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When Brooke Cotchin spoke out in defence of her husband, Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, on social media, there was a mixed response.
No doubt, Richmond has been called ‘soft’ more often than any other club. Right now, they’re under scrutiny – yet again, but an entire football team’s performance, or lack thereof, isn’t totally defined by their captaincy.
It’s a team sport, but some players are unfairly targeted when the chips are down. Cotchin is a classic example.
When does intense media scrutiny of an individual player become a form of targeted bullying?
Three-time Brisbane Lion premiership player Jonathan Brown commented that the WAGs should “stay out of it.” He said, “obviously Richmond are going through a tough time…we just want to be big boys, we want to be men and it’s a man’s game.”
Okay, so there we have it. In a nutshell, according to Brown, WAGs shouldn’t utter a word about football or their men, who happen to play this ‘man’s game.’
Maybe a media gag should be put in place, for fear of the little women speaking out of turn. You know what? Maybe we should realise we’re in 2016 and this type of close-minded, chauvinistic, ‘blokey’ response, is not OK.
Historically, football may well be a man’s game, but as the saying goes, “behind every great man, there’s a great woman.” Football doesn’t begin and end on a field. Players have lives, wives and a family.
Many WAGs have their own careers. They’re not just a pretty face or an accessory on Brownlow night. These women are partners of professional athletes. They raise their children.
There’s a generation of little boys, sons of today’s champions who will qualify under the father-son rule and play for the same club as their famous fathers. These women are raising those little boys.
They’re in the trenches every day, good, bad or indifferent.
Just recently, Jesinta Cambell, fiancée of Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin, articulated herself beautifully during Franklin’s mental health issues. The media, and the public, wanted to know what was going on.
Franklin had suddenly withdrawn from the end of the 2015 season in order to deal with an unspecified mental illness as well as a mild form of epilepsy. The announcement was a shock to everyone. At the time, Franklin wasn’t available for comment.
Campbell, was his only mouthpiece. It was a private time, but Campbell gracefully obliged in answering the questions that came, despite being emotionally spent herself.
Double standards? Absolutely! It appears that it’s only OK to speak when asked. Only then is it wanted, relevant and within the boundaries of being acceptable.
Brooke Cotchin did nothing wrong. Her message was that of a loving wife supporting her husband. She wrote:
“Every week you go out and give your all. To have to listen to the constant criticism you have had to put up with especially of late has been incredibly hard. Those closest to you know just how dedicated you are to your football club and teammates on and off the field. As a wise man once told me ‘People’s opinions are none of our business’. We love you and are proud of you”.
Wives and girlfriends make sacrifices too. They have every right to speak their mind. After all, they do have one!
When a wife or girlfriend publicly defends her husband or partner, is that as demasculating as it gets? Something has to be said for loyalty, right?
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