Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is a very lucky man. Lucky that he is not working in the NRL, because chances are he would not have a job by the end of this week.
For those not in the know, Clarkson was accosted by a drunken lout in the aftermath to Saturday’s Hawks versus Power game at Adelaide Oval.
There is grainy, mobile phone footage of Clarkson’s altercation with the so-called ‘fan’, taken as he was entering the team’s hotel base an hour or so after the Hawks’ loss.
It looks as though the coach either pushed or maybe even punched his tormentor as he was about to enter the hotel foyer.
There is definite physical contact, but the bulk of the AFL’s media are pretty much in accord that the high-profile coach was ‘challenged’, and that his actions were in self-defence.
Obviously, I wasn’t there, but I do feel that if something similar happened on NRL turf, all hell would have broken loose.
Let’s say a Jason Taylor, Michael Maguire or Ricky Stuart had whacked an unruly fan over the weekend. It would have been recorded as one of the code’s biggest scandals. An 8.9 on the Richter bad boy scale.
On Channel Nine, Danny Weidler would have suggested this was tantamount to the second darkest day in Australian sport. Radio’s Ray Hadley would have been breaking his neck to express his disgust. The Daily Telegraph? World War 3 headlines on the back of a truly brilliant Anzac weekend.
It’s not anywhere near that bad, but amazingly Clarkson looks like escaping without major penalty. There’s little or no chance he’ll be sacked or suspended. He might cop a wrist-slap fine but from my very limited knowledge of the AFL, that’s not even a given.
The coach clearly has anger management issues – his rap sheet isn’t pretty – but the AFL authorities will tut-tut publicly before sweeping the incident under the carpet, never to be mentioned again.
Hawks chief executive Stuart Fox witnessed the Clarkson incident and stated publicly that the coach had handled the situation “really well”.
Really? Well…
Here is a senior AFL coach whacking an unruly fan/yobbo an hour or so after a loss and he is said to handle things “really well”. The rugby league media would have grilled Clarkson from breakfast to dinner.
He would not have a media pack explaining away his actions as ‘self defence’, nor would the officials at his club have been on the front foot defending his actions.
If a similar incident happened in rugby league, the miscreant coach would be formally asked to show cause why he should retain his job. And I believe he would be sacked before his club’s next game.
As a head coach, Alastair Clarkson holds one of the highest stations in the AFL code and he must be seen to act appropriately at all times.
Granted, senior figures in sports – coaches, players and officials – can be victims of verbal and possible physical abuse from so-called fans at any time, but they know they have to show an almost impossible restraint or face dire consequences.
Clarkson had his personal space invaded but stepped way over the line.
He is lucky he is not plying his trade in rugby league. He’d be unemployed by the coming weekend.
Jrod
Guest
Well done jay. The Chinese were first on the moon. Just ask the (Chinese) president
Jrod
Guest
Here here. Joke article from a code lover who fails to compare all the stuff that the nrl players make headlines for (and afl players don't) Genuine garbage. These boofhead bogans have no idea
Warren Cooper
Roar Guru
AFL coaches would get massive fines, let alone sacked if they accosted an umpire the Stuart accosted that referee.
Warren Cooper
Roar Guru
Isn't rugby league a northern English game? Truly and uniquely Australian ... no.
Warren Cooper
Roar Guru
Really Crosscoder ... you can not see the difference between indecently assaulting a woman and defending ones self against a drunken lout? And verbally accosting a referee is acceptable, while defending yourself against a drunken lout is unacceptable? I don't know what the big deal is, Clarkson himself said he could have handled it better, yet I question all the finger pointers and say "What would you have done if you were Clarkson?" Like get real! Funny you mention second chances ... Taylor might have been sacked by the Rabbitohs, but he's back coaching Wests Tigers. As far as the AFL media goes - you simply have know idea about the Melbourne AFL media fishbowl - why do you think Tony Lockett ended up at the Sydney Swans in the 1990's? Or why Gary Ablett Jr ended up the Gold Coast Suns ... a million dollar a year contract ... yes. But it had to more than just about the money, since he signed on to stay there. That is just a couple of many examples. Ben Cousins was chased from pillar to post in both the Perth and Melbourne AFL media's. Wayne Carey was crucified. Gary Ablett was crucified and there was a bit of an uproar when he was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame. Tony Lockett used to get news crews turn up at his parents farm ... To say players, coaches or administrators do not get crucified in the AFL press and media - is a massive stretch. Plus I'm an NSW based, born and bred AFL supporter. I'm well versed in NRL news. It's inescapable.
Warren Cooper
Roar Guru
Blake Ferguson indecently assaulted a woman and was criminally convicted, while Clarkson defended himself against a drunken yobbo - and I'm clutching at straws? You've got to be kidding right? I'm guessing by the intelligence of your comment - probably not.
Freighter
Guest
It's crazy that all these people on the public record suggested Ckarkson "just through out a hand". I think that movement may be called a punch in the unbiased world of many. the guy probably got what he deserved, but please, let's not recreate what happened.... It was a punch followed up by a push and grab of the neck.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Petty article, petty journo. pretty simple really.
Jeremy
Guest
FOX FOOTY host Gerard Whateley added fuel to the fire, claiming Gallen would have copped a 12-week ban, reduced to nine, if he did what he did in an AFL match “But in the world of the cavemen, you get one week,” Whateley said on AFL 360.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Can't believe I missed this article. Wonder why it is that there's such a double atandard between League & Aussie rules? Everything seems to be treated differently by the mainstream media.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I agree Pot Stirrer. It doesn't matter what walk of life you are from, you should not have to put up with a drunken yob getting in your face. I can't for the life of me work out why anyone would be defending the behaviour of the drunken yob.
Bruce
Guest
Exactly right TT and WB. Poor old Dick Ricnick and his captive mates have predictably gone into bat for anything and everything to protect the phenomenon. I actually fell sorry for the poor buggers - there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
You know exactly what I'm talking about Tim.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Cheers GPR
Tim Prentice
Expert
What do you want Rick? Columns written the way you want? I offered my point of view and on this site, you can take it or leave it. Rick: Did you not see mention of the incident, AFL media, NRL media? I thought I made it crystal clear how I felt the media machines would react if a high profile RL coach assaulted an unruly fan. I feel you are being highly over-sensitive and very 'wordy' for one who doesn't usually comment on these type of forums. Feel free to launch free hits at me because the site classifies me as an 'expert.' You are not the first. It's the nature of the beast. Thanks anyway for reading my column and also for your stoic AFL defence. I did not set out to promote a code war. The Clarkson incident wasn't huge in NSW or Queensland but in my opinion, it would have received heavy treatment if an NRL coach was the subject.
The truth
Guest
Great point waterboy, as long as they are seen to be doing the correct thing, the loyal followers will be happy to follow what their masters say.
waterboy
Guest
The AFL crucify a young girl who makes an ambiguous comment about a player being a monkey or gorilla. yet a coach commits what is blatantly in the eyes of the law an assault and he receives no sanction. Go figure......
steveng
Roar Rookie
Just Media hype, and of course anyone has the right to defend themselves against out of control louts and hooligans who get a few beers into their gob and think that they are world beaters and can get away with anything. That boofhead would have gotten more from me then just a push, and surely there must be security employed by these clubs so that any incident like this does not happen on or off the field.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#togz A couple of ironies here. 1. so much of current TV media is based out of Sydney - national programs like the Today and Sunrise brekkie shows in particular. 2. there are more 'journos' covering AFL than there are players. That means there is NEVER a shortage of angles taken. [There's never a single 'company' line taken. Sure - there are higher profile media people - however on the Essendon/ASADA there was no shortage of angles and attack and non-company line across the range of Caroline Wilson, Patrick Smith, Mark Robinson, Rohan Connelly and John Ralph to name a few.] The incident was reported widely in the Melbourne papers and spoken about on radio. By the time Radio SEN has a topic for a day or two pretty well everything has come out. Sydney lacks a decent sports radio station and is still driven too much by their 'talk back radio' hosts who have a varied and colourful history.
AR
Guest
I'm referring to what's on public record, from Clarkson, Fagan and other witnesses, as well as the broad coverage that this has received.