The nation was in a state of shock upon hearing news of the death of Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh. The horrific crime was brought to bear in a domestic family dispute.
When a homicide involves a high profile individual, particularly in the southern states, it does reinforce the fact that a celebrity who excels in the field of sport is not immune to been victim of domestic violence.
The AFL quiet rightly cancelled the Adelaide versus Geelong game with each team receiving two points. It allowed the Adelaide players some private time to grieve and the AFL also sent a message that football needs to be put into perspective.
The remaining AFL matches went ahead as planned.
On the same day when Walsh was murdered, Collingwood and Hawthorn were due to play. Prior to the match starting there was a minute silence dedicated to the fallen Adelaide coach.
There was hardly any murmur or a squeak from the crowd. It prompted sports journalist Dan Elsom to report about the sombre funeral-type atmosphere at the MCG. However, not all of the article was written with the best of intentions in mind.
Elsom gave praise to the crowd by repeating what Bruce McAvaney said in commentary: “You could hear a pin drop, so respectful.”
But later in the article, Elsom stated this: “The moment was a stark contrast to the performance put in by rugby league crowds a few Wednesdays ago, but the less said about that the better.”
Elsom was referring to the State of Origin crowd at the MCG where a few idiots in a 90,000-plus strong crowd couldn’t control their behaviour during a minute’s silence tribute to track athlete legend Ron Clarke.
Now, over the years, especially on this site, we have had various code war articles comparing the two major football codes, AFL and NRL.
Comparisons between the two football codes have included crowds, TV ratings, and TV deals. Now, thanks to Elsom, you can add a minute’s silence to that list.
Where do we draw the line here?
When a person passes away from terribly tragic and brutal circumstances, we do need to put trivial matters aside. To use a cricket terminology, we have to let that go to the keeper.
Comparing silent tributes is very disrespectful to the families of Walsh and Clarke.
Was the article written on the basis of a point scoring exercise to make one code (NRL) embarrassed, humiliated and ridiculed? Or was it written to generate page views and hits?
Whatever the motive or agenda, it is disappointing on both counts.
Yet the irony here is that the match Elsom was referring to with regards to crowd behaviour was held in Melbourne, at the MCG, a venue synonymous with AFL.
Whether those fans were from interstate or Victorian born, at the end of the day, they were idiots who should have known better.
Although credit does need to be given to Elsom for mentioning in his article that last Friday night’s NRL match between Penrith and South Sydney did hold a respected minute’s silence to honour Walsh.
This author will further add that every NRL game last weekend observed a minute’s silence and on each occasion it was done diligently with all crowds behaving in the right accordance.
Which is kudos to all NRL fans. Prior to Walsh’s fateful demise, the majority of those crowds would not have heard of the AFL coach. But they did give respect to a life that had been lost and were sending thoughts and prayers to the deceased family.
If anything it has shown that communities from multiple sporting codes can unite, grieve and share upon reflection.
Honouring and paying tribute to a person’s life should be done with respect and dignity. It is not the time and place to compare football codes and hence start a code war, all in the name of page views and hits.
The families of Walsh and Clarke deserve better.
Jasper
Guest
Elsom at it again today. Making out that only the rugby codes and the NRL in particular have bad boys swinging arms. "Naturally, Maloney’s teammates reacted to the tackle in a fashion all too familiar to the rugby codes" http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/marty-taupau-tries-to-bite-roosters-player/story-fndv39ms-1227456159009
Casper
Guest
Reckon it was just another AFL aligned media sledge at NRL by Elsom, who just couldn't help himself, but it fell flat since there was every possibility it was a few AFL idiots acting up. It's typical of the AFL aligned media who are tightly managed so try to ingratiate themselves with the code hierarchy at every opportunity. I thought at the time that it was extremely disrespectful, given Clarke has history in Victoria and Qld, but who knows what drives crowd behaviours anymore.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well for your edification a court of law relies on evidence and facts/proof,not guesswork or hearsay.And when one makes allegations in public about a public issue,it is as you would say "commonsense" to suggest,evidence/proof is a hell of a lot more reliable than "because they are so & so blah blah blah". It reminds me of the clowns who noted ,that people who have tattoos are bogans less worthy.Yet the highest decorated VC soldier in this country in the Afghan war is covered in them,and has now secured a senior management position with channel 7. If I was accused(yet innocent) of making such a noise at the SOO and was thrown out,I would be playing merry hell to prove it was not me.Of course I'm in doubt as to the perpetrators and so are you if you really honest wioth yourself. Your evidence(I have to report) is no more reliable than the next person who did not attend.I find it amusing one who dislikes and doesn't follow rugby league, is an expert on fan involvement.Your comments in Big Footy hardly hide the bias.Yes there are spectators who are clowns in SOO and the NRL,just as there are following every sport. FYI I have not gone into denial mode,all I have done is spelt out the possibilities. .If you bother to have read one or two of my posts ,I propose the behaviour was a bad look for the code and I was embarrassed.If that is in denial,mate you better re write the Oxford Dictionary. I am in the" minority" who knows.I don't pretend to be in the minority,majority,just my view.I don't follow the leader,I take an independent considered view. Apparently you contacted the majority of the 91,000 to make such a claim. I tell you what, just because a person may be in the minority,doesn't mean they are wrong.Ask the minority who thought the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars were a mistake ATT.Turns out they were justified. Really we have Eddie,Dipper still retaining positions after stupid comments within the code. Racism was also a problem in rugby league,thank heavens it is not so now,except for the odd idiotic word spoken in frustration by a player.Having players from Indigenous ,Pacific Island and Maori ,plus European backgrounds ,has been mainly responsible for it not being an issue it once was.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I stated bordering on,that's a hell of a difference conchie. We have read all that stuff before about PI players,from others within your code. Some valid,some just plain rl code bashing.You are correct in this respect,you must have a hell of a lot of valuable time available,as the number of your posts would indicate.I would love to spend my valuable time on other codes' threads ,to defend rl at times.Would soon get shot shift. The original article by Elsom(a ru man born in England) was also to score points against rl.Few if any from other codes,acknowledged that fact.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Logic/rationale and it helps with decent evidence not hearsay or prejudices .All we have is a group of idiots among a throng of 91,500 ,of which 65% tickets purchased in Victoria. Not once have any of us narrowed down the field of culprits nor provided evidence ,except to suggest ,but it is commonsense because they yelled Queenslander and Gallen is a w**ker.Ergo Queensland rl fans. Based on your views, no one in Vic has access to prior live coverage of SOO games involving Gallen and the yelling of "Queenslander'.They have no idea what Queenslander means or who Gallen the NSW captain who decked Myles is.The SOO Melbourne TV ratings over the years must be false.No one reads the local press at this SOO time.Pull the other one. That is living in within a bubble ,naturally for someone not interested in rugby league. NB No one is going into denial,everyone knows and is embarrassed it happened.Just that no one knows by whom.You are here to point score nothing more. I will spell it out.It was a rugby league event,some loons tarnished it and also rugby league initially,from whence they originated no one has figured it out.Yet you have the answers. If they were rl fans they are idiots,if they are not rl fans they are idiots ,if they are fans of other codes playing silly b's they are idiots. All I know is a couple of days later ,all NRL clubs playing that weekend held a minutes silence for the slain Adelaide coach,and not a sound could be heard. And you are pompously lecturing me on" logic and commonsense" .
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Ccoder I didn't realise we were in a court of law. Why would you try to import legal concepts into this discussion. Common sense, logic and common experience all points in one direction doesn't it. You might be in doubt about what went on but you'd be in the minority. The AFL booing of Goodes isn't right but unlike you I won't go into denial or evasion mode when this is brought up. In truth it is a pretty complex issue. Some of the booing has a racial element no doubt, some of it is a protest for Goodes identifying a girl's racial taunt (some think he should have just let it pass), some of it is belligerence (fans not liking to be told not to do it by AFL media so they're just doing to take the piss) and some of it is protesting the way Goodes plays (staging for free kicks/sliding). I think some of it is mindless - people just jumping on the bandwagon. Whatever it is it's pathetic and it's nothing to be proud about. Aboriginal players in our game are generally lorded for their speed/skills (Rioli, Hill) but unfortunately there are still a few old knuckle-draggers at AFL games who'll very occasionally say stupid things. Petty rare these days thankfully.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Mate it's called common sense and logic. Vics were not going to be there chanting 'Queenslander' or 'Gallen is a $anker'. Wake up to yourself. I bet you'd be like the nightmare parent whose little Johnny never does anything wrong. Sometimes you have to take it on the chin mate when people in your corner don't behave - it's a lot better to do that than wasting effort, and credibility, going into denial mode.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Give it a break yourself, put up all the so called bordering racist comments, there was none, all in your mind as usual. My points are valid, and seeing as this so called article is nothing more than a cheap attempt to score points i will spend as much time as my valuable time allows.
conchie
Roar Rookie
That's my point James, you have attempted to create the impression that this is a AFL - NRL stoush, that's why you did not give his background, you attempted to pass him off as a AFL journo who was having a go at RL fans. And guess what ?, everyone thought he was, everyone thought he was a AFL journo and the comments that flowed and followed reinforced that falsehood. Had you stated that RU loving sports journo Elsom has a go at NRL fans, the whole slant of what you have attempted to pass off as a sports article would change. What don't you get ?.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Give it a break conchie.Some of your comments re PI players involvement ,bordered on racist. We get it ,you dislike rl intensely.Yet spend so much time and energy on a rl thread.That is also rather ironic.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Perhaps Nibke man,you could be so good as to pass on those thoughts to P FitzSimons ,so he too can see the "bigger" picture and get the message.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No, we have Peter FitzSimons to play his part in many instances and he is hardly an AFL journalist.Elsom is just another rugby man following in his footsteps ,it would appear. BTW he wouldn't be related to Rocky Elsom of Wallaby fame?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
You are not interested in rugby league or watch it ,as you have stated many times either directly or indirectly.Yet you are an expert on "who dun it" among a crowd of 91,500 .Common sense opposed to proof ,does not stand up in a court of law,I would suggest. " Thin skinned" yet you dived in here ,perhaps check you own backyard,racism has been doing the rounds of late in your code.Is that disrespectful? And they as sure as hell are not rl fans.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No we don't and stop pretending we do.If we did know 100% , the guys could well have been turfed out,banned whatever by officialdom. What we do know ,they are idiots of the highest order and are of the male persuasion. Again a rl poster ,moderated on a rl thread. For someone who states he doesn't watch or is not interested in rugby league,yet apparently knows the origin of the perpetrators out of 91,500,amazes me..
GoGWS
Roar Guru
But we do know don't we. We know it was pissed out of town RL supporters visiting the MCG for the first time. The occasion got to them and they started carrying on like peanuts.
jamesb
Guest
But I never said that he was an AFL journo. I stated that he was a sports journalist in the article, and in my previous post, was ample proof that he covers a wide range of sports. And very capable too. I am only debating his piece. Your debating his background. You thought that he only covers Rugby, and that's it. You probably have never heard of Dan Elsom before today anyway. And l'll repeat once again. I never said that Elsom was an AFL journo. I can't stop other peoples opinions or judgements.
conchie
Roar Rookie
I never mentioned that you were a insecure little boy, but now that you mention it !
conchie
Roar Rookie
Bashed up by the local RL thug !. LOL Oh the irony of that gem of a statement Bwuce LOL
conchie
Roar Rookie
"Now, over the years, especially on this site, we have had various code war articles comparing the two major football codes, AFL and NRL. Comparisons between the two football codes have included crowds, TV ratings, and TV deals. Now, thanks to Elsom, you can add a minute’s silence to that list." The above is your quote, quite clearly you are trying to create the impression that Elsom is a AFL journo and quite clearly everyone that posted and responded earlier in this thread was under the same impression. As i said, cheap, poor, point scoring crud.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Conversely and the ones(Vics) not among the most,that do know of Gallen and his exploits could have opened their gobs.We will never know.And unlike you I don't pretend to be an authority on who may have done so.It was p*ss weak by those who dod so. BTW decent numbers of Vics have been watching SOO in the past,where Gallen thumped the likes of Myles at ANZ.The Vic media made an issue of the punch up.