Analysis Is it acceptable for AFL clubs to be politically biased?

[Obeanie1]

A few teams tweeted support for Aboriginal people being hurt by Aus Day, and you consider that to be 'politics jammed down your throat'? Incredible.

No thats not what Im refering to at all. TBH I havent read anything of what clubs said on Austraila Day. Others may have. Im talking generally how the industry has and is changing.

Id just like to see a sport stay away from politics as much as it can.

 

[Mofra]

No thats not what Im refering to at all. TBH I havent read anything of what clubs said on Austraila Day. Others may have. Im talking generally how the industry has and is changing.

Id just like to see a sport stay away from politics as much as it can.

Supporting indigenous people (as an example) isn't 'politics' when you consider that they are represented in AFL playing ranks at a rate of 3x their proportional population in Australia. It's the AFL either 'recognising their contribution to the game' or a self-serving way to get a few more AFL articles on the back pages, depending on which way you look at it.

 

[Purple_Turtle]

Phillips planting the UJ was a symbol of Australia being colonised. A common argument for Australia Day is that this was the culmination of Cook's earlier 'discovery'. It was a land claim and nothing else, most likely because there were French sailors in the area who may have claimed it first.

Not sure who you're talking to, but I've never seen that argument before.

Some people mistakenly believe the 26th was the date of Cook's discovery of Australia, so I think you've confused that.

I'd never dream of speaking for Aboriginal people, as I am not Aboriginal. Having said that, lets leave personal anecdotes aside here. If you do even some shallow research into Aboriginal views on Australia day, you will be very hard pressed to find any genuine support for January 26th. Yes, as you say, it isn't a priority for many people - but is that the point? This isn't a debate about bureaucracy or red tape, its about the symbolic gesture of not celebrating our national identity on the anniversary of the day that GB tried to claim sovereignty of a land that was never theirs.

If you'd like to leave personal anecdotes aside get some data. At this stage you're just asserting all of this on the basis of your own personal experience.

And the fact it isn't a priority for most people is the point. It's a very small group of people banging on about it when most people would rather focus on closing the gap or literally anything else.

At the end of the day, it affects none of us in a negative way if the date is changed. But it affects a hell of a lot of people in a positive way to stop celebrating the day that the genocide begun. And why wouldn't we want to do that? As I said, there is no reason at all.

As you said they put a flag into the ground. They didn't begin a genocide on that day. And I'm not sure your grasp of Australian history is all that (particularly if you're willing to disregard anything before Jan 1st 1901 as irrelevant to Australian history.)

Also just because you yourself have changed your mind about the issue doesn't mean there aren't negatives to changing the date or the problem is a lack of education.

 

[Taylor]

What do you want the AFL to do? Force gay footballers to declare their sexuality?

It's a private matter. It's got nothing to do with the AFL.

They need to provide a workplace culture that will neither block nor seek to thrust into the spotlight someone expressing who they are.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I’ve noticed a recent trend of AFL clubs making comment on political issues, such as Australia Day etc.

Is it fair for them to make comment on issues that over 50% of their members disagree with?

Who decides to post on behalf of the club on this stuff?

Discuss.

Interesting that you use the words ‘politically biased’ rather than ‘inclusive’ or ‘compassionate’, but I guess that’s the point.

Some people think compassion, empathy and equality is politics.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

They need to provide a workplace culture that will neither block nor seek to thrust into the spotlight someone expressing who they are.

WTF are you talking about?

It is entirely up to the individual whether they want to disclose their sexuality or not. The AFL has no say in that, nor should they. If a gay player wanted to do that, the AFL would be as supportive as possible. What more do you want them to do?

 

[Taylor]

WTF are you talking about?

It is entirely up to the individual whether they want to disclose their sexuality or not. The AFL has no say in that, nor should they. If a gay player wanted to do that, the AFL would be as supportive as possible. What more do you want them to do?

Their current workplace culture isn't conducive to someone coming out publicly.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Their current workplace culture isn't conducive to someone coming out publicly.

If you say so. I'd say it's up to the individual to make that decision for themselves. It's a private matter, so why should they advertise their sexuality to the world?

What would you have the AFL do about it?

Should the AFL cast a magic spell that changes the world and everyone's attitudes towards homosexuality?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

By “painful to a section of our community”, the section you’re talking about are white liberal arts uni students who’ve never met an indigenous person in their life, right?

Yawn

 

[Forward Press]

I see quite a few likes to the statement yours is a crap comment.

Wouldn't go that far, but the reality is most members have invested heavily in supporting a sporting club and it is flippant to say we are free to cancel our memberships if we don't like a political stance a club adopts.

Noting that the administration of a club is subject to the whims of whoever is in charge at the time, if clubs want to become political then the administration should subject itself to being appointed by the members.

Seeing as you are a WC supporter, you should acknowledge we as members have zero say on this and to suggest walking away from the club we support means we are free to agree or disagree; is trite.

There are plenty of sporting clubs inherently linked to political, class, religious or racial backgrounds. Look up Real Madrid, Lazio, Celtic, Chelsea or any Croatian club, for example.

Not saying that the AFL should follow this route but in the end our support of West Coast is entirely voluntary and if they want to put out a statement in support of BLM or Pauline Hanson, good for them. I constantly reevaluate my support over the years and if it's not for me, I move on. It's just sport entertainment, I don't make a living from it and my overall happiness isn't determined by the political stance of the West Coast Eagles.

 

[The 747]

With all respect, I disagree.

I’d confidentially argue most footy fans don’t want their footy club getting Involved in political debates.

It’s a fine line between promoting inclusiveness to maximise fanbase size which translates to revenue Vs being seen as taking political stances and dividing and frustrating a large component of its supporters. And it’s important clubs continue to promote this. However, by entering the hot political issue this week, Essendon crossed the line in many people’s minds with its carefully worded statement.

Footy to many is a passion and outlet away from all the troubles of life. A chance to get away from the crap on Twitter, the rage and the fake news that surrounds us. It’s an escape. I don’t need to be opening Essendon’s digital platforms only be be bombarded with a political propaganda and in my case, pro left wing socialist views. Simple as that. Unfortunately for Essendon, whilst they May want to force its message down our throats, the day could be coming where we collectively say I’m done..

Of all the things about AFL that could get under someone's skin, the fact that your club - with a long and proud indigenous player tradition - posted something on social media about changing a date which nobody really cares about is going to make you walk away from football?

 

[boncer34]

Of all the things about AFL that could get under someone's skin, the fact that your club - with a long and proud indigenous player tradition - posted something on social media about changing a date which nobody really cares about is going to make you walk away from football?

If nobody cared it'd be changed already. People do care.

****ed if I know why they care but for some reason they do.

 

[juss]

Let's be honest... Almost to a tee, anyone that says "sporting clubs and organisations should stay out of politics" is in reaction to aforementioned sporting club and/or organisation supporting a stance they themselves do not take.

Disagree. I've always had the preference that sport and politics preferably shouldn't mix, its the haven of escape just for entertainment.

That's never been tied to a specific political/social issue, its a blanket preference.

 

[Taylor]

If you say so. I'd say it's up to the individual to make that decision for themselves. It's a private matter, so why should they advertise their sexuality to the world?

What would you have the AFL do about it?

Should the AFL cast a magic spell that changes the world and everyone's attitudes towards homosexuality?

In case you haven't picked up on it I'm subtly suggesting that the culture within the AFL does not match that of society outside in regards to openly gay men being made to feel comfortable.

The AFL holds onto some quite old school standards on lots of things.

 

[ADL9798]

If ScoMo didn’t care it'd be changed already. ScoMo does care.

f’ed if I know why he cares but for some reason he does.

Efa

 

[The 747]

If nobody cared it'd be changed already. People do care.

f’ed if I know why they care but for some reason they do.

Not sure I agree with that. Changing it requires doing something, not changing it does not. Anyway, we will see how it plays out in the coming years.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

In case you haven't picked up on it I'm subtly suggesting that the culture within the AFL does not match that of society outside in regards to openly gay men being made to feel comfortable.

The AFL holds onto some quite old school standards on lots of things.

You're waffling without making any point.

What specifically would you have the AFL do?

That aside, what is "the culture within the AFL"? You mean the culture within clubs? Or the attitudes among supporters? What is "within the AFL"?

 

[The 747]

To the OP's question, what is or is not acceptable from a football club is decided by the members. If you don't like what the club is doing, vote out the board members.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Taking sides on political issues is always going to aggravate some people. Would've thought it much easier for football clubs to stick to football.

 

[faible]

In case you haven't picked up on it I'm subtly suggesting that the culture within the AFL does not match that of society outside in regards to openly gay men being made to feel comfortable.

The AFL holds onto some quite old school standards on lots of things.

The first player to come out openly about it is going to be subject to an immense amount of publicity. I imagine having their entire dating life play out in very public fashion is not particularly appealing to people of any persuasion.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

I agree. AFL clubs have far more to lose by not getting into line with what they perceive as the prevailing winds of society than keeping quiet on issues and focusing on winning games, for the subtext reason you mentioned.

If you say nothing, you're labelled right wing.

Make no mistake though, if the clubs thought that the opposite idea was the prevailing view - they'd be supporting that publicly too.
The goal isn't to champion social causes, it's the bandwagon on them so they don't stand out.

They are using the issues like almost everyone else in a political position. Using being the key word.

I think clubs these days are more empathetic to their constituents and in particular their players. Most if not all clubs have indigenous players so it makes sense that they are aware of the issues that are important to them, most if not all clubs have players that would have someone in their life who is gay so it makes sense they are more aware of those issues that are important to them.

Society has changed but clubs have also changed, these are full time workplaces for these guys now, not just something you do after work a couple of days a week and on the weekend so it makes sense that there is greater awareness of the social issues impacting society and some of the players within the clubs.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Further to this, I'll give you an example.

If the AFL was the progressive beast it would like to present itself as, why are there currently no openly gay AFL football players? There absolutely are gay AFL players at the moment but their social progressive talk is just that, talk. Their culture is totally different on the inside.

Just see it all for what it is, posturing and self promotion. It's hot air that changes nothing.

You want the clubs/AFL to out one of their own players against their will?

 

[Demonic Ascent]

It's just as silly as telling die-hard fans to simply "swap clubs" if they don't like comments the current administration is making

You can vote out the club administration if you disagree with them.

 

[Taylor]

The first player to come out openly about it is going to be subject to an immense amount of publicity. I imagine having their entire dating life play out in very public fashion is not particularly appealing to people of any persuasion.

You're very right about that, the AFL will use that person and thrust them into the spotlight to show the wider public how progressive they are.

What the AFL needs to do is to publicly say they do have gay AFL players, of course they know who they are, no it doesn't matter and it's nobody's business. Completely surrender the position so they can't throw the player under the bus of publicity to make the AFL look better.

Currently everyone knows they are signing up for the circus if they step out, not to mention the blokey culture that exists around.

 

[Taylor]

You want the clubs/AFL to out one of their own players against their will?

No, I want the AFL to out that they know they have gay players and give up all position that they would later use to show the world how progressive they are by using that player as a publicity figure.

I want the AFL to start the discussion by stepping straight aside and sitting on the circus plans over it.