I cant agree with Jeff Kennett on this .....

[Linda Crescent]

Good old Mark Robinson at the Herald Sun. At it again, trying to make a story out of a TV panel discussion with the President when there really isn't one to be made - a bit sad really!

PS: Thanks for the 'Offsiders' transcript/links, I watched the program last Sunday - good to re-visit.

 

[Gary Shadforth]

.

.

With deference to thread opener, hawks time, what I have asked is to get the original interview with Jeff on 'Offsiders' in real context. 'Footy Classified' hasn't and Mark Robinson is up to mischief with his usual style of sensationalizing a molehill into a mountain as Linda, post #26, indicates.

And thanks, Timhawx, #15, and 50meteres, #18, for throwing better light on the discussion with transcripts.

There has been some real quality discussion permeating throughout the Hawks forum of late - keep it up, guys, gals and families.

 

[Linda Crescent]

Here Gary, and for all to see ...

Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Offsiders
Broadcast: 22/03/2009
Reporter: Barrie Cassidy

Jeff Kennett joins the program to discuss the AFL's plans to expand onto the Gold Coast and into western Sydney. The Hawthorn president and former premier says the AFL can not afford to stand still and must continue with the expansion, despite the economic downturn.

BARRIE CASSIDY, PRESENTER: And the message from the AFL this week was: full steam ahead on expansion, a team up and running on the Gold Coast by 2011 and Western Sydney by 2012. Our guest this morning is President of the reigning premiers, Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett. Morning, welcome.

JEFF KENNETT, HAWTHORN PRESIDENT: Good morning Barrie.

BARRIE CASSIDY: You've already had your view on the expansion, you say the AFL should ignore the downturn and drive a stake through the competing codes. It's really about that, is it?

JEFF KENNETT: No, not only, but it is reinforcing the philosophy that if you stand still, other codes, competition will take over. Whether it's in business or sport you have to keep reinventing yourself. I think the Queensland election result last night now guarantees that the Gold Coast side will go ahead very, very quickly. And I expect Sydney to follow within the next two years.

BARRIE CASSIDY: It was very interesting the way that that all unfolded, because Anna Bligh promised $60 million for the stadium. AFL stadium on the Gold Coast, Lawrence Springborg was opposed and they put on an ad. We'll look at the ad they ran during the campaign.

LABOR ADVERTISEMENT: Labor has announced their answer to the health crisis. Building an AFL stadium on the Gold Coast. Would you rather your sick child go to a hospital or a game of football? While Anna Bligh's playing games, Lawrence Springborg is saving the Royal Children's Hospital. You decide what's more important.

BARRIE CASSIDY: Now there was a swag of the seats available on the Gold Coast. I think in the end, the Liberal National Party won one of them. So what does that say about Australian rules and the desire for Australian rules on the Gold Coast?

JEFF KENNETT: Well Barrie, I think it's not for me to get into the mind of any politician. But the reality is, the Gold Coast in one sense has been built on Victorians who have moved there now over generations. So there is a great attachment to AFL football. And when people are hurting, be it as a family or be it as a result of their jobs, they look more and more to sport to give them a balance in their lives. I think the Springborg decision, unfortunately, was wrong. People were looking for something else apart from things that were talking down their environment, and I think that was probably reflected in the polls.

I think he made a wrong call. Anna made a correct one. The stadium now will go ahead very quickly and the Gold Coast is now, as a 17th team in the AFL, I think assured.

JOHN HARMS, THE AGE: So Jeff is it fair to say you're actually happy with the Labor victory last night in Queensland?

JEFF KENNETT: No, no I'm not happy at all but I congratulate Anna Bligh. It was a stunning victory given the length of service the ALP had been in office up there. But from an AFL point of view, I think that decision with one side committing itself to a new stadium, the other not, quite clearly the AFL will be happy with the outcome.

JOHN HARMS: Cause in Queensland they talk about the co-tenancy of all the different codes and that this can co-exist and live together. Do you see that it's a far more competitive environment than that?

JEFF KENNETT: I think the AFL has a code is head and shoulders above its competition because of its discipline, because of its connect with community, because of the quality of its administration, and the quality of the way you mentioned it in your opening remarks, Barrie, about the way in which the players accept responsibility for their own behaviour. So as a package, I think there's a vast difference between AFL in 2009 and any other code. That's not to say it's always going to last. You've got to be vigilant but I think we're in a good place.

JACQUELIN MAGNAY, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Are you saying Jeff that AFL players are better behaved than rugby league players?

JEFF KENNETT: I don't think there is any doubt about that. I mean, you can put it in any capsule you like but I think that the league in Sydney had its season launch a couple of weeks ago. That turned into a terrifying night of alcoholism and activity, etc. We had our launch last week. It was a very good launch. Very professional. People knew what they were there for and people then returned to their homes or whatever.

BARRIE CASSIDY: Just before you go on, let's look again at the video that they released as part of that launch.
Now, the one thing about this, that strikes me, Gerard Whateley, it's that it's about body contact. A lot of violence here. And yet that seems to be the emphasis. They're trying to move away from that from taking out the bump?

GERARD WHATELEY, ABC COMMENTATOR: Suggesting the advertisers think one of the most glorious parts of the AFL is the hard physical contact and the fact there is no padding and no holds barred and yet perhaps the league and it's judiciary see it another way, is that your point?

BARRIE CASSIDY: That's precisely it.

JOHN HARMS: But it's always been about legitimatised violence hasn't it. It's just where the line exists as to what legitimate, that's one of the attractions of the sport. But where the line exists is the interesting thing.

GERARD WHATELEY: It's a clever ad. Jeff at the launch you accepted the premiership flag and you made comments that the league and perhaps sport more generally has an even more important role to play over these next 12 to 18 months of difficult financial times?

JEFF KENNETT: Yes I think so. I think this year is perhaps going to be the most important for the AFL. I can't speak for the other codes. But because we're right throughout the country and we're the only code that really is of great substance, I mentioned before you've got the Prime Minister talking down the economy, you've got people losing their jobs, we're now hearing about people potentially losing their homes.

We have all the stresses associated with family life and employment, and as we go through these periods of economic change, people are going to need something else to give them a balance in their life. And AFL this year has got an important role to play in giving people excitement, giving them relief from the things that cause them stress, and wearing my hat as Chairman of Beyond Blue, I see AFL football as actually a preventive medicine preventing bad health. If people didn't have football in these times, I think the psychological damage would be substantially more severe than it is today.

BARRIE CASSIDY: Throw in the bushfires.

JEFF KENNETT: Very good example.

BARRIE CASSIDY: They just can't wait to bounce the ball in Victoria.

JOHN HARMS: People's mythology of hope is very much connected with football in the football States but also in the rugby league States as well.

JEFF KENNETT: It is, but again, I think we're a better example of, no, you can grin as much as you like, but I think look at the record. And I think AFL is very, very good. The tragedy about the bushfires is not only obvious, the difficulty is there's going to be thousands of people, not just those who live there who've lost possessions, family, but all those who assisted who are going to suffer enormous emotional challenges, in many cases for the rest of their life, and that's why I think football, because it is such an integral part of our life in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, and growing in New South Wales and Queensland, has such an important role to play. It's not just football.

JOHN HARMS: I was grinning in support. I wrote as much in the 'Age' yesterday.

JEFF KENNETT: When you write for the 'Age' you could be grinning about anything!

JACQUELIN MAGNAY: Jeff you talk about expansion, though. Can the code afford to expand especially in these tough times and especially when the Sydney Swans, for instance, are foreshadowing a loss this year, a loss last year...

BARRIE CASSIDY: Port Adelaide putting their hands up for money.

JACQUELIN MAGNAY: That's right. How can the code even think about a second Sydney team when the one that's there is struggling financially?

JEFF KENNETT: Jacquelin if you don't do anything ever because there are stresses and strains and competing interests you will never do anything. You will go backwards. And you will lose any sense of freshness. The AFL can afford it financially. They have the resources to do it. Secondly, at the Gold Coast, they've put in a lot of work in terms of the local environment with a stand by board ready to receive the nod and the licence. So they've got members, they've got sponsors, they're ready to fly. Yes, there are some clubs in trouble. And you've got to look at the administration of the clubs and you've got to look at, I think, in part a growing hubris within the AFL. I mean, they have this view that everything they say and do is correct. And it's clearly not. But they tend not to listen to anyone else as we saw at a Presidents' meeting last week. But having said that, yes, we can afford it. And yes, it is in the long term interests of the code, because the code's been going for many years now, and we don't think of it as a code for today or tomorrow; we think of us as being part of a bigger picture for a code for 150 years.

BARRIE CASSIDY: Well let's talk about the coming season. First game Thursday night. Now, Matthew Lloyd wrote in the paper this morning that Roughead will kick 100 goals this year. You wouldn't have any surplus stock on your forward line you'd like to offload?! Roughead kicking 100? What did he get last year, 70 something?

JEFF KENNETT: He is a wonderful player.

BARRIE CASSIDY: Who are you going to down there?

JEFF KENNETT: It doesn't matter. You can have your choice. It's a wonderful forward line. And it's not just across the forward, centre half forward as well. We've recruited well. Roughie is so strong. He's got a great sense of humour. I'm glad he's one of our team.

BARRIE CASSIDY: But Gerard, Geelong seem to have a mind set this year to make up for a few evils as they see it in the past?

GERARD WHATELEY: I think they're a bit angry. I think we saw that in the pre season. Are you ready for an angry Geelong Jeff? Does round one matter as much to Hawthorn as it does to Geelong?

JEFF KENNETT: Look we like to win every game of course but we go into the first game somewhat undermanned. We've got a lot of our players coming off surgery after last season. The NAB Cup caused injury to a few. I have a simple view as you would appreciate. It's not where you start that matters, it's where you finish. And I've got to say, Geelong clearly go into this year as favourites. They've got a wonderful record behind them. They've performed exceedingly well over two years. They're a strong team, big bodies, when they coordinate together they're almost unbeatable. What they don't have, I don't think, is the quality of some of our players. But they don't have the psychological drive that we have. We've beaten Geelong when it mattered over the last five years consistently.

JOHN HARMS: Keep going, Jeff, keep going, this is great hubris!

JEFF KENNETT: Wouldn't you say that's right? Well have a look at the record.

JOHN HARMS: Without a doubt.

JEFF KENNETT: I'm looking forward to the opening of the season. Is it all that important? It's the start of a 22 week drive. If you put all your hopes on the first week, you may as well dry.

GERARD WHATELEY: Did you just suggest Geelong choked in the grand final?

JEFF KENNETT: No, I don't think they choked. I think they played well but I think our boys...the most important round last year to me was Round 17. All the hype, everyone there, Geelong won it. We threw it away in the last few minutes when a couple of mistakes by some of our senior players, they came off the ground furious 'cause they knew they could beat Geelong and I think we had a better final season than Geelong, and on the day, Geelong, all the stats were Geelong's way, except one. The final siren. So it's not where you start. It's not a matter of hubris. Just look at the record. And then drive it very hard.

BARRIE CASSIDY: Alright we have to move on to the NRL now.

END:

 

[Hawkk]

The reality is that we've won all the games that matter against Geelong over 45 years, not just 5.

Jeff was bang on with assesment, we know it, Geelong supporters know it and the players know it

 

[play2win]

love him or hate him, jeff certainly promotes discussion.

there is nothing wrong with the odd chirp - i love it, it adds to my enjoyment of the game. lets not be princesses about it all.

 

[Off The Couch]

As I previously said I support Jeff Kennett and it won't make one iota of difference how many transcripts we post, the media and others will still slip the boot into our club.

Quite frankly it just reinforces why our club has introduced such a hard core media policy (although I am against such policy), I can now understand why they have it in place when such selective reporting is used to create a headline.

 

[Axle17]

I agree with him 100%. I think its good for the game. To talk up a match before its started.
Rivalry in AFL makes it a better game!

 

[Neville Bartos]

Jeff was 100% right. It's about time someone said it and I'll be damned if we blow any more smoke up Geelong's arse. We were the best team in 2008, Geelong weren't because they weren't mentally tough enough. If people disagree with that, then I suggest writing to the AFL and have them change the format to the English Premier League where the trophy is given to the minor premiers

 

[FancyNancy]

there is nothing wrong with the odd chirp - i love it, it adds to my enjoyment of the game. lets not be princesses about it all.

Extend this sentiment to the players as well and remove the gag.

 

[rdhopkins2]

We're in the business of winning premierships. If Geelong's motivation to win the P is revenge against Hawthorn's pwning of them in GF's or H&A matches or comments made through the media by a HFC official, good luck to them.

We're a young side, still learning and most importantly that success does not give you a licence to become complacent. Head down, keep striving. Teamwork is the thing that talks at Hawthorn.

 

[Off The Couch]

Re: Bloody Jeff Kennett

Hey Catters out there.
What team would want to get close to those "crap" colors of Hawthorn anyway.
Just remember our Club hasn't to to resort to selling itself interstate for life support (Jeffrey). It's also SO funny to see how many bugs have crawled out of the pantry to sign up as Hawthorn members after a win... Must think they'll have as much luck this year as last. Funny! Steven Bradbury only won the ONE gold (similar circumstances to last year's GF).
Simon.

Crawl off back to your own board bandwagoner

 

[Hawkk]

Re: Bloody Jeff Kennett

Hey Catters out there.
What team would want to get close to those "crap" colors of Hawthorn anyway.
Just remember our Club hasn't to to resort to selling itself interstate for life support (Jeffrey). It's also SO funny to see how many bugs have crawled out of the pantry to sign up as Hawthorn members after a win... Must think they'll have as much luck this year as last. Funny! Steven Bradbury only won the ONE gold (similar circumstances to last year's GF).
Simon.

No you just have much fewer premierships, less money, fewer members and represent a tinpot city instead.

Geelong crave for someone with the leadership that Hawthorn have, I mean how insipring was 'Bomber' Thompson's speech on the Essense of the Game on Friday Night - or was that too hard to watch?

What a team, what a club

 

[Paul Kersey]

I haven't read the entire thread but I see no problem with what he said. I believe it's true and who cares what other clubs, including GFC think - it is not defamatory and it is above board. Worrying about it "firing up" GFC is silly - don't you think GFC, having lost a GF, is not already fired up?

 

[winty]

JEFF KENNETT: No, I don't think they choked. I think they played well but I think our boys...the most important round last year to me was Round 17. All the hype, everyone there, Geelong won it. We threw it away in the last few minutes when a couple of mistakes by some of our senior players, they came off the ground furious 'cause they knew they could beat Geelong and I think we had a better final season than Geelong, and on the day, Geelong, all the stats were Geelong's way, except one. The final siren. So it's not where you start. It's not a matter of hubris. Just look at the record. And then drive it very hard.

BARRIE CASSIDY: Alright we have to move on to the NRL now.

END:

I find the bolded part interesting, as some people could argue that Geelong threw the grand final away in the 2nd quarter with a couple of mistakes by some of our senior players (notably Mooney and Ottens' misses).

 

[rangermcdee]

Re: Bloody Jeff Kennett

Hey Catters out there.
What team would want to get close to those "crap" colors of Hawthorn anyway.
Just remember our Club hasn't to to resort to selling itself interstate for life support (Jeffrey). It's also SO funny to see how many bugs have crawled out of the pantry to sign up as Hawthorn members after a win... Must think they'll have as much luck this year as last. Funny! Steven Bradbury only won the ONE gold (similar circumstances to last year's GF).
Simon.

Firstly, a jibe about our colours, trust me thats not going to hurt us anymore. Been and done, old hat. Kinda like calling you guys handbaggers.

Reference to our sponsorship deal with Tasmania. Again the chances of that hurting us considering it was a deal that is no longer used as life support but as a way to further strengthen our now health financial position. Oh dear, batting two from two today.

References to increased membership AFTER a premiership year. Little recent history. Geelong membership 06 - 32k (bad year). Next year down 2k to 30k, eventually won the premiership, and rightly so. 2008, 36k. Seems to be a concept that is common.

Bradbury premiers. The first time someone said that it was kinda funny as it was ORIGINAL, something that it is far from in March of 2009 after it being repeated ad nuaseum on a daily basis. As a return of fire, the US basketball Dream team took back to back gold olympic medals in 92 and 96 as the greatest team of all, something your guys didn't do.

Take a leaf out of Diablo14's book and try a little respect when you enter an opposition teams page (not just ours, but any opponents), after all you would hate us to come bad mouthing your team in yours. The Bay was set up for your kind, I suggest you use it before someone with a little less patience than me reports your post.

 

[Ramma]

The problem with the 'Bradbury' jibe is that he was up against skaters in the final who were all 'better' than him.
At best, we only had (questionably) Geelong as a better side than us - who were the other clubs that fell over to allow us to win?
Another thinly veiled attack by Cats supporters who are filthy on Hawthorn always being their bogey.

Also - kudos to Greg Cook & Frank Costa for turning the finances of Geelong around - but it wasn't that long ago that the club was really struggling. Not quite the right to point fingers, I suspect - some similarities between both clubs on that level.

 

[lickmerocks]

Re: Bloody Jeff Kennett

Reality check Simon.
Shell stadium is not sustainable and they will either have to tear that joint down and build something that is declared safe or move interstate to play your games.

Difference between the two clubs is that we are proactive and will always be looking at ways to keep moving forward.

Speaking of bugs, how was that guy that had a gold membership at the cattery and is now suing the club because his seat was behind a wooden poll holding up the Hickey stand in case the wind blew it over. That was some of the funniest stuff I have seen in a while.

Dont go throwing insults at others before you take a look in your own backyard chief.

 

[Linda Crescent]

I find the bolded part interesting, as some people could argue that Geelong threw the grand final away in the 2nd quarter[/B] with a couple of mistakes by some of our senior players (notably Mooney and Ottens' misses).

This blokes "interesting" point doesn't stand up ...

"... last few minutes" of a game is a bit different to the end of "... the 2nd quarter".

 

[Ramma]

Ah yes - the last defence of the scared & naive - the 'experiment disclaimer'.
We should have seen that coming.

 

[Paul Kersey]

Re: Bloody Jeff Kennett

Give this clown a red card. You'd get one on the GFC board for saying less.

 

[Paul Kersey]

"This blokes interesting point" doesn't stand up ...

"... last few minutes" is a bit different to "... in the 2nd quarter".

Yeah that's right it's a bizarre excuse. I would "the greatest team" of all would be able to put us away in the second half. The fact is they couldn't and got smashed. Final score was flattering given the goals they got given in the third quarter and the frees against Roughy & Buddy which weren't there.

 

[LuvMyHawks]

I don't know how you can even watch that Gossip Wilson & Hutchison.
How desperate are they to create news, using the ABC show Offsiders, which, when Wilson isn't on it, is a very good show. I watched it on Sunday morning, and JK was very good, he wasn't arrogant, or disrespectful toward anyone..He was just taking place in a discussion with the other panelists.
Mark Robinson has no idea, how short of news is he?? JK says something, which is a DISCUSSION, on Offsiders, and they all jump on him, and blow it out of context. Geelong are responding exactly how the MEDIA want them to.. They and their supporters would be better off, to ignore the article and that stupid Wilson on Footy Classified. By writing all this crap on here, you are playing into their hands. I wouldn't be bothered watching a crappy show with her in it..
What a sorry state our media is in when they have to repeat and print what another media has shown. Pathetic!!! Would be a real shame if they went and sourced their OWN news, and not copied another channel.
No wonder JK and the club won't talk to the Age, or the HS for that matter. Can't blame them one little bit..

 

[LuvMyHawks]

Re: Bloody Jeff Kennett

Give this clown a red card. You'd get one on the GFC board for saying less.

I agree with you on this one.. How would they like it if we went on their board and told them EXACTLY what we thought of their crappy colours!!!(Dull, boring, uninteresting,) shall I go on?? Give him a RED CARD.. They can say what they like on their board, as I can on here,(within reason) but don't come over here and start being DISRESPECTFUL to us Hawk supporters on OUR BOARD!!

 

[Linda Crescent]

I don't know how you can even watch that Gossip Wilson & Hutchison.
How desperate are they to create news, using the ABC show Offsiders, which, when Wilson isn't on it, is a very good show. I watched it on Sunday morning, and JK was very good, he wasn't arrogant, or disrespectful toward anyone..He was just taking place in a discussion with the other panelists.
Mark Robinson has no idea, how short of news is he?? JK says something, which is a DISCUSSION, on Offsiders, and they all jump on him, and blow it out of context. Geelong are responding exactly how the MEDIA want them to.. They and their supporters would be better off, to ignore the article and that stupid Wilson on Footy Classified. By writing all this crap on here, you are playing into their hands. I wouldn't be bothered watching a crappy show with her in it..
What a sorry state our media is in when they have to repeat and print what another media has shown. Pathetic!!! Would be a real shame if they went and sourced their OWN news, and not copied another channel.
No wonder JK and the club won't talk to the Age, or the HS for that matter. Can't blame them one little bit..

I was thinking the same thing when I wrote my post (#26) this morning but decided not to comment on it.

Essentially, Robinson wrote a media report about other media reporting (happened to be our President involved). Not the first time we've seen this and unfortunately I don't think it will be the last.

LuvMyHawks', I agree - Pathetic!!!

 

[carntheroos4eva]

Just watching Footy Classified and they showed some footage of Jeff on some ABC show and he was saying (Paraphrased) that Geelong don't have the skill of our players and that they're psychologically weak when playing against us.
I hope Clarko gives him a shouting to as that is way out of line, just adding fuel to the fire.

It's not Clarko's job to tell the president off.
Footy Classified is a shit show anyway. I don't watch it at all because it is full of rubbish.