The alleged comments made on Saturday when Carlton met St Kilda is not an issue of sledging, but rather a personal attack towards an individual with no relevance to the match at hand.
We may never know what was supposedly said about Marc Murphy’s wife, however the reaction from the Carlton captain indicates that the comments made severely go beyond that of a typical sledge.
Before everyone jumps in saying ‘whatever happens on the field stays on the field’ and that ‘society has become too precious’, let’s evaluate what a sledge first and foremost consists of.
Sledging has been a large and often humorous part of Australian sporting culture, integrated and utilised as a means of mentally distracting opponents.
A player often only has a split second which they can cleverly articulate a taunt which is simultaneously humorous yet degrading to whomever it is targeted towards.
Chris Judd responding to his former West Coast teammates that his shoulder was strapped due to him carrying the Eagles for six years or Michael Voss pointing the blatantly obvious out to his brother that “My dad [slept with] your mum” are celebrated as classics for the sheer wit they respectively possess.
It is considered an art. Like all art forms, sledging must be carefully illustrated, and achieve its sole purpose which is ultimately to verbally intimidate an opposition player.
When a sledge is delivered, its intention is not to offend but to mentally distract the opponent, adding a bit of life and humour to what can often be a tenacious contest between bitter rivals.
Sledging in its simplest form is a type of banter and it does not really get any simpler than that.
This blurred or grey area that has crept into contemporary discussions about sledging is more of a myth than the Gods of Olympus.
Personal and vile attacks on the field is nothing new in sport, but it’s instantaneous publicising on social media platforms is what has changed this ball game.
This does not necessarily indicate that players have suddenly become ‘too soft’, but rather belligerent and unnecessary comments towards an individual’s personal life or attributes can be further publicised and condemned by a wider audience.
Yes, we have become a precious bunch but this is not the time to bring up such an argument.
The fiasco that was created around Carlton’s Round 1 banner and the AFL’s knee jerk reaction to everything ‘wrong’ with the game justifies that argument.
But the line is drawn when an individual intentionally attempts to offend another using their family or personal attributes as the punchline of the attack.
It all falls under life’s unwritten rules.
If Marc Murphy was indeed offended he had every right to use social media in expressing his castigation towards what was said, as would any other individual.
The alleged comments have been condemned by a variety of commentators and should be left at that.
The last thing we need at this stage is yet another knee jerk reaction by the AFL asking players to sign some agreement regarding sledging.
However, knowing the AFL, they will implement rule changes that prevents opposition players from verbally exchanging with one another without nominating themselves as the designated speaker.
Players know full well that their own reputation is on the line whenever they open their mouths and with social media breaking news left, right and centre comments such as these will always be put out there for society to judge.
The best sledges are those that get under the skin of opposition players whilst having that clever wit about it.
It looks as though the airways have been cleared on this one and those involved (hopefully) learned their lesson.
But please let’s restrain ourselves from restricting the banter between opposing players or opposing fans for that matter for without sledging there is no theatre.
That fine line that distinguishes sledging from personal attacks has always existed but it is only now that we have only recently begun to acknowledge it.
Redstar
Guest
Context of remarks is everything regardless of the definition.
OJP
Guest
'My experience in this world is that “offense” is in the eye of the beholder.' I reckon you could broaden that statement Gordon: ' My experience in this world is that “offense” is in the eye of the beholder, or someone outraged on behalf of a third party'.
Birdman
Guest
Although dumb meaning ‘not able to speak’ is the older sense, it has been overwhelmed by the newer sense (meaning ‘stupid’) English Oxford Dictionary.
Redstar
Guest
"Jake’s as dumb as a box of hammers" - meet a deaf/mute person and you will understand how hurtful your comment was.
Dan
Roar Rookie
But he did Ken - he was sledging JC. Also, there is plenty he can do without getting weeks from the tribunal (as per my original post) Look, we obviously see this from different points, so we'll agree to disagree.
ken oath
Guest
And JC and the rest knew that it doesn't matter what they said to MM as he wouldn't lash our out and belt them and do weeks over it. Yep all class.
Dan
Roar Rookie
Honestly Ken, no I wouldnt be "filthy" if a Saints bloke was saying derogatory comments about a blokes wife. If a player is that insecure about his partners previous sexual life, especially if that life is public knowledge in the footy world then more fool him. As i said at the top, thanks to the media now every player in the league knows how to get under Murphs skin and put him off his game if they so choose. They should have left it on the field. The issue is; Carlisle was being abused all game about his pre season drug shenanigans and Murphy was getting his back about his missus. But only 1 of those blokes chose to give it to an injured player. That's the point I'm attempting to make, I don't care about who said what - that's all my opinion and no one else s - but a player, the captain no less, ran and abused another player when that player was prone and injured. For mine that act alone, in isolation to everything leading up to and thereafter, is the absolute worst thing a player can do on a field of play. At least when Barry Hall smashed Brent Staker he was standing up
Birdman
Guest
"drive by"? hahah - nice bit of hyperbole there, Dan. I doubt Carlisle even heard MM as he was too busy massaging his plums and grimacing.
Dan
Roar Rookie
I totally agree it was an opportunistic moment - he did it at a time when Carlisle couldn't respond, he couldn't have planned for Carlisle to go down at that or any stage of the game. He saw a wounded player that had been giving him an earful all game and he proceeded with his drive by. Captain material first class there...
Gordon Smith
Guest
Agree but it was Staker not Glass - no jokes about glass jaws - you might offend someone :)
Gordon Smith
Guest
"We may never know what was supposedly said about Marc Murphy’s wife, however the reaction from the Carlton captain indicates that the comments made severely go beyond that of a typical sledge." I would like to challenge this assumption. We have no evidence or example of what a typical sledge is. My experience in this world is that "offense" is in the eye of the beholder. I could just as easily say "However the reaction from the Carlton captain indicates that he lacks resiliency". That would also be a gross assumption but no worse than the one above.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
They sledge because they can't get away with belting people anymore. Shorten the bench to 2 also, these blokes have got too much energy.
ken oath
Guest
"Not a good look so the Carlton PR machine went into overdrive to erase the damage – and in the turmoil threw Murphy’s wife under a bus." Righto that clears it up then....
andyincanberra
Guest
Adam Selwood's sledges were much worse. Remember Des Headland.
me too
Roar Rookie
What a spin, and all to protect Murphy's image. He sledged Carlisle, got sledged back. Lost it and sledged an injured player. Not a good look sonthe Carlton PR machine went into overdrive to erase the damage - and in the turmoil threw Murphy's wife under a bus. So a player made a sledge that no one supposedly knows, yet all the self righteous are harping on about it, with no idea what was said, only that Murphy reacted. Well Barry Hall once reacted, and the spotlight was firmly on his action - no bulldust deliberating on what Glass might have said to him or done to him to cause the reaction. Murphy is more at fault, once, twice, and then three times for this. The first two are part of footy - the third just stupid, deflective, and ill thought out.
ken oath
Guest
Furthermore Dan - would you be "filthy" as you state should a St Kilda player was saying derogatory comments about an oppositions wife? Perhaps using your own language, you just wouldn't "condone" it.... Take into account she is someones daughter, granddaughter, possible sibling ect. What is more "disgraceful"? Once again - pull your head in.
Birdman
Guest
agreed - Carlisle is not a victim
Carl
Guest
It was Michael Voss. Others have followed. Originator vs imitator. 2. Michael Voss to Brett Voss (AFL) One of our favourite sledges of all time occurred when Brisbane Lions triple premiership captain Michael Voss first played on his younger brother Brett – who had left the Lions for St Kilda that off-season. Brett was lining up for a shot on goal 20m out straight in front, when Michael walked up behind him and said: “My dad f—— your mum.” Brett then proceeded to kick the ball out on the full… http://www.bosshunting.com.au/2016/06/20/6-most-boss-sledges-in-australian-sport/ There is a video about sledging from The Grill via AFL.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMWfILwI_SY
ken oath
Guest
Get your hand off it Dan, If someone had been lippy all day then the karma bus hits them hard and they get injured, giving it back to them when they are hurt is just deserts. Think everyone complaining about MM running past and giving it to JC as he is on the ground are the ones being precious. It was opportunistic (not like you and others state that he waited, c'mon) he was in the right area (not like he ran the length of the oval) and close enough that he thought he would give it to him, and from all accounts, rightly so. No one knows what was said - but for MM who is quite reserved to beeline JC and to have a passing word as he is down is fine with me.
Dan
Roar Rookie
Definitely Michael to Brett Voss - although the Selwood's may have done the same.