The Monday Soap Box - R23

[GVGjr]

What caught your attention this week?

Was the entertainment at Marvel yesterday louder that ever? I'm not sure it adds any value.

[GVGjr]

The charge against Rankine might test the resolve of the AFL.

[Bornadog]

My usual Monday soap box is umpires. They don't know the rules.

1. If you tackle someone and during the tackle you place the ball on the ground and you are still holding on to the ball, that is holding the ball - no grey area, it is a rule.
2. Wasting time - kicking the ball away after the ball is over the boundary was brought in because dickhead Sheedy's players in the 80s were doing that to waste time and allow other players to get into position. Happened twice on the weekend and no Free.

[Bulldog Joe]

My usual Monday soap box is umpires. They don't know the rules.

1. If you tackle someone and during the tackle you place the ball on the ground and you are still holding on to the ball, that is holding the ball - no grey area, it is a rule.
2. Wasting time - kicking the ball away after the ball is over the boundary was brought in because dickhead Sheedy's players in the 80s were doing that to waste time and allow other players to get into position. Happened twice on the weekend and no Free.

Add to that the random nature of 50 metre penalties.

Tim English was paid a ruck free in qtr 3 and the Eagles player (may have been Ryan) ran on and kicked for goal. No fifty applied.

A few weeks ago a defender took a mark and Rhylee West stood still to get the all clear from the umpire to move so he could vacate the "protected zone" but 50 against him.

[azabob]

One of my little pleasures in going to the football is having a couple of beers beforehand with the old man.

Normally this would be at a nearby pub but this season we've been having a couple of beers pre game and at half time at the ground as they are selling the 100-year anniversary can by Pirate Life.

However, on Sunday they ran out of the Bulldog Brew before half time!!!!

Like WTF...

[Pleather Sole]

Golf terminology being used in AFL and cricket, like a creepy gateway drug. I don't understand any of it and I don't want to ask, or learn anything about gulff to follow my sports.

[Bornadog]

AFL fans association surveyed fans and overwhelmingly fans have said they hate the music at venues, the flashing lights, the silly games and the Americanisation of the game.

AFL must listen to the fans

[azabob]

AFL fans association surveyed fans and overwhelmingly fans have said they hate the music at venues, the flashing lights, the silly games and the Americanisation of the game.

AFL must listen to the fans

Mate, if you an agreeing with the AFL fans association I’d maybe reconsider.

We’ve had this discussion before the “entertainment” at the game isn’t about you or me. We are hooked, they have squeezed the lemon dry with us. This is about attracting and retaining the next generation of supporter who has a hell of a lot more options to chose from than we had as kids

[GVGjr]

So apparently it's a 5 week ban for Rankine.
How does the AFL justify Snoop Dog, when they set some lofty standards?

[Bornadog]

Mate, if you an agreeing with the AFL fans association I’d maybe reconsider.

We’ve had this discussion before the “entertainment” at the game isn’t about you or me. We are hooked, they have squeezed the lemon dry with us. This is about attracting and retaining the next generation of supporter who has a hell of a lot more options to chose from than we had as kids

I know what you are saying, but it is not working - the fans don't like it.

[hujsh]

So apparently it's a 5 week ban for Rankine.
How does the AFL justify Snoop Dog, when they set some lofty standards?

Are people actually running with that line? That's kinda funny.

[Sedat]

Are people actually running with that line? That's kinda funny.

If you position your organisation as the moral arbiter of all that is right and just, you should have no option but to be 100% squeaky clean. The rigors you impose on players must be adhered to within your own organisation, otherwise you are morally and ethically bankrupt (just like a politician).

It's no different to Sydney having a Pride Round every year but taking sponsorship money from a state-owned organisation that criminalises homosexuality. Or AFLW allowing certain players from one specific cohort to not participate in their Pride Round celebrations.

The AFEL have proven that they are a morally and ethically empty vessel - we already knew this from their previous behaviour. They don't really care about the causes they celebrate - they are just ticking a box. Do they really care about the gay and lesbian community, or respect for women, and then without a hint of irony or self-awareness spend millions on Snoop as GF entertainment?

None of this is about Rankine and the 5 week penalty. Precedent has been set and that is the punishment for the slur, end of story. It is about the nauseating moral posturing by the AFEL on a serious issue that they clearly don't give a shit about, again just like a politician.

[hujsh]

If you position your organisation as the moral arbiter of all that is right and just, you should have no option but to be 100% squeaky clean. The rigors you impose on players must be adhered to within your own organisation, otherwise you are morally and ethically bankrupt (just like a politician).

It's no different to Sydney having a Pride Round every year but taking sponsorship money from a state-owned organisation that criminalises homosexuality. Or AFLW allowing certain players from one specific cohort to not participate in their Pride Round celebrations.

The AFEL have proven that they are a morally and ethically empty vessel - we already knew this from their previous behaviour. They don't really care about the causes they celebrate - they are just ticking a box. Do they really care about the gay and lesbian community, or respect for women, and then without a hint of irony or self-awareness spend millions on Snoop as GF entertainment?

None of this is about Rankine and the 5 week penalty. Precedent has been set and that is the punishment for the slur, end of story. It is about the nauseating moral posturing by the AFEL on a serious issue that they clearly don't give a shit about, again just like a politician.

If I believed these efforts were in any way dedicated to making the AFL a more responsible organisation with who they support and why I might care (I doubt they'd have any sponsorships left frankly, maybe just Ben and Jerrys). This is just using claims of hypocrisy to fight against a player being penalised for being homophobic without actually saying 'I want players to be free to be homophobic'. The broad push is to move the AFL to be more regressive. Even with those examples you picked, it's a black guy, a company in a muslim nation and, as far as I can tell a muslim footballer (so not a cohort?) not participating in pride round. I'm not accusing you specifically of anything, my point is this broader narrative which you have likely picked up on is pretty clearly coming from a specific perspective that I'm not interested in entertaining.

[Happy Days]

Damien Hardwick is a ****ing moron. Of all the people and clubs showing their whole arse in this mess his “who knows what we can and can’t say anymore” is easily the dumbest take of the lot.

[Sedat]

I'm not accusing you specifically of anything, my point is this broader narrative which you have likely picked up on is pretty clearly coming from a specific perspective that I'm not interested in entertaining.

I judge people/organisations solely on their actions and behaviours and not on who they are/what they say, narratives be damned. Through their specific actions, the AFEL once again have shown that they are craven hypocrites without any moral or ethical consistency - that is simply who they are and what they do. Ditto Sydney and also the AFLW with the previously mentioned examples - they are obviously not serious about their messaging when their direct actions betray the message.

I'm well aware that there are some people who are perpetuating a narrative to suit their agenda. Strip it all back and it's all pretty simple - the penalty is 5 weeks (or more), precedent has been well set, punish Rankine and move on. But then don't spend millions on GF entertainment for an artist whose lyrics are so obviously diametrically opposed to your organisations specific views on inclusion and respect for women.