Doing Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC and Dreamtime Round stuff while turning a blind eye to figures in the football world doing blackface would turn the whole thing into a farce, right?
Blackface and other racist “jokes” aren’t an epidemic in the AFL. We’ve come a long way since Doug Nicholls felt he had to get changed on his own when he started at Fitzroy because of the way Carlton players had treated him. Hell, we’ve come a long way since Allan McAlister told Aboriginal players to “act like white players” and Nicky Winmar had to take a stand at Victoria Park in 1993.
There’s still a problem, of course, a race problem a little more sophisticated than what we used to see. With Adam Goodes, the people booing him because he was a proud and vocal Aboriginal man tried to scrape together plausible deniability. They could say “I don’t boo the other, less political black players” or “he dives for free kicks” – even though the first line of argument is bullshit and the second one is statistically unsustainable.
More:
» Eddie McGuire apologises – what they said
» Fantasising about murdering Caroline Wilson, on live radio
» Get the story straight about Eddie
If you feel like reading more about my thoughts on Goodes I’ll post a link in the comments. The point I’m making now is that the AFL community, the fans and officials and the players, are generally united around the idea that racism is as toxic as it is stupid, and we don’t want it in our game. If we are fair dinkum about that, then we need to make a stand when the chips are down. Every time.
When it comes to homophobia the sporting world has been a little slower off the mark. When Jason Akermanis suggested there were quite a few gay players in the league who felt obliged to remain in the closet, the reaction was mixed and confused. We condemned Harbhajan Singh for calling Andrew Symonds a “big monkey”, but ignored the fact he’s said it after Symonds had called him a “f***ing faggot”. But we are getting there, whether Sam Newman likes it or not.
One old timer once said of Bachar Houli – “it doesn’t matter if you have to pray a lot”. The same can be said of gay players in footy. Who you bring as your date to the Brownlow has no connection to your ability as a player, or your value as a human being. Unless, of course, you bring Brendan Fevola to the Brownlow.
The thing is we can talk about being enlightened all we want, but it doesn’t mean a thing if we don’t walk the walk.
Case in point. The AFL has enthusiastically embraced White Ribbon day and campaigns against violence against women. Rightly so. Since 2009 more women have been murdered in this country than Australian soldiers were killed in Vietnam. AFL is a massively popular code and has cultural weight. Our sport is a strong force for good – whether it’s on race, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse… We can make a positive difference.
Some have questioned the “rehabilitation” of Wayne Carey. In the late 1990s he grabbed the breasts of a passing woman in the street. In 2007 he smashed a glass into the face of his partner, Kate Neilson in Miami, then fought with security guards. In January 2008 he attacked police when they intervened at a domestic dispute.
Carey could have received 15 years in prison for the Miami offence. Channel Nine and 3AW sacked him. He’s now back on telly. He’s been careful, he’s been quiet.
Caroline Wilson cops a lot of shit. She’s a woman in a long-time male-dominated world and she doesn’t pull punches. No journalist should pull punches. If you do, you’re not doing your job.
When Eddie McGuire joked about putting in extra money if she drowned during a charity challenge, James Brayshaw said the promise would draw money “piling in everywhere” and Danny Frawley said he’d “jump in and make sure” she wouldn’t come back up after going under water.
Carey didn’t comment, but McGuire sought him out: “is Duck there?”
“Yes, I’m here mate.” And everyone was having a giggle.
What the hell?
It’s White Ribbon weekend. The comment about Wilson would have been out of line at any time, to any people, but to say it on that particular weekend – to Wayne Carey – showed the sort of callous disregard that McGuire demonstrated with his King Kong “joke”.
Brayshaw was an accomplice and Frawley particularly gross. Frawley, to his credit, has been apologetic. He not only apologised on telly on Sunday night and Monday, he contacted Wilson personally to do so – which is different from the usual “sorry if anyone was offended” crap.
McGuire, on the other hand was initially dismissive of concerns, calling it “playful banter”. Turn it up.
Whether it is race, gender, sexuality or violence – window dressing is not enough. It’s not about being “correct”, it’s about showing respect.
It’s time for McGuire and others to think about what they’re saying before the crap flows out and stains the carpet.
mdso
Guest
Sensationalism at its best, this drama about Caroline Wilson and Eddie McGuire et al. One of the most despised journo's in the AFL without a doubt. Inappropriate perhaps, but murder, whoever wrote needs to get their hand of it. Utterly ridiculous. Caroline by making herself part of the AFL Police puts herself into a position of being one with the AFL Police. She puts herself into a position where criticises others without mercy. Not only that has absolutely no conscience about what she is writing and how it will be perceive by the footballing public. If she is happy to dish it out, she got be happy to have it return. It is the Law of Karma. Caroline you are also a bully.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Perhaps you should take umbrage at the whole even then, as it aims to raise money through humiliating people. Eddie for all his faults was happy to be the butt of the joke this time around.
Pablo
Guest
The Eddie, Brayshaw and Frawley conversation is insidious in three respects. First, would they suggest pushing in and holding down a fellow male commentator (eg Wayne Carey, Barry Hall or Dermot Brereton). Unlikely, as they would be able to defend themselves and maybe turn the tables on any potential purportrators of any attempts of humiliation and attempted drownings. This tells me that the conversation is about a physically weaker person (who happens to be a woman). This is bullying. Second, Eddie suggested he and Brayshaw open their wallets to fund a show to humiliate a person. These are people with deep pockets and are suggesting they use their economic power to humiliate someone. This is bullying and it is irrelevant whether this person is a woman or not. Third, many of our commentary boxes (cricket, football, whatever) include a blokey conversation one could excuse if it was a pub conversation amongst mates. It is also an arena where the commentators (mainly former players) cuddle up to the players and officials to engender continued access to them. They stay clear of objective analysis, rather they talk in platitudes and offer excuses for their "mates". Eddie was critical of Caroline Wilson for daring to write a critical article after having given an interview. But that is what objective journalism is and the space that Caroline Wilson seeks to occupy. Her treatment seeks to get her to behave more like the other matey commentators who are reluctant to be critical. This is bullying too. It is intellectual bullying and is also irrelevant that Wilson is a women. The Eddie, Brayshaw and Frawley conversation is insidious because it involves bullying of a person. It is also insidious because she is a woman and it is bullying of a woman at a time when we are trying to reduce violence against women. Finally, you don't have to agree with everything Wilson writes. If so, you should seek to repudiate and correct her possible errors. You should not seek to engage in, or condone, bullying to get her to change her views.
vocans
Guest
Are the offended to have no right of reply? Are we not allowed to say who we think should be managing the affairs of the game we feel some stewardship for? Yes, free speech.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
http://www.theonion.com/article/the-nfl-is-deeply-concerned-about-domestic-violenc-37898
Red Dog
Guest
He also needs to realise the PC and the threats it harbours are a much bigger issue than a victimless joke .
Agent
Guest
This is what happens when you have an organization that rarely comes under scrutiny and deflects issues by playing the "at least we're not as bad as that other code" game. Ironically Caroline Wilson has played that card a number of times for the AFL.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No. I don't like the fact that she is the one journalist who constantly calls for the sacking of people. I dislike Robbo and he is much tamer in comparison. I dislike her because she actively tries to damage careers. She sticks to her guns... Even when proven wrong...
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
TWAS, I agree with you that CW had these comments about her, not because she is a woman but because she is a divisive journalist and many of her articles on a number of issues have been rather spiteful and vicious. If the comments were made (a) because she was a woman and/or (b) in the context of a domestic situation then of course the comments would have been inappropriate. We should respect CW's womanhood but that doesn't mean we have to respect her journalism.
Carl Spackler
Guest
Red Dog, you hit the nail on the head. With all the problems we have in the world and this non story is front page news is a joke in itself. I preferred the story about the Liberals ad using the so called builder with the 7k watch whinging about the potential loss of all the tax benefits he gets from being able to use negative gearing. Also about his undying love for the Australian banking system too and multinational companies that are too hard up to pay any taxes.
Justin
Guest
Absolutely spot on I think any call of calling it vindictive or childish are reasonable but this has nothing to do with Caroline Wilson being a woman. This is a battle of the egos within football and football media. Caroline Wilson, Mark Robinson, Eddie McGuire all incredibly narcissistic.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Giovanni , you express noble but utopian views whereby we should all live harmoniously in an egalitarian world. In reality we are all different and reserve the right to free speech regardless of who it offends. There is no doctrine , law , language or book which is absolute or universal on how we should conduct ourselves . You need to lighten up and thank your lucky stars you live in Australia !
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It's not Eddie's attitude towards "women". It's his attitude towards a divisive journalist. She just happens to be a woman.
Penster
Guest
Nailed it. Eddie isn't capable of good argument. Always seems like he's compensating for being a soft desk jockey, having never donned a pair of running shoes in his life.
Red Dog
Guest
Free speech is a thing of the past , replaced by a divisive Trojan horse ideology referred to as political correctness.
northerner
Guest
The "real" victims become real victims because people such as some on this thread treat the attitudes of the Eddie's of this world towards women and indigenous people as being a joke. So, those attitudes become okay down at the pub, and then they become okay in the stands and okay in the home. And then you have real victims all right. Free speech is a wonderful thing. Eddie and the rest get to make their comments, and then they get to deal with the backlash from people freely expressing their condemnation. If you don't like it, too bad. The world has moved on from the 1950s, and you need to try to catch up.
Red Dog
Guest
So called Victims of political correctness have become a billion dollar industry Whilst real victims are ignored , Another divisive article by an attention seeking lefty do gooder. Get a life you lot .
Kaks
Roar Guru
Spot on again TWAS.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
This pretty much sums up the AFL 'industry'. Happy to ride a wave of feel good community stuff but utterly gone missing when important issues arise. The AFL is a provincial game divorced from the broader world - and that's they way they like it. Nice and comfortable in 1950s thinking. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/20/eddie-mcguires-banter-exposes-the-rank-hypocrisy-of-afl-football "Lily-livered and worthy of scorn too are the initial statement of the AFL and the indecision of its chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, who also dropped the ball unforgivably in the early stages of the Goodes saga. The league has again proved itself incapable of an immediate and decisive solution to a problem unless it involves throwing vast wads of cash around. Of McGuire’s disgraceful “banter”, the league’s first statement added this highly problematic qualifier: “although seeking to be light-hearted, the language and tenor of the wording could be seen to be seen to be supporting violent attitudes or actions against women...” That is the sound of institutional gutlessness."
Jacko
Guest
Ok Giovanni I definately have a different opinion than you on this story from 9 days ago. Is that allowed or do I have to tell you if Im male or female before you can decide whether you should be offended or not. These Round names are all about giving the game some publicity which is about getting bums on seats ( and I dont mean unemployed bums) (oops is that ok to say/) which means more money in their pockets. Big storm maybe but its a little tea cup and it happened 9 days ago yet she only felt offended today. If you read some of the other articles on the ROAR you would find that she was sitting in the next radio broadcasting box having a good laugh along with everyone else. FAKE FAKE FAKE