AFL Collingwood’s De Goey response farcical
WHAT planet are the hierarchy of Collingwood on?
To publicly state that De Goey was totally wrong in his actions in Bali and that they could not condone his actions but then punish him with a feather duster is a farce.
The emotional blackmail stunt pulled by De Goey should have been exposed for what it was. To blame an apparent ADHD condition as an excuse for his actions is ridiculous.
This guy thinks he can get away with his abhorrent behaviour and it seems Collingwood agrees. What role model is De Goey to potential players, is it play like a lout at all times just because you have a talent for sport? Because that is what it seems like.
A suitable and correct punishment should have meant at least six-week suspension and the fine of the $25,000 payable immediately. Is it possible that Collingwood did not wish to risk their season by suspending him and that is the reason such a pathetic punishment was given?
LEAVE HIM ALONE
Scott White Sorell
Cue the clamouring journalists fighting to be the first with the headline Jordan De Goney.
The recent attack on him only goes to prove the point he so eloquently outlined in his communique.
It’s a video that only showed a group of young people having a good time and nothing criminal, but to a pack of rabid journalists it is far more sinister. They need to lighten up!
There are far more important issues in this world to write about, eg, the lack of contrition from a nation that plunged the world into a pandemic, the dogmatic defence of one’s right to bear arms at the expense of children’s lives or the delusional despot who thinks it’s
OK to bomb another country randomly, once again at the expense of children’s lives.
Instead of persecuting a man who admittedly has erred in the past, let him get on with his life and stop this nonsense.
Geoff Phillips Rokeby
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Who knew Jordan De Goey’s ADHD made him behave badly?
As a spokesman made clear, his behaviour was “not Collingwood” (it wasn’t even “De Goey”, apparently).
This means Jordan has joined the swelling ranks of his fellow footy-fraternity fragiles, all of whom remain potential first-class role models and not the second-rate human beings they might otherwise seem.
But is that fair?
Aren’t young footy players, burdened, it’s true, with large salaries and lifestyles beyond the dreams of most young men, just doing what young men (and women) do?
So why are footy clubs increasingly reliant on their medical staff to provide explanations for what is actually normal (albeit unsavoury) off-field behaviours?
It’s a bit like their increasing tendency to make illicit drug use a health – not a crime – issue.
But there is a problem here, and it’s this: personal responsibility.
Personal responsibility is being removed from those in need of it most.
The young Jordan De Goey for one (and let’s not forget Ben Cousins). The one thing worse than behaving badly is getting caught. This is what I think most football clubs believe.
But even worse is not taking full responsibility after being caught acting badly (eg, behaving disrespectfully).
Michael McCall Primrose Sands
JUST A PIPE DREAM
Russell Hanson’s letter (June 21) is on the money.
Mr Hanson rightly points out the disgraceful conduct meted out to Tasmania from the AFL and some of the clubs, over many decades.
Then of course insult to injury! Gillon McLachlan pays a flying visit to Hobart, and basically says “if you want a team down here, then you must build a $1bn stadium and stump up $10m recurrent funding for the privilege!”.
Sheer arrogance and true to form. Why then would we even bother, wasting further taxpayers’ money on seemingly a pipe dream?
Ivan Dean, Newstead
Greg Hall, Deloraine
SPEND ELSEWHERE
Spend our taxes not on any stadium, AFL team, any sporting team, but on homes for the homeless, more hospital beds and emergency rooms, and training more doctors so that we all can get a chance to see one when we need treatment.
An AFL team or stadium would sell more newspapers, but would it even increase the spectators at games? Robert Young
Rheban
LEAGUE THE ANSWER
The one and only missing link in Tasmania’s quest for the 19th licence is rugby league.
If Tassie had a team in the NRL then needless to say like the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney, competing in rugby league heartland, of course we would already have our very own homegrown Tassie AFL side. “President move a positive” (Mercury editorial, June 24).
Chris Davey Lindisfarne