputation.
Speaking this week about his sudden exit from Collingwood, the 237-gamer labelled Magpies coach Nathan Buckley a “coward” for the manner in which he handled the delisting.
Amongst Jolly’s claims was Buckley’s reason for sacking him – the ruckman’s ageing body could no longer stand up to the pressures of AFL – was based on false pretences, and the real reason for the split was down to a personality clash.
Wednesday’s outburst from the dual-premiership player came as a shock to fans who are accustomed to seeing a consummate professional and well-spoken figure in the media.
While it is refreshing to hear a footballer speak his mind in today’s cliché-driven world, Jolly’s tirade stinks of sour grapes from a person who is upset his sporting career appears over.
Very few people ever reach the status of a professional AFL coach, and so most would never fully understand the difficulties that must come with informing a player his time is up.
Although Jolly seems intent on blaming others for his own demise, the simple fact is his body was succumbing to injuries in recent years.
This culminated in a 2013 season which saw him play just nine senior games due to a dodgy knee.
The fact no club decided to take the risk with the former Melbourne and Sydney stalwart in this week’s rookie draft is further testament to the belief Jolly no longer offered enough to be given a spot on an AFL list.
More to this, teenager Brodie Grundy emerged on the scene for Collingwood during the 32-year-old’s hiatus last season and proved himself as a more-than-capable ruckman to replace Jolly in the years ahead.
Standing in stark contrast to Jolly’s show of unprofessionalism was the coach himself, Nathan Buckley, and his response to the “coward” tag on a breakfast radio program on Thursday morning.
In his interview, Buckley refused to be drawn into a slanging match with his former big man.
Instead, the Magpies coach showed class by coming out in defence of Jolly, sympathising with him over what is undoubtedly a difficult period for any professional sportsman whose career is having the curtains drawn on it.
While Jolly is receiving sympathy from the man he levelled criticism at, it is unlikely those who idolised him in the black and white over the past four seasons will be as forgiving.
As stated by Magpies President Eddie McGuire, who weighed into the debate on Thursday, Jolly’s comments were offensive to “most people in the Collingwood family”.
Of course, once you’ve crossed a Pies fanatic, it is hard to win them back.
Taking advice from the very person you are angered by may seem like a bit of a slap-in-the-face, but Jolly could learn a thing or two about respect and professionalism from his old coach.
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