Caroline Wilson article re Swan and bad behaviour

[TheGreatGrundy]

I don't think players can just "chose" to be in good form whenever they want to

I still think Collingwood are not too unhappy about Caroline Wilson's article irrespective of Swan's form.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

Just to intrude for a second, Caro's only sources for that article were some friends of Gary Pert. She heard a comment regarding Swan, exaggerated it and ran with it. Not good journalism. Caro is a great journalist when she reports on the game, but when she does this whole routine of exaggerating stories that she loves to do so much, she leaves herself open to criticism. Drug allegations aren't to be thrown around. I wrote the article that was posted in the thread earlier and as I mentioned, the issue isn't whether Swan is or isn't on drugs, it's that Caro has claimed or at least insinuated that he is without a solid basis.

Thanks for writing that article and from a Carlton fan too. Just joking as you appear a football fan first

You were spot on with what you wrote and i, for one, appreciate it.

 

[sd26]

I still think Collingwood are not too unhappy about Caroline Wilson's article irrespective of Swan's form.

I think Nathan Buckley is happy with Swan's attitude post his suspension and this why he was the first to defend him. It fits in with his coaching style of having the players self-motivate themselves.

 

[Footy guru]

So why did he play shit football after returning from his 2 week suspension? Didn't look to me like he had learned anything from having the game taken away from him.

What do you mean shit got at least 13 Brownlow votes in second half I think a lot of afl players would like his shit second half.
His game against GWS five goals and over 40 possessions shit yeh , right . Nearly won back to back brownlow but played shit by your standards ..don't think you got it right with that statement.

 

[jmac70]

The fact that Eddie hardly reacted indicates that Collingwood are not unhappy about Wilson's article. Swan was an ordinary player in the latter half of the year, with his dinky little kicks and lacklustre finals' games. There were not too many Collingwood supporters who supported him when he was suspended for two weeks. I don't think he gives his all for the club. It is about time he gave some thought into his football preparation and attitude because he did not look like a Brownlow medallist in the second half of last year. Whether or not he uses drugs I don't know, but a shake up via the media will do him no harm.

Premiership player, Three Copeland trophies, four time All Australian and top three in the Brownlow in the last three years including polling the record number of votes when he won it. I concede that his suspension last season let the club down but other than this what more do you expect him to give?

 

[catman 71]

Kids will do whatever their idols do, if their idols do drugs kids are WAY more likely to do drugs as well.

But doesn't that mean that rock stars and movie stars that kids look up to should be tested as well, since there is plenty of drug-use in those industries.

I would also say that a lot of kids aspire to be firemen or police. Maybe these industries should be tested as well, since kids can want to get into those professions.

In fact, the most influential role models that kids can have are their parents. Should parents be tested for their drug and alcohol consumption, since this can influence their children? Should drug tests be mandatory for all parents as well?

Test one, test them all!

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

When I accused Swan of not giving his all, I base my comments on this year, not his Brownlow year. The latter part of the year in key games, his disposal by foot was not of a standard we'd expect from midfielders. In fact, several players, even Pendles, kicked short passes that bounced in front of the forward instead of decisively hitting him on the chest. Swan seemed by far the worst offendor with the quality of his kicks. From memory he has not dominated in a tough final, though I am happy to bow to anyone who knows differently.

If Swan gave his all for the club, he would not have been out on the tear on the night which led to his suspension. He did not look like a man prepared to die for his club in the finals last year, though he gathered quite a few disposals in each of the matches. I probably expect too much from Swan given his Brownlow medal and legend status, but I don't think he impacts enough in final's games for someone of his stature.

However, who am I to judge whether or not he is putting in 100%? He is not the reason we didn't go past Sydney and Hawthorn. I love Swannie for his humour and his lack of formality, and I'd like to see him retain that element in a footy world in which words are becoming meaningless: 'did it for the boys', 'take it week by week', 'got on to the end of a few' etc. But I still have this sneaking suspicion that he is holding out on us and can go to another level.

 

[BEEG]

Swan gives his all every week just watch him for a quarter

He broke team rules he was punished and thats it he has earned the right to have a drink on a sunday night he owes Collingwood nothing been a champion of our club and will go down as one of the greats i just hope he plays a few mopre years and does not retire with games still in him

 

[Bay Pie]

The fact that Eddie hardly reacted indicates that Collingwood are not unhappy about Wilson's article.

or Eddie doesn't want to look like a goat IF something comes up later in a similar manner to the Didak/Heath Shaw lie.

or doesn't want to give the story oxygen and it'll die it's natural death.

Is the club obligated to defend itself against every single unsubstantiated allegation?

 

[cleomenes]

I will always be flabbergasted by the capacity of our supporters to question the quality of one of our best players on the back of an evidence free mess of innuendo. Not giving everything in games? Give me a break. Nobody gets the ball more than 40 times in an AFL game without total commitment to the task. Disposal errors are not about commitment.
I notice that no evidence of anything has surfaced, despite the "no smoke without fire" calls of doomsayers. Let's all take this sorry saga as the indicator of a lack of journalistic integrity that it is and stop giving oxygen to the low lives that create this kind of tripe.

 

[Collingwoodity]

I wonder how much coverage she'll give the CROWS and Tppet being banned for 11 matches, cause that's big friggin news in the AFL.

The big news is the lack of severity in the punishment

 

[Hardas]

I will always be flabbergasted by the capacity of our supporters to question the quality of one of our best players on the back of an evidence free mess of innuendo. Not giving everything in games? Give me a break. Nobody gets the ball more than 40 times in an AFL game without total commitment to the task. Disposal errors are not about commitment.
I notice that no evidence of anything has surfaced, despite the "no smoke without fire" calls of doomsayers. Let's all take this sorry saga as the indicator of a lack of journalistic integrity that it is and stop giving oxygen to the low lives that create this kind of tripe.

If I may keep it simple [my friends would say I have no choice ]:

I think people tend to gloss over or forget how hard it is to dispose of the ball skillfully while under actual physical pressure, inferred pressure [including sometimes questionable tagging tactics] or fatigue, BUT that's the game now and the challenge is to be the best or near best in this combination of things.

As for Swanny, I completely agree with you. Perhaps his laconic style/nature can give the wrong impression.

Without having a go at anyone in particular, I would defy anyone to watch him closely and say he's not trying his best. Maybe we need to sit near the interchange bench to see how hard they've been trying.

Different players cope with the demands of the game slightly differently.
After all, they are not clones.

 

[Markfs]

He did not look like a man prepared to die for his club in the finals last year,

I love Swannie for his humour and his lack of formality, and I'd like to see him retain that element in a footy world in which words are becoming meaningless:

I probably expect too much from Swan...

Like Genghis Khan but with good manners?

 

[Footy guru]

When I accused Swan of not giving his all, I base my comments on this year, not his Brownlow year. The latter part of the year in key games, his disposal by foot was not of a standard we'd expect from midfielders. In fact, several players, even Pendles, kicked short passes that bounced in front of the forward instead of decisively hitting him on the chest. Swan seemed by far the worst offendor with the quality of his kicks. From memory he has not dominated in a tough final, though I am happy to bow to anyone who knows differently.

If Swan gave his all for the club, he would not have been out on the tear on the night which led to his suspension. He did not look like a man prepared to die for his club in the finals last year, though he gathered quite a few disposals in each of the matches. I probably expect too much from Swan given his Brownlow medal and legend status, but I don't think he impacts enough in final's games for someone of his stature.

However, who am I to judge whether or not he is putting in 100%? He is not the reason we didn't go past Sydney and Hawthorn. I love Swannie for his humour and his lack of formality, and I'd like to see him retain that element in a footy world in which words are becoming meaningless: 'did it for the boys', 'take it week by week', 'got on to the end of a few' etc. But I still have this sneaking suspicion that he is holding out on us and can go to another level.

I think you better check your facts pretty sure he won player of the finals series in a couple of his copeland wins. What you aren't taken into consideration is he was carrying a number on injuries in the 2009 series, helps us win in 2010 played a stopping game on Goddard in final replay. Won the preliminary against hawthorn in 2011 was voted best on I think. Finals have been okay in his over 196 games there certainly aren't many shockers for 10 years of service that's not bad.

 

[Number 10]

Can we all stop being such f ing pansies. Let the BOY PLAY!

 

[hot_pies81]

I think the issue here is the drugs policy.

The AFL as a sporting body should only be concerned with performance enhancing drugs that directly impact the sport. So called recreational drugs are health/mental issues. Why the hell is the AFL now considered part of societys' up bringing of our kids. (Won't somebody think of the children-even in my own post when I'm trying to be serious I can't help myself) Teachers are now being asked more & more to be moral guardians.

Crap, guess I'm just old fashioned, would like to think parents are actually responsible for instilling values, morals & guidance.

It's a friggin sport!

Agree with you in-part that parents taking much less responsibility than in the past for guiding their own children along the right path and instilling decent core values, leaving it up to others e.g. teachers. However I believe the AFL has taken an admirable and proactive stance against these health/mental issues not only because they have a duty of care to the players, but because they know they can have a significant influence within Australian culture on this issue, especially young men. And I applaude them for this

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I think you better check your facts pretty sure he won player of the finals series in a couple of his copeland wins. What you aren't taken into consideration is he was carrying a number on injuries in the 2009 series, helps us win in 2010 played a stopping game on Goddard in final replay. Won the preliminary against hawthorn in 2011 was voted best on I think. Finals have been okay in his over 196 games there certainly aren't many shockers for 10 years of service that's not bad.

I did check his contributions in a couple of final's series. I was unable to find a performance in which he dominated a finals' game. He had an ordinary game following his Brownlow win. However, my research did not include anything prior to 2010.

 

[sr36]

I did check his contributions in a couple of final's series. I was unable to find a performance in which he dominated a finals' game. He had an ordinary game following his Brownlow win. However, my research did not include anything prior to 2010.

Rewatch our first two finals last year. He was great. In that last quarter against the Hawks, he and Cloke willed us over the line.

 

[jmac70]

In an article regarding the resignation of Adrian Anderson, Carolyn Wilson claims that Pert has knowledge of players dealing amphetamines with other players and also giving them to younger players.

Is this another reference to Swan perhaps?

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/-2avt2.html

 

[neroblack]

In an article regarding the resignation of Adrian Anderson, Carolyn Wilson claims that Pert has knowledge of players dealing amphetamines with other players and also giving them to younger players.

Is this another reference to Swan perhaps?

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/-2avt2.html

Could be, but also mentioned dealings between clubs..interesting paragraph to drop into this article.

And it comes as the AFL's illicit drugs policy - the policy Anderson revolutionised - is again under fire following the revelation by Collingwood chief Gary Pert that he has knowledge of amphetamine dealing among players between clubs, along with allegations of senior players not only regularly taking illegal drugs but passing them on to younger players.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/departure-rocks-unstable-league-20121205-2avt2.html#ixzz2EDdwsm6P

 

[Hagla]

Could be, but also mentioned dealings between clubs..interesting paragraph to drop into this article.

And it comes as the AFL's illicit drugs policy - the policy Anderson revolutionised - is again under fire following the revelation by Collingwood chief Gary Pert that he has knowledge of amphetamine dealing among players between clubs, along with allegations of senior players not only regularly taking illegal drugs but passing them on to younger players.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/departure-rocks-unstable-league-20121205-2avt2.html#ixzz2EDdwsm6P

I had to stop reading that article once she decided to turn it into a women's activist's rant.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I had to stop reading that article once she decided to turn it into a women's activist's rant.

I looked at how long the article is and decided that Anderson wasn't worth the long read.

 

[Stripes B and W]

Caroline has yet again rewritten the same piece, only the names change to peddle her case or protect her sources.
You will always find murky assertions, sinister undertones and clumsy allusions. Agendas are hidden but always inferred. The same hobby horses are always paraded. The desperate need to break news, deliver a scoop, is ever present.
I'm not certain Football journalism is the richer for contributions.
Give me Flanagan, Baum, Smith, Whateley any day of the week. Sheahan or dare i say, Robbo even...

 

[Old Spice]

That's a pretty significant claim about dealing amphetamines and linking it to Pert as the source. If there is no rebuttal, that is as serious as it gets and pretty bloody foreboding.

 

[the distributer]

That's a pretty significant claim about dealing amphetamines and linking it to Pert as the source. If there is no rebuttal, that is as serious as it gets and pretty bloody foreboding.

I agree, if Pert doesn't come out with all guns blazing then Houston, we have a problem....

I can understand people using it, but if an AFL player is dealing it then it's bye bye time, stupidity of the highest order.