Australian football is eating itself from within

Okay Stuart, let's see if you're actually being sincere, or just pretending to be. By all means, mention this little double negative, along with why it's inappropriate. I really am quite chuffed at the opportunity to be educated by a school teacher. Please don't avoid it for a third time, just educate me if you're confident I'm wrong. "I consider myself a good person" Then you should have no issue providing evidence to support this comment: "I stand by the claim that you are a part of a crack team determined to question and bring down the game" I've made thousands of comments on the football forum. It shouldn't be hard to reference where I've questioned or tried to bring the game down should this be the case. A good person would apologise if such evidence can't be provided.

Many (Most?) readers would already know of 'Godwin's Rule' which is that a weblog thread has stopped being worthwhile once Hitler or the Nazis have been cited. Maybe the letters 'AFL' are the Godwin point in a soccer thread?

Rick is trying to prove he is right and someone else is wrong again. Always a joy to have this forum clogged up with your BS.

'otherwise; once again showing this forum beholds the highest level of hypocrisy & hypocrites known to man'. Rick - you are a harsh man. From someone who thinks they are the ultimate intellectual but doesn't contribute much to the site. You know you unjustifiably in love with yourself. And you really aren't that clever. And you really need to work on your jokes.

Yes LH, I can't remember the last time I saw something remotely violent at a Roar home game. Occasional over the top swearing, there is simply no BS at Suncorp. Let's hope it stays that way.

Don't worry Stuart, your articles are written in a different style to Rick's one or two, keep going. They are a good read.

Agree, on the antics to have international sportspeople while in Melbourne catch an AFL ball, is definitely cringeworthy.

You didn't like the vid I see. :)

#Waz (please read - I've put some effort into this and I'm trying to avoid code vs code rubbishing etc) As it is - the Banana incident. The lady was treated thus: Wide coverage in all the media - so, firstly no sweeping under the carpet. (however - I recognise that sometimes it might be best to not draw too much attention to some incidents). Club: “We will revoke her membership,” “It’s against the law No. 1 and against our code of conduct.” She was banned indefinitely from Power Games. She was offered 'education' The player: Eddie Betts (Adelaide player against whom the banana and 'monkey' slurs were directed) stated that he forgave her and doesn't want her banned for life etc and should be welcomed back to the footy. “This is all about education, it’s never too late to learn,’’ said Betts. “No one is born racist ... it’s ingrained in them somewhere down the track. “It all comes down to that, to be educated.” Ironically - Throwing bananas at black players has been notorious as a racist attack in European and English football since the 1970s and ’80s. Stadium: “The Adelaide Oval takes these matters very seriously. Racial vilification is totally unacceptable,” “Whether or not it is racially motivated, the hurling of objects is absolutely banned at the Adelaide Oval.” Stadium authorities would enforce a ban, if that penalty was imposed on the spectator by Port Adelaide and the AFL. Any total ban from Oval events, if requested, would be discussed with Cricket Australia. It was a Port Adelaide fan who did it - a lady. The fans reaction: Port Adelaide fans took to social media in disgust at their fellow fan’s behaviour. A post on The Alberton Crowd Facebook page said: “To the idiot who thought it would be a great idea to throw a banana at Eddie Betts, well done. You’ve now tainted all Port fans with the same brush and we will hear about how feral we are all week.” So - it wasn't condoned, or defended. No one appears to have said you get away with worse at other sports/codes. What you can see even in a case like this - as much as key board warriors on a thread like this might be determined that she should be banned for life and become a social outcast - - the reality as things can play out very much differently in real life. If the player in question is willing to forgive and use the moment as an awareness/educational opportunity instead - then that should be good enough for the rest of us. As it was - no one made a complaint to the police that I can see on that one. Another player intercepted the banana so the player in question wasn't actually struck by it - and nearby fans were only too pleased to dob her in (she'd apparently been an abusive loud mouth all year!!). Back then to the case of an offensive banner - whether it be the Mosques banner, or the WSW one - it may still come down to a case by case approach. The Collingwood fans who displayed the 'Stop the mosques' were also members of the United Patriots Front. They were daring the AFL and police to make a big deal about it - gives them publicity and notoriety. That one WAS referred to the police by the AFL. The dilemma is that NO sporting code is immune to members of clubs/general fans being of any particular political view point. No one does social media background checks on potential club members?? All that sporting codes can really do is refer to police where appropriate and ban where appropriate. The AFL and players came out firmly against the banner and its message. That is genuine. There are practicing Muslim AFL players and officials. A fine line though is - and in this case (WSW banner) it is no different - the bigger the hoopla about it - the more attention that is brought to something that doesn't deserve it. Certainly on match day you can ensure the broadcasters avoid showing it. Security should ensure it is pulled down immediately and that the details of the offending banner 'owners' if able to be established are recorded pending punitive actions. Then it comes down to club/venue/police/FFA to work through the punishment. And this takes us back to the 'streaker' approach. No longer do the cameras focus on them. They get smacked down by security and hit with hefty financial fines. I don't know about bans - might be case by case. What has seemed the biggest challenge has been the FFA managing a cultural change amongst it's 'active' supporter groups. The AFL went through a similar process a few years back with cheer squads. (for better or worse!!).

nobody on the football tab is remotely interested in your opinions. take your pathetic attempts at trolling to the insular world your sport lives in.

You must agree that the atmosphere has improved significantly since the NT abandoned their childish behaviour, hasn't been any significant incident since.

I have refrained from making any comments on what took place on Saturday night, partly due to the fact that there are more than enough opinions and comments doing the rounds but also because I have witnessed similar and far worse happenings in the sport over the years, bans, fines, protests, ground closures, fires, wall collapses, destruction of trains, buildings and other public properties, vandalism on a huge scale, and ultimately deaths of people attending sport. All that in the name of pride and passion? Tribalism in the extreme irrespective of what its origins are, and whether or not a team is 100 years old or was put together by some marketing gurus trying to create sonething new and not too contrived. I noted the language of the media last weekend was all about hatred of cross town rivals. Bitter rivals is strong enough but really; hatred? Earlier in the year in a pre match interview, Alex Brosque was talking the same language. He stated that he hates Western Sydney Wanderers as all SFC players should. I quite accept that all of that could just be banter and trying to build up an event to generate interest and put bums on seats but I also accept that it can have the tendency to create a strong reaction from some quarters and particularly the fans that occupy "active areas". Inside and outside the grounds the songs go on about Western Sydney scum, we pay for your benefits etc and as I witnessed on Saturday night the vast majority of WSW fans enthusiastically sang " La La La La La, we rule this city". The point being that on the one hand, the supposed rivalry is whipped up into an absolute frenzy by governing bodies, media, supporters groups, social media but then we don't expect any kind of extreme reaction to it? In my experience when you want that type of billing, be prepared for far worse than an obscene banner or chair throwing. There is no argument to say anything is justified, simply that when you build tribalism to include hatred and bitterness, be prepared for some monsters as they are waiting to pounce.

Stuart, you are one of THE most courteous & civil contributors to this Forum. Ignore the poser who slandered you, he has delusions of grandeur that are beyond a joke. No one pays attention to the self-congratulatory mindless nonsense he posts on Football. Keep up the great writing.

"slanderous attack by Rick this evening" That's pretty rich coming from you Stuart. "I stand by the claim that you are a part of a crack team determined to question and bring down the game" You reference one quote from me on this site questioning the game of football or trying to bring it down & I promise I'll leave this forum. When you can't, I expect a sincere apology.

Stuart — before I answer, I'm curious your take on this double negative, along with why you should never end with one? Midfielder — it's said you believe the number of clicks on code war threads is an indication of growth in the A-League.

Stuart Your original post was correct... I have been on this site almost since it started as has Punter ... About 18 months maybe two years ago, I stopped reading the posts of many posters ... they come to abuse, criticise and confuse ... derail if they can... In the early days of the Roar it was important to reply ... but no longer and has not been I think for maybe four years... They add of our net clicks now so in a round about way they are helping Football... May I suggest as a relative new comer you simply don"t read the posts of some.. then you don't get upset ... and I find it works simply don't reply no matter what has been said ...

I'm sorry Chris, I only go to football matches. I'll leave it to people like you to watch giant c@#$'s being flung about and something resembling a junior league special skills camp.