It’s Tuesday morning, and we’ve had a little while to stew on the Alex McKinnon 60 Minutes interview. It’s time to canvas opinion on the subject.
I put myself in a few different places and asked people from different walks of life but with a common interest in footy about it in an attempt to encapsulate the mood.
I grabbed breakfast at my local café, popped in to see my butcher and chatted to the footy head I know down at the service station.
To my surprise, opinion was very much divided among my mates during the screening of the Liz Hayes feature.
One said: “This 60 Minutes beat up on Cameron Smith is out of line. He should at least be afforded the opportunity to present his side of the story.”
Another replied: “It is Alex’s story, not a political debate, there’s no need for balance and he can say what he wants.”
Then finally: “Cam Smith has always been a grub. He’s been a media darling for years which is why he’s been able to get away with stuff for so long.”
Interesting.
A quick scan of my Twitter feed also was scathing of Cameron Smith for his role that fateful night in March 2014. But it was also balanced by many, wondering why he wasn’t sought out for comment.
My trip around the local area this morning also produced mixed views.
At the café I deliberately perched myself behind a group of retired gents who regularly gather to discuss the world’s problems. High on the agenda this morning was Alex McKinnon.
“Cameron Smith is right, the bloke did duck his head,” said one.
“It shouldn’t matter what he did with his head, it was an illegal tackle,” countered another.
“McKinnon’s the one in the wheelchair, if he wants to have a crack at Smith he’s entitled to,” bellowed the third member of the quartet.
“I tell you what, he’s landed a gold mine with that bird of his. She’s a saint,” fired the fourth bloke.
Next stop the butcher: “Mate, that Alex McKinnon stuff was heavy going last night.
“I reckon Cameron Smith would’ve lost a few fans.”
“He came across as a heartless bastard, why couldn’t he make a call to the young fella?”
Finally, my old mate at the servo: “What a stitch up on Cameron Smith.
“I don’t think that was fair.
“McKinnon is entitled to have his say, but Smith should get a chance to defend himself,” he concluded.
My view is the story that aired was about tragedy, love, mateship and courage. It didn’t need to smear the Australian captain, despite the obvious resentment by the McKinnon family towards Cameron Smith.
I don’t blame the Melbourne skipper for his on-field reaction. It’s his job as captain of a professional sporting team to try and gain the best possible advantage for his team in any given situation.
He couldn’t have known the extent of Alex’s injuries in the heat of battle despite McKinnon being carted off on a stretcher. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
My issue is the lack of compassion in the 15 months afterwards.
Cameron Smith should’ve made a better effort to reach out to Alex instead of a couple of failed attempts immediately afterwards when it must have been extremely raw for the McKinnons.
I’m sure we’ll hear his side of the story in coming days.
The part that made me feel most uncomfortable was the constant replaying of the tackle itself. I understand the need for setting the scene to create the emotion but one view was enough before my stomach began to do somersaults.
The heroes in this story in my eyes are Tiegan Power and Korbin Sims. All anyone can hope for in life is to always have the unwavering support of your partner and the backing of your mates. People who ride the emotional wave with you through the peaks and troughs. Alex McKinnon has it in spades, and in that sense is a lucky bloke.
Alex McKinnon’s life journey will be a long, tough and expensive battle.
Ultimately if the controversy surrounding the interview means it sells more books it can’t be a bad thing.
I hope over time the wounds will heal enough for Alex McKinnon and Cameron Smith to work through their issues. Life’s too short for grudges.
Ken
Guest
Mals mate I want to point out that at the time even the channel 9 commentators questioned why he ducked his head ,so not just smith but the two channel 9 commentators said the same thing at the time the 3 lifting tackles against the storm 2 were higher and more dangerous than the McKinnon one in that game all players put their arm out as is normal and landed on their chest and forearms ,seriously when your fall forwards you always put your arm out to break the fall ,he had a ball in one arm and his other arm free but he tucked his head at the last second for some reason ,the channel 9 commentators said so at the time it's on YouTube but hey we all see what we wanna see hey
marco
Guest
Channel 9 makes me sick. Smith got it wrong and its not a good look. But to bring it up just to try and promote a SOO game is appalling. Listen to the game on the radio.
Birdy
Guest
Well said Jay, short and to the point. But I must add, go the blues. Blues by 10!
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
It not a coincidence the Storm are behind a broken neck. Cam smith, Bellamy train deliberately to injure players and should be sued.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Well said.
lester
Guest
That's because it was McKinnons Fault. It was no "Freak Accident", it happened because he ducked his head.
scouser4life
Roar Rookie
i might be a cynic. every time someone has a book release coming up they generate some media interest by getting one controversial issue highlighted so everyone talks about it and hopefully book sales get boosted.
Jay C
Roar Guru
It is sad that the headlines of the last few days haven't been dominated by the real story of the incredible strength and determination of Alex and his lovely fiance, as well as their families.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Things don't need to have a fault. someone doesn't have to be blamed. It is an interesting part of modern culture that we refuse to accept accidents. Someone must be held accountable. Because it is probably too hard to hold the tacklers accountable, Smith is an easy target. Hindsight is 20/20 but looking at the tackle, there are worse looking tackles in every game, and in every one of them there is a Captain arguing with the referee.
dayer
Guest
nrl KNEE JERK REACTION IN MY OPINION.
Mals
Guest
I haven't read Alex's book. How many chapters are devoted to Cameron Smith? So he's not allowed in his own book to express his feelings about the tackle and the way the captain of the opposing team reacted after the tackle?
Mals
Guest
He is the captain of the team that caused the injury through an illegal tackle. He tried to blame the injury on McKinnon himself. That is cause enough to apologise and check on McKinnon's well being at an appropriate point in time.
Roarsome
Guest
Smith was simply stating that there were several other lifting tackles in the same game where players were put in a worse position than Alex which went unpenalised.
lester
Guest
No what brings the game into disrepute is the mud slinging from players through the media. Smith has done his job, he's not responsible for McKinnon's injury nor is he his captain and yet he is getting his name dragged through the mud for the sake of book sales.
lester
Guest
The mods are more interested in protecting the ad revenue of their glorified blog then allowing actual discussion these days.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Watching that 60 minutes program, one of the main points to come out was the awesomeness of Teigan Powers. Alex is very lucky to have someone like that in his life. Instead though we have this beatup on Cameron Smith which has split support for/against Alex Mckinnon instead of what should have been 100% backing of him and his families efforts through this disaster. Why 60 mins and Alex in his book would focus on the Cam Smith issue just does not make any sense. As other's have said, he's entitled to his opinion but I just think it doesn't do him any good in his efforts to move forward.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Not as poor as Smiths behaviour, All 60 minutes did was show how the Mckinnons felt about it all.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
I watched the interview, did you ? the game was held up for 15minutes and he was still debating as he was carried of 10 minutes after the tackle. Very Very poor imo. How would you feel if you knew you had a broken neck and the captain of the opposing team still kept blaming the victim. And lets cut the BS. Smith knew how bad it was, every one who watched the game had a sick feeling in thier gut when it happened.
WQ
Guest
"I recall Slater being involved in a collision" That statement is the exact reason Slater was so concerned, it has nothing to do with anything other than his direct involvement in the collision he felt directly responsible and hence the way he acted. I have no doubt had Cameron Smith been directly involved the same reaction would have occurred.
WQ
Guest
I will not watch the show again Von Neumann whilst they continue to dish up rubbish like that