Algorithmic Hot Takes
Cancelled
- Aug 14, 2023
- 174
- 195
- AFL Club
- Essendon
All clubs, or their supporters say the media is out to get them when a scandal blows up. The explanation, or part of it, is the media is out to generate content, they're selling your eyeballs to advertisers, so they need to engage, outrage and keep you hooked.
If Melb v Perth is a good angle to do this, that's what they'll do. If it's how Essendon risked the lives of young players*, well, that's a good angle. Now it's Melbournes culture that's a good angle.
There's some truth in all the reporting, clubs are full of young, wealthy lads with plenty of time and more than a few won't have level heads or 'stable' personalities, and just being young doesn't help make good choices. Then there's the club, coaches etc who have to get the players to perform -and do cut corners/ignore shady behaviour - and need good players, so they'll cover it up, pretend they're doing the right thing (or try to do the right thing), but they keep good players who are a problem because they think it's worth it to win. (However, I'm not privy to the internal workings of Melbourne, so have no idea what the real story is. )
Which makes fertile ground for a media frenzy when they find an angle....
Anyway, I don't know what my point was, but I've run out of crap to write. Stip Collingwood of the last flag, and hand it to Essendon as a participation award seems a fair outcome.
*I'm not arguing that Essendon were hard done by.
If Melb v Perth is a good angle to do this, that's what they'll do. If it's how Essendon risked the lives of young players*, well, that's a good angle. Now it's Melbournes culture that's a good angle.
There's some truth in all the reporting, clubs are full of young, wealthy lads with plenty of time and more than a few won't have level heads or 'stable' personalities, and just being young doesn't help make good choices. Then there's the club, coaches etc who have to get the players to perform -and do cut corners/ignore shady behaviour - and need good players, so they'll cover it up, pretend they're doing the right thing (or try to do the right thing), but they keep good players who are a problem because they think it's worth it to win. (However, I'm not privy to the internal workings of Melbourne, so have no idea what the real story is. )
Which makes fertile ground for a media frenzy when they find an angle....
Anyway, I don't know what my point was, but I've run out of crap to write. Stip Collingwood of the last flag, and hand it to Essendon as a participation award seems a fair outcome.
*I'm not arguing that Essendon were hard done by.