The Richmond Tigers must heed the advice of Kevin Bartlett and come down hard on Dustin Martin after his abhorrent behaviour on Saturday night, or they are, in effect, saying it’s okay to intimidate and make threats towards women.
Martin has apologised after he allegedly became aggressive towards a female patron of the Mr Miyagi restaurant, threatening to stab her with a chopstick, before slamming his hand next to her head after she said she would be informing the club of his behaviour.
One can only imagine how scary that would have been for the woman – referred to as ‘Tracey’ – with Martin’s frame allegedly standing over her.
Already on social media I’ve seen this incident made fun of by males, who also managed to put the blame back on Tracey, indicating she should have alerted the restaurant manager of Martin’s loudmouth antics, rather than take matters into her own hands.
It appears Martin was too drunk to remember the incident, so I’m more willing to believe Tracey. She says she simply asked if he could quieten down; a request that sent the Richmond player into a rage.
Martin admitted he was intoxicated, and was reportedly at the Stereosonic festival before making it out to the restaurant.
Of course, Stereosonic gets a bad rap in the media already, but that’s mainly for the drug culture. Most festival goers can take legal and illegal substances and still get through the day without making a physical threat of violence.
People like Martin, who can’t seem to control their actions while on the booze, should not drink and should accept they have a problem with alcohol.
The Tigers need to show that intoxication is no excuse for verbal abuse or threatening anyone, particularly a woman in public. If the Tigers don’t hand out a suitable punishment, then the AFL needs to step in and do more than they’ve done in the past (in 2009 Nathan Bock only missed a week of football after drunkenly assaulting his girlfriend).
The AFL, like most sporting organisations, has held its fair share of events to promote White Ribbon Day. While the organisation can’t control the actions of every player in the league, a strong stance needs to be taken or this incident becomes a precedent.
Richmond must step up as a club with a sizeable punishment, like the 12-month ban Bartlett suggests. Dustin Martin may be embarrassed that this has made the news, but at least he’s not traumatised like Tracey from the restaurant.
David
Guest
He has been cleared by Victorian police. Your minimum is looking more like a maximum now.
David
Guest
This morning Victoria Police have dismissed the incident and will not be laying charges. I would be extremely surprised if there was any ban at all now.
Paul D
Roar Guru
So the Roar is ok with baseless libel being published. Righto then.
Don Freo
Guest
Stereophonic events are well worth a query. Irresponsible organization frequented by irresponsible patrons. In this case, amidst speculation about how and why an AFL player would act the way he did, it is a connection well worth throwing into the mix. Martin was very quick to admit drunkenness. I think he believes it is the more socially acceptable explanation for being out of control. Funny pills are the more likely explanation.
Paul D
Roar Guru
That was in the original news report - usual gutter journalism, trying to infer he was on drugs most likely, given the high-profile drug deaths that have occurred at recent festivals. It's totally irrelevant to the case.
Liam O'Neill
Guest
Can someone please tell me , why it is necessary by most media to mention that Dusty was at a Stereophonic event or are they trying to infer something
Macca
Guest
George - I don't think the blues have issued a final punishment as yet - from what I read investigations were ongoing.
George
Roar Rookie
I haven’t seen whether Clem threw the first punch or not. But I will say the Blues ‘punishment’ of p___ weak.
Macca
Guest
That is true Train, everyone had options. Did you see that Clem Smith got involved in a drunken altercation that involved punches being thrown - do you advocate a 12 month ban for him as well?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Or you know, Marton could not have acted like a grade a c---head and that would have also prevented it...
Rod McShane
Guest
While Dusty Martins behaviour is totally unacceptable any fool knows that you cannot reason with drunk people. Antagonising him by threatening to go to the club and giving him direction was a wrong course of action taken by the young woman. The whole incident may not have escalated had she gone to the management and asked them to do something about his behaviour. The management of the restaurant needed to take responsibility for their patrons well being.
9 Monkeys
Roar Rookie
Sorry, I don't accept that women are wilfully killing men using the apparatus of the Family Court or their priivate relationship settlements. I do accept that many men are hard done by or at least greatly aggrieved by these arrangments, but that has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Via child support and alimony , yes !
The Original Buzz
Guest
Violence is not acceptable at all, regardless of who the victim is. I agree that more needs to be done about domestic violence but this was not domestic, it was public. Drunken, violent behaviour in public needs to be dealt with severely and a message sent out that it is not going to be tolerated by anyone (except politicians, they can do what ever they like and get away with it). I think a high profile case like this would be a good example to send out a strong message. There is too much tolerance and political correctness nowadays and something needs to be done to pull these idiots into line to stop it happening.
johno
Guest
What's Dustin Martins favourite tune? Chopsticks!
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
My comment is not an argument but an observation born out of professional experience . Many things in society are mutually exclusive and domestic violence has many reciprocal/interdependent variables . Statistics are very misleading ! Most men don't report being physically abused by women as society conditions men to repress it and " get on with it". This is Australia, men are hugely defined by masculinity not cowering to authorities about unstable women. Men have a disproportionate rate of suicide compared to woman - and domestic violence against them by women is a trigger.
9 Monkeys
Roar Rookie
Are women killing men at an average of one a week?
Ryan
Guest
Despite the many innaccuracies in your post, thats just not how the system works. Sorry.
Macca
Guest
Penster - "No, the restaurant is not legally bound to deal with such behaviour, beyond refusing service, asking the patron to leave and calling police if required." So beyond actually dealing with the issue the restaurant isn't legally bound to deal with the issue? What you describe as the restaurants responsibilities are exactly what should have happened here and it would have prevented the assault of a young woman.
Macca
Guest
"She was essentially doing him a favour, rather than reporting him to management also" So she was so concerned about him that she didn't want to report him to the management and get him kicked out of the restaurant but she was willing to call his employer and have him sanctioned? And while the woman does have the right to "feel comfortable approaching a man in a public place" that doesn't relieve her of the ability to use common sense and judge the risks of her actions - i have the right to cross the road safely with the lights but if I saw a car driving erratically and at excessive speed I wouldn't step out in front of it. I have said repeatedly the only person to blame for Martins actions are Martin - I am just simply observing that it was forseeable he might react negatively to being told to pull his head in and it would have been safer for all concerned to approach it in a different manner,