Despite the persistent ‘family friendly’ part of the game encouraged by the AFL, issues around race, gender, sexuality and now mental health still affect the sport.
With the AFL battling on multiple fronts to combat the often-ugly side of the culture that surrounds sport, the Easter Monday ‘sledge’ on Geelong footballer, Mitch Clark, is just another example.
Clark quit football in April 2014 struggling with depression, but has since returned. However in a recent match against Hawthorn, it was reported that he was the subject of on-field attacks relating to his mental health.
Clark later stepped away from his complaint to Geelong captain, Joel Selwood, saying he was “embarrassed” by reports of the incident and that he did not want to pursue the matter. Although the AFL has attempted to investigate the incident, football operations manager Mark Evans said there is nothing that can be done without an official complaint.
While this may be true, this incident cannot be allowed to be swept under the rug. While the AFL has developed inclusiveness through policies, programs and themed rounds – such as #FOOTY4IDAHO, ‘Racism: It Stops With Me’ and Indigenous Round – it appears little is getting through to the average fan and player.
Legendary North Melbourne footballer and mental health advocate Wayne Schwass described those responsible for the attack on Clark as “uneducated and ignorant”.
Many superstar athletes such as Serena Williams, Andrew Flintoff and Kelly Holmes have battled with mental illness, while others such as Kenny McKinley, Gary Speed, Robert Enke and former Carlton footballer Rhett Bayes took their own lives as a result.
The inability or unwillingness to act is doing a great disservice to all those affected by mental health problems. The AFL has made ground in rooting out racism, sexism and homophobia, but allowing Clark’s treatment to go unpunished sets a dangerous precedent.
Speaking about his 2014 retirement, Clark said, “the way that I am, I bottle a lot of things up and keep things quite close to my chest, and I realised that’s not good for anyone.”
While Clark may just want to move on from this incident, perhaps the matter should be taken out his hands, for the benefit of all.
If you are struggling with mental health issues or depression, organisations like BeyondBlue can help. Click here for more.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Interesting argument which i do agree with. If it did happen i would like to know if a) Clark only mentioned what went on to Selwood and he has made it a bigger deal then it should be or b) Clark complained to Selwood and decided not to pursue it because he didnt want the attention if A then i have a big problem with that. Others should not dictate what is right or wrong if the person who was directly affected by it did not give a hoot.
Axle an the Guru
Guest
If Clark wants to leave it on the ground, then that where it should stay. It's not up to anyone else to carry on on his behalf. He should be left alone,if he says drop it,then drop it. There is no reason to keep going with this,just because he is old school,and not like half the other sooks running around out on the ground,in the modern game.
yewonk
Guest
http://mobile.news.com.au/national/western-australia/investigation-west-coast-eagle-nic-naitanui-racially-abused-at-western-derby/story-fnii5thn-1227311974794 it is a problem.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
Dean, your Point 1 is where I find the whole discrimination thing a bit inconsistent and hard to rationalise. One story (and I have no idea whether it is true) was that Lake and Clark were both verbally sledging each other big time. Hypothetically if this is true (and forget that it's Clark and Lake, because that's irrelevant) where is the cut-off point? If they are sledging, they are both trying to get under each other's skin. We're not allowed to sledge somebody for being 'different' (e.g. gay, black, mentally ill, etc.) but we can sledge them for being weak in their attack on the footy, or for being a nobody, or for being an Accountant! Where is the line? It's a bit unfair to expect Lake to not respond (hypothetically) to Clark's sledging, by sledging him back with words that are more cutting - because isn't that the point of what they're doing?
Frank R
Roar Rookie
Hudson Brown - another reality check is needed: "Well as Clark reported the matter to Joel Selwood who then raised his concerns," Selwood blurted this out on The Footy Show!. This is the appropriate forum to raise these matters? To be honest doing it that way was a dog act. Selwood should have said to Clark - mate we will address this through our Club and the official AFL channels. If Clark objected to that, then the matter should have left alone; unless another Geelong player heard the same slurs and wished to take it upon themselves to complain through the official channels.
AR
Guest
Well said Dean. I'm also curious as to why this story is being rehashed 2 weeks after it allegedly happened.
Hudson Brown
Roar Rookie
Thanks Dean, Fair and reasonable points, 1) My assertion with this article was that the AFL have cracked down on racism, homophobia, etc, and that the AFL should be doing the same with mental health 'sledges'. 2) Well as Clark reported the matter to Joel Selwood who then raised his concerns, I think it's fair to say that something amiss was said. 3 & 5) I chose not to mention Lake for that reason. My issue was that historically, as seen with other sporting codes, athlete mental health (and therefore suicide) is an issue, and the AFL needs to stamp out this sort of behaviour/culture around mental health. I agree that this matter did need to be handled better by the club, it's players and the media. However, I'm saying that the AFL needs to have an overhaul on this sort of behaviour, and just because we don't know all the facts of this one, singular case - it does not change that fact. This issue is just a catalyst - or it should be - for a change in behaviours. It's all well and good to say we don't know what happened, but in reality, we know enough to know that someone has been insulted/discriminated against based on a mental health issue. Cheers.
Daws
Guest
Unfortunately more was made of the incident than any statement by the AFL to reassert that those 'potential' comments are not welcome any where near a football field.
TomC
Roar Guru
I largely agree. But you don't need to 'admit' to be being gay. This was, as you say, poorly handled. While I respect the writer's good intentions, I don't think making this issue even more public would help us deal with it better. It's also important that when vilification occurs, we don't further disempower the victim by making a public spectacle of it against their wishes.
Dean
Guest
Okay Hudson Brown, a couple of things. Firstly, I am currently being treated for depression through medication and seeing a psychologist. I will also admit that I am gay. I have told myself that I am not going to put up with any more crap from anyone from now on. Regarding Mitch Clark: 1. What is his opponent allowed to say to him, that doesn't cross the line in your opinion? 2. We don't know if anything awful was said to him. 3. We don't know which, if any, Hawthorn player said anything that they shouldn't have. 4. It was very silly of Wayne Schwass to have that knee-jerk reaction on Twitter, considering he doesn't know any of the facts. 5. Brian Lake ended up being the Hawthorn player that was named in the media, only for Mitch Clark to say that he never named Lake. This needed to be handled much better by the Geelong Football Club and it's players, as well as some "journos" in the media.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
It's quite obvious that Clark doesn't handle media attention well, and he knows any formal look at the incident (which has been vigorously denied) will turn into a circus. Geelong has long been a bit of a haven for players who find the media spotlight difficult. This is a situation where we don't have even so much as half the facts, and unless we are walking in Clark's shoes, or are mental health professionals with appropriate context, I don't really think we have much right to comment on what action should be taken.