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Greg Parker

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Joined May 2013

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Pies Supporter, Brisbane Heat in Big Bash. Trying to appreciate both forms of Rugby but failing

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I dont think the argument here is about whether Ape is a racial taunt. I think the argument here is whether a child should know that Ape is a racial taunt. We are not talking about an adult here. If we were talking about an adult using that term, then yes, I would agree it’s definately meant as a racist taunt, or, from the most ignorant adult in the country. It would be inexcusable and should be punished severely.

In this story, we are talking about a 13 year old girl, and from listening to her, immature for her age. She’s probably been brought up watching cartoons like the Simpsons, in which Homer gets called a “Big Ape” quite frequently. As a father, I will not take the stance of “she’s guilty, hang her”, I prefer to reserve my judgement until I know enough facts.

I grew up in country Victoria, in a small farming community town with a population of around 100 people. Of those 100 people, there was not one indigeonous person. I didn’t have much to do with media outlets, as I was always out and about the country side having ‘adventures’, and to be honest, I knew very very little about our indigeonous community until I reached high school, and even then, I still had no real clue as to racism until my mid to late teens, when I had moved to an area that had a larger indigeonous population. At the age of 13, I’d have had no idea at all that calling an indigeonous person an ape was offensive to them. I called my brothers many names over my childhood including ape. Like I also had no idea trying to jump an irrigation channel on my AG bike may not have been the best move. Once you’ve had that experience in life, you learn from it. Until you’ve had that experience and/or been taught on the subject matter, how are you supposed to know better?

To be honest, I believe you are the one being ignorant to believe that everyone regardless of age should know what terms will offend what communities. Benefit of the doubt should be employed here especially because of her age, not hanging her up by her neck.

Zero sympathy for racism

Firstly, Eddie has done nothing wrong – have you actually heard the girls speak? I did on radio yesterday, she may be thirteen but sounds a lot younger than that (I have a daughter). Hearing her words from her mouth, I completely believe she meant no racial offence by it. I mean come on, she’s grown up with the Simpsons, where Homer gets called a “Big Ape” by Bart and Lisa quite regularly. Back to Eddie – I can completely understand where his sympathies lay, being a father and hearing her speak, she’s an immature innocent 13 y/o girl. I fealt really sorry for her with all the attention she’s getting over her words.

That said, I believe when it comes to racial taunts, it’s up to the person receiving as to whether they believe it’s racial abuse or not. Tone, facial expression whilst it’s said, etc can all provide clues as to the nature of the taunt. Goodes obviously made the opinion that it was a racial taunt, and therefore reported it. It’s his perogitive. But I still don’t believe it was meant as a racially derogitive term by the 13 y/o girl.

And, before people get on the “You have no idea about racism unless you are indigeonous” path – I am very white. I lived in Alice Springs for a year, and in that 12 months, I would say not one day did I go without being called “white *expletive here*” from kids as young as 6 right through to grandfathers. Not from doing anything wrong, just because I was there. I held my tongue each day, and took the first job opportunity I could to get out of there. Indigeonous are not the only race that gets racially abused, every race does from time to time in Australia, including white Australians. However, and I know this first hand – if a white Australian approaches the police and reports racial abuse, he gets laughed at – literally. Racial abuse will never be stamped out in Australia whilst there is inequality and inconsistancy in the way it is handled.

So in brief – I dont believe the girl meant it as racially abuse, Eddie is right for appology to Goodes / tough stand on racial abuse AND to feel sympathy for the girl, and, regardless, Goodes still has the right to report it as racial abuse if he feels the terms used are meant in that way.

Zero sympathy for racism

You cannot blame the Buckley game plan in my opinion. Malthouse is now at Carlton, and after 9 rounds is starting to have success with them. Buckley has been at the helm 33 rounds, if the guys don’t know his plan by now, they are not ever going to be able to get it. My personal opinion is that there is a lack of hunger in the playing group, and/or attitude issues. I think the young fella’s are showing heaps, but can’t do it alone. The senior players still have the skills, but are not executing them with any kind of consistancy. Buckley has to do the unthinkable – senior player fails, senior player goes back to reserves and a young player gets a shot. Unthinkable, because of all the decimation injuries have already caused, specifically to the back line and centre. But, it needs to happen. Swan, Cloke, Jolly, Pendlebury, Lynch – no-one, I repeat no-one should be safe from the chop. If players have to show heart to get back in, then they are more likely to perform again when they get there. Currently, we have a lot of stars being dead weight once a fortnight, we cannot stand for that anymore.

Perhaps bring back Didac and Johnson, who may be getting towards the end of their careers, but are showing plenty of heart in the reserves. Give Witts a full game in the ruck and send Jolly back to the reserves. Jackson Paine to take over from Lynch for a week or so. Drop Swan, give Josh Thomas another (full) game. Mix it up, send some shocks the way of the senior players, and perhaps they will realise their dinner isn’t just placed on their plate every night, that they have to earn it.

We might lose some matches because of it, but it will strengthen the playing group, and the next 3 weeks is the time to do it whilst we play some lower end of ladder sides.

Up-and-down Collingwood continue frustrating season

So where are the Tigers articles? They have not won against top sides – the pies have. Why compare against the Tigers? With the amount of youth running around in black and white, they are more an up & coming side than a downward sliding team, which categorises them the same as the Tiger IMHO. Too many people are always so happy to be judgemental without even considering the facts, to get the output the pies have from the young players to me is fantastic, the only issue is they need to get it more consistantly and for 4 quarters a match.

Where to from here for Collingwood?

Hi Cameron, as I said, the same article that appears every time collingwood loses, just with your own spin on it. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t write about Collingwood, but to add yet another “what are the pies to do” article each second week is tiresome. Each loss has been against opponents in hot form – Hawks, Bombers, Dockers, Swans, and unlike the teams above them on the ladder, the pies are yet to face an opposition that should not be considered a finals contender, that comes in the next few weeks.

Add to that the key players out injured – not as an excuse, merely a statement – forcing youth into the team that are not quite ready for 4 quarters of senior level pressure (getting closer, but not quite there yet), the season will be up and down. I don’t think there’s any easy answer for the pies, other than time – time for youth to get used to the speed and pressure of senior level football, and time for injured players to come back into the side.

One thing Buckley has to do – is decide on a ruckman, and only have the one in the team. Lynch is not playing well enough as a forward to just be a forward, he needs to be the second ruckman to keep his place in the squad. Personally, my preference would be Watts, as he can and will only get better over time, but we seem to like to stick with Jolly who I feel regularly has the wrong attitude, and does not seem to target Collingwood players enough when he wins tap-outs.

We may still have a lot of our 2010 list, but you are only counting players that played in the replay grand final. Leon Davis was a huge loss for us, as like Toovey & Goldsack (both out injured), he was one of our best at closing down the small forwards, and generating run out of the backline. Other players of note that helped achieve the success in 2010 are the late John McCarthy as well as Paul Medhurst, Shane O’Bree, Josh Fraser, Cameron Wood, Jack Anthony, Alan Didac & Ben Johnson (both currently reserves). Whilst some of them we are probably better off having removed from the club, others were great contributers throughout the season and finals.

Where to from here for Collingwood?

I didn’t even read the aricle. No offense intended, but writing articles like this every second week when Collingwood lose is tiresome. The week before last, it was a similar article. Last week after Geelong match, it was all praise and premiership chance. Now back to this negative article. Honestly, you could come up with better topics – like “how many weetbix is Travis Cloke having for breakfast”.

Where to from here for Collingwood?

If all leagues are gong to come into it, not just the VFL/AFL, then yes, Port Adelaide are the most successful and dominant team in history, it’s a no contest. But the reference was AFL teams, looking at Geelong and Brisbane as they are the only teams to have had dominant era’s in AFL history – all others were from VFL/SANFL/WAFL etc so don’t count 🙂

Who was the greatest: the 2001-03 Lions or the 2007-09 Cats?

The team that gets the ball the most generally = the team that gets awarded the most frees. Collingwood almost doubled Brisbanes tackle count on the day. As I have said twice now, and perhaps I need to reitterate it again, MALCOLM BLIGHT AND ROBERT WALLS WERE THE COMMENTATORS SURPRISED BY THOSE CALLS IN THE LAST QUARTER. Read back, did I say that I personally agreed or disagreed with the decisions? I may have insinuated it (google that word), but I did not state it. Reading is enlightenment…

Who was the greatest: the 2001-03 Lions or the 2007-09 Cats?

Perhaps in your world that may be the case, but guess what – it’s a big world. I saw a lady reverse her car into a tree 2 weeks ago, had a great laugh. So in your rationalisation, all women must reverse into trees. I’ve also never seen a whale, so guess what – they don’t exist. Have you gotten my point yet, or shall I go on? Generalisation is unfair, and rationalisation based on only your own experiences is simple.

I’ve never done anything illegal (apart from one or two speeding fines over my years), I have all my teeth, I earn well over 100k/annum in the IT industry. Again, another generalisation failure.

Who was the greatest: the 2001-03 Lions or the 2007-09 Cats?

As I said, watch the GF replay, listen to Robert Walls and Malcolm Blight also suuprised at the decisions. Regardless, everyone who is a one-eye’d supporter, all display the same blindness when it comes to umpiring decisions. Try and find something else to bag collingwood supporters on as that won’t hold, I have mates that are Essendon, Melbourne, Geelong, Richmond, Hawthorn, West Coast, Fremantle and Brisbane supporters, and they all carry on about Umpires. Inconsistant umpiring = self interpretation of decisions.

Who was the greatest: the 2001-03 Lions or the 2007-09 Cats?

regardless, there were other *dubious* calls made on the day – watch the replay of the 4th, even Malcolm Blight and Co in the commentary team were surprised Taz didn’t get that free in front of goals, and then Lynch to get one that was without doubt one of the weakest free kicks in front of goal in a grand final – period. History is history though, Brisbane Umpires – I mean Brisbane Lions won the grand final fair and square *cough* 🙂

Who was the greatest: the 2001-03 Lions or the 2007-09 Cats?

Brisbane were pumped up with consessions, larger salary cap, and 8 of the best Fitzroy had to offer. Based on that alone, it’s not really a fair comparrison to any team in the modern era. However, if you want to include their 4th grand final appearence (tropmalk), then you also need to look at the cats last 10 years to do them justice

2003 – finished 12th – no finals appearance
2004 – finished 4th, and they lost to the Lions in the prelim
2005 – finished 5th, and they lost to Sydney by 3 points in semi
2006 – finished 10th – no finals appearance
2007 – finished 1st, premiers
2008 – finished 2nd, runner up to Hawks
2009 – finished 1st, premiers
2010 – finished 3rd, lost to pies in prelim
2011 – finished 1st, premiers
2012 – finished 6th, out to Freo in qualifier
2013 – equal top of ladder currently

Whereas, lets look at Brisbanes record when they were dominant

1998 – finished 16th, wooden spoon
1999 – finished 3rd, lost to North Melb in prelim
2000 – finished 6th, lost to Carlton in semi
2001 – finished 2nd, premiers
2002 – finished 2nd, premiers
2003 – finished 3rd, premiers
2004 – finished 2nd, runners up to Port Adelaide
2005 – finished 11th – no finals appearance

Clearly, the Cats have been a far more dominant team, for a far greater period of time, and without salary cap enhancements, player stock from a folding team, etc. It’s a no contest on the better team.

Who was the greatest: the 2001-03 Lions or the 2007-09 Cats?

I think everyone needs to chill out and give Warner a break. Can any one honestly say, if their picture was placed in an article like that, that you wouldn’t furious? I know I would. Perhaps to keep it real for the general public, maybe an article called “Hemorrhoids – curse of the couch potato” with your picture beside it walking out of a medical clinic 🙂

Could Warner have handled it better? Hell yes. As he said, he could have called, he could of made a rehearsed public statement on social media/TV, he could have even IM’d him. If anyone, anyone at all can say they’ve never reacted badly to a situation before in their life, they are kidding themselves. He’s a professional athlete, and as such, he’s always scrutinised in the media and should know better.

But, believe it or not, he was human first. It’s over, he’s moving on, the writer’s moving on, about time you all move on as well.

I should have called Craddock: Warner

agreed – and it’s extremely unlikely too given modern football 🙂 Carn’ the pies!

Who was the greatest: the 2001-03 Lions or the 2007-09 Cats?

I believe that under the circumstances you have mentioned – Brisbane. But, if you go for the best of era teams, I have to say Geelong – although what the Lions did was great, Geelong has sustained their position at the top. Brisbane got there fast, won GF’s, then dropped off. To me, no brainer. 2001-03 Brisbane – would win a battle. 2007 + (I put the plus there, as Cats are still going) Geelong – would win the war. You can not compare team V team, as the game evolved a lot in such a short space of time, but for me 3-pete team V going on 6th year at the top end of the business, i’d go for the long term prospect thanks. Add to that that the Lions had huge concessions, got just short of the best 8 out of a folding team into their ranks to swell their talent – Geelong’s done it through good management alone.

FYI – No, I am not a Cat’s supporter, and, I live in Brisbane.

Who was the greatest: the 2001-03 Lions or the 2007-09 Cats?

As a collingwood supporter, I have to go with one of our men. Scott Pendlebury would be my choice. He’s currently on 75% accuracy this season, however, I cannot think of a more composed under pressure player, he always looks as cool as a cucumber.

Ever dreamed of kicking the winning goal after the siren?

I agree, it does need to be celebrated, but I feel sometimes too much pressure is placed on those trailblazers to become overnight success stories. I understand why it’s exciting, and, with each new ethnic group to have a representative, it encourages more diversity into AFL, which is not only good for the game in Australia, but good for the game in overseas markets too.

A significant day for AFL race relations

It’s a scary situation isn’t it. If anyone can honestly say they can sit down with a first timer, and effectively explain the game as it plays, i’d be very surprised. The AFL community needs to put pressure onto the AFL/Rule Commitee/Umpires Association and anyone else they need to, to get this rubbish sorted out.

To me, what needs to happen is a) rules go back 20 years, and then b) clean up rules to remove any possibility of interpretation – get rid of the grey areas entirely. Until at least B happens, our game will not grow, at least not rapidly, into internatonal markets.

A dummy's guide to AFL rules

To an extent, I agree – they much is such a big deal that they basically ‘generate’ it as a race/ethnicity milestone, bringing race/ethnicity right back into headlines. Far as i’m concerned, it aint a big deal. They are all AFL players, regardless of background, and should not have to carry the burdon of expectation.

That said, it was a fantastic moment in the game, I was watching the contest and couldn’t help but get excited – present superstar ruckman versus future superstar ruckman (possibly) dukin’ it out on the field 🙂

A significant day for AFL race relations

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