Are you saying you need to act the same, talk the same, about the same topics, with your mates at the pub as you do with your boss in the boardroom? Or with your mother in law during Sunday lunch? Let's not be silly here.
The argument that professional comedians make jokes about rape or sexual offenders so footy players aren’t really doing anything wrong by making light of sexual predators, just doesn’t stand up, because a lot of their industry is about shocking people and being on the cutting edge of what is considered taboo or too far in order to gain an audience.
No he's not more along the 25-35 range. They need key position players. Nick Daicos can't do it all himself. 2-3 years they are going to be in a world of hurt so there trying to strike now whilst their veterans are still capable but the drop off could happen anytime.
I agree with much of what you’ve written, but the AFL failing to act in previous years or eras shouldn’t be a reason for them to continue to do nothing today.
Agree with that, though it applies to AFL inaction toward actual violent offenders now. Cousins was welcomed to this year's Brownlow, those old offenders are still revered and as recently as this year, the AFL refused to ban Thomas until he made it impossible for even a club like Geelong to select him. Had he not kept reoffending, he'd have been welcomed back. They have made no changes to the existing policy (or non policy) toward players facing actual criminal charges for violence against women. Their focus seems to be solely on words.
I disagree in part with the bolded, as a captain of the club he should know better. He certainly should be held accountable, not sure on the size of the fine though.
Ben Cousins was welcomed back to to the media spotlight not just the AFL. Dancing with the Stars for eg. Blissfully ignoring his past and presenting him as " Reformed from drug addiction" yeah he also bashed and intimidated women but let's not talk about that. Drugs weren't an excuse for it either which seems to be the line they are taking. If he came out and publicly apologised and showed remorse for his actions of the past perhaps in an interview at the very least could go someway of removing the uncomfortableness of the situation IMO. The media have alot to answer for but never do. It's all about clicks and money.
For mine it’s possible to make these sort of jokes being by being careful of what the punchline actually is. Mainly making fun of the perpetrator or wordplay not the victim or the act happening as funny in and of itself.
And mocking Diddy would be fine. Sounds like they went a lot further than that though, given what the AFL is pushing for having seen the CCTV footage
This is where I'm conflicted. I'd rather this all came out in the press, warts and all, and then have the sanctions imposed. People can then make an informed opinion rather than what is going on now.
Smacking a campaigner in local footy is just a rite of passage. Fair dinkum bit of a laugh
The court of public opinion is fairly irrelevant. If the AFL knows and the club knows, then there may be items they are protecting from the public due to how offensive it might be.
