Mega Thread Non-Freo AFL Discussion 2022 - Part 2

[Piggy Smalls]

yep, ours was not preprepared or prior constructed:

Big Animal: (after a few whiskys) you think the staff like us? They laugh at most of my jokes when I'm getting coffee.

BA's partner: (after a larger number of whiskys) I would think so. I do find you funny.

BA: Yep, me too. Can you get your PA to put it in the minutes for next meeting that the review process is completed and staff satisfaction is high.

BA's partner: K.

This made me laugh out loud.

I work for a large company and we have to do a ‘voluntary’ employee satisfaction survey each year.
Then about six months later my team and I go to some off location workshopping session where all of our comments and responses are anonymously shared to the group and management for a broad discussion. It’s really uncomfortable, especially when you are giving honest feedback about your manager, who clearly can identify most of the team’s writing styles and easily identify who is making the comments.

 

[Ge3ks]

yep, ours was not preprepared or prior constructed:

Big Animal: (after a few whiskys) you think the staff like us? They laugh at most of my jokes when I'm getting coffee.

BA's partner: (after a larger number of whiskys) I would think so. I do find you funny.

BA: Yep, me too. Can you get your PA to put it in the minutes for next meeting that the review process is completed and staff satisfaction is high.

BA's partner: K.

 

[arsesmart]

It is a shame they aren't going to participate as it is the only way they can get justice. As hard as it is, they need to stay on board and only go public and pull out if the process is railroaded in the wrong direction. It will hold a lot more weight afterwards than at this point.

It's hard to put yourself in a vulnerable position and to communicate to the appropriate levels if you have no trust in the person/process you're communicating to. Their whole story involves a massive violation of trust and abuse of power.

Many elements of the AFL echosphere have already closed ranks around Clarkson et al (and cast aspersions on the whistle-blowers' stories), which doesn't instill any sort of confidence there will be real momentum for a scrupulous investigation.

 

[Purple Suit]

It's hard to put yourself in a vulnerable position and to communicate to the appropriate levels if you have no trust in the person/process you're communicating to. Their whole story involves a massive violation of trust and abuse of power.

Many elements of the AFL echosphere have already closed ranks around Clarkson et al (and cast aspersions on the whistle-blowers' stories), which doesn't instill any sort of confidence there will be real momentum for a scrupulous investigation.

That's the only way you can get a result though is to go up against the perpetrator. The system is set up like that and to be fair, it needs to be as there are too many who could abuse a different system with false accusations for whatever is motivating them.

The whole thing is very distributing but there are a lot of parties involved, each with their own motivations, beliefs, recollections and perspective of events. I do know that it would be bloody hard to investigate something so old, especially via people who got information 2nd hand on what occurred in meetings. I can barely remember specifics of a meeting I had last week or what I told people about those meetings afterwards. It's going to be tough to sort out fairly and the outcome is going to leave no one happy in the long run.

 

[arsesmart]

That's the only way you can get a result though is to go up against the perpetrator. The system is set up like that and to be fair, it needs to be as there are too many who could abuse a different system with false accusations for whatever is motivating them.

The whole thing is very distributing but there are a lot of parties involved, each with their own motivations, beliefs, recollections and perspective of events. I do know that it would be bloody hard to investigate something so old, especially via people who got information 2nd hand on what occurred in meetings. I can barely remember specifics of a meeting I had last week or what I told people about those meetings afterwards. It's going to be tough to sort out fairly and the outcome is going to leave no one happy in the long run.

That's what they're saying essentially, is that they don't trust the process to deliver a result that's open at this stage. That, why would they put themselves through the wringer and further the emotional damage, for a forgone conclusion? It's hard to summon up the energy to fight if you don't trust that it will lead anywhere healthy.

From that perspective, they're better off considering other forums to address it or walking away. For their own well-being.

 

[Taylor]

I expect their identities will leak eventually too, opening them to all manner of harassment.

 

[anchor man]

I expect their identities will leak eventually too, opening them to all manner of harassment.

Hawthorn were able to hide the names of players during the DRUG saga.

 

[anchor man]

That's what they're saying essentially, is that they don't trust the process to deliver a result that's open at this stage. That, why would they put themselves through the wringer and further the emotional damage, for a forgone conclusion? It's hard to summon up the energy to fight if you don't trust that it will lead anywhere healthy.

From that perspective, they're better off considering other forums to address it or walking away. For their own well-being.

I am not sure that walking away, is an alternative. The names will get out you can be guaranteed of that. Somehow there will be a report accidentally left on the footpath sooner or later.

 

[freo1997]

Knew Clarkson wouldn’t be fired.

 

[Purple Suit]

That's what they're saying essentially, is that they don't trust the process to deliver a result that's open at this stage. That, why would they put themselves through the wringer and further the emotional damage, for a forgone conclusion? It's hard to summon up the energy to fight if you don't trust that it will lead anywhere healthy.

From that perspective, they're better off considering other forums to address it or walking away. For their own well-being.

Everyone has a right to look after their own wellbeing. If the toll is too great then maybe they do need to sit out and let the process continue without them, even if the outcome will be a forgone conclusion if lacking their input. I'm sure the big picture will still result in improved outcomes in the future for indigenous players and open the eyes of every club, even if this whole saga goes unresolved and unpunished.

 

[anchor man]

Knew Clarkson wouldn’t be fired.

We will have to wait and see what comes out of an enquiry. But not holding my breathe waiting for a positive outcome from the AFL report.

 

[arsesmart]

I am not sure that walking away, is an alternative. The names will get out you can be guaranteed of that. Somehow there will be a report accidentally left on the footpath sooner or later.

At least there's more chance of have some control over their ability to avoid it, if that's what they feel is best for them.

 

[DragoDelph]

Remembering as well, that these people weren’t seeking anything.

They were asked a question and answered.

 

[Arcassius]

This made me laugh out loud.

I work for a large company and we have to do a ‘voluntary’ employee satisfaction survey each year.
Then about six months later my team and I go to some off location workshopping session where all of our comments and responses are anonymously shared to the group and management for a broad discussion. It’s really uncomfortable, especially when you are giving honest feedback about your manager, who clearly can identify most of the team’s writing styles and easily identify who is making the comments.

We use an independent third party to run this for us for that reason. However, the bigger project is creating enough psychological safety in the business for people to call me an arseh*le to my face and that be ok When it's de-identified it's really hard to address individual concerns

 

[anchor man]

For once I am in full agreeance with Margetts. A stupid idea.
Three can't get it right, how they going to go with four?

 

[Kram]

For once I am in full agreeance with Margetts. A stupid idea.
Three can't get it right, how they going to go with four?

Initially I would say no but I think if it reduces the physical load on umpires substantially it could be worth a look, I mean surely there's good decision makers that retire earlier or even don't even get to higher ranks because of the elite level of fitness required?

 

[Taylor]

Initially I would say no but I think if it reduces the physical load on umpires substantially it could be worth a look, I mean surely there's good decision makers that retire earlier or even don't even get to higher ranks because of the elite level of fitness required?

You need to run 5km in 20 minutes. Not easy, not impossible.

Four umpires will mean less running loads, perhaps multiple games per weekend for their preferred umpires.

 

[Scham]

More inconsistent decisions, more confusion, shallower talent pool. Stupid idea. The AFL will no doubt embrace it wholeheartedly and celebrate its success regardless.

 

[Arkhitect]

I don't see the quality of umpiring drastically increasing until the following occurs:

A) The AFL invests in making umpiring a full time gig. I'm dumbfounded that a multi-million dollar industry like the AFL still hasn't taken this step.
B) Rule changes become less frequent or stop altogether.

 

[Wobbly Punt]

The bigger issue being ignored in this article is the fact that this a-grade, gold standard, world class, oxygen thieving toe rag is now heading up umpiring for the WAFC. Do you think they could stuff more eagles boot lickers in that cess pool of mediocrity and corruption? Maybe put Barich in there as WAFC Head of Dietary Recommendations and Donut Consumption or John Worsfold as Head of integrity and Looking Us In The Eyes. The joint is absolutely swollen with giant talking turds all wearing eagles undies.

As far as 4 umpires goes I couldn't care less to be honest. Deano probably hated it because he couldn't inject himself in the game as much. Until they start screening psychologically and weeding out profiles like the Margetts', Chamberlain's, Nicholls' and Williamson's of the world who think they're a star of the show it won't change much. Instead we should be getting more like the few umps who've retired in the last few years after doing more than 300/350/400 games, multiple GF's and whose names I can't even remember because they got on with it, made relatively few howlers (hence the anonymity) and never sought profile. We need lots more of the latter and far fewer of the former.

If 4 umpires and targeting women without any other considerations gets us more men like Ray and Dean and women like Eleni (who struggles mightily with the rules as well as getting around the ground but loves a photo shoot and an interview almost as much as Ray) then it will not be great.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Sh*t referral by Smith. Selfish.

Stick to Test cricket

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Wrong thread lol

 

[Fred Ziffel]

This made me laugh out loud.

I work for a large company and we have to do a ‘voluntary’ employee satisfaction survey each year.
Then about six months later my team and I go to some off location workshopping session where all of our comments and responses are anonymously shared to the group and management for a broad discussion. It’s really uncomfortable, especially when you are giving honest feedback about your manager, who clearly can identify most of the team’s writing styles and easily identify who is making the comments.

You mean they can actually write ?

 

[Kram]

I don't see the quality of umpiring drastically increasing until the following occurs:

A) The AFL invests in making umpiring a full time gig. I'm dumbfounded that a multi-million dollar industry like the AFL still hasn't taken this step.

I think they may have finally gone that way in the NFL but I think one of reasons they were against it for a long time was that many refs had other serious careers at the same time and a lot would drop it over losing their other profession.

And that's in sports adjudication where there isn't the physical requirements that limit age so much, AFL umpires quit in their mid 40s so they kind of need something to do afterwards.

 

[Dale147]

Player recycling?