Supporter Of The Sydney Swans
I am putting my hand up to confess that I am a longtime supporter of the Sydney Swans. What did Confucious say? ‘May you live during interesting times’ or words to that effect, perhaps. Regular readers may be aware of the many posts I have written about the fortunes of the red and white AFL side this year. In an ironic twist, I have been bemoaning the lack of on-field mongrel in this normally squeaky clean team. Hells bells, I did not wish to shake down the thunder from the sky. What I wanted was some more fight and desperation out on the footy field. What we have all got, it appears, is some God awful, alleged sexual assault.
Sexual Assault Allegation & The Swans
I agree with the sentiment put forward by footy journalist Gerard Whateley that first up respectful acknowledgement must be granted to the alleged victim in this situation. It is always unfair and imbalanced in these circumstances when all the attention invariably goes to the celebrity sportsmen, but that is the way our culture operates. Footy fans barrack for their team, but that is not to say they condone alleged crimes committed by players, especially against women. It is an unfortunate event on so many levels.
Sydney Swans & The Sexual Crime Unit
At this point in time, I do not know what exactly transpired and by who. Several Swans players have gone out to a pub following an AFL match played late on Sunday at the MCG against Essendon. It seems they have returned to their Melbourne hotel, the Pullman, and the alleged female victim or victims have been intimately involved with a player. Later, but early in the morning, a woman has screamed out that she has suffered a sexual assault and raised the attentions of others. The Victoria police have been called and an investigation into the alleged sexual assault has been launched. Head coach Dean Cox was confronted by the alleged victim at some point in the morning in the hotel lobby or hallway. In a brief interview with the media Cox expressed shock and disappointment that this event had allegedly occurred.
RIP Sydney No Dickheads Policy
To say that this episode is out of character for the Sydney Swans club is an understatement. For decades this club has been the paragon of virtue in the sporting firmament. No footy club has been more diligent in its presentation of a squeaky clean and sensible image to the world than Sydney. Celebrated former coach Paul Roos instigated a ‘no dickheads’ policy, which has kept the club in good stead for many years. This was carried on by the most recent former head coach John Longmire over his decade in charge. It will be deeply disappointing to the entire hierarchy of this admired professional organisation that something of this nature has hit the club. It is a slap in the face to current coach Dean Cox and totally disrespectful to the hard work he and the staff have put in.
The Dumbest & Stupidest Decision In Years
What were these players doing out and about in Melbourne late at night one week before the home and away season finishes? Sydney are second on the AFL ladder and finals bound. Normally, the team would fly back to Sydney but the late scheduling time of the match against the Bombers meant no access because of the Sydney airport curfew. Still, it is never a good idea to tempt fate as a celebrity footballer at nightspots in Melbourne. The no dickheads thing obviously went out the window for these players. The most shocking aspect of this terrible event is that these were not young inexperienced members of the team. No, these were two of the most high profile senior stars of the Sydney Swans. One was the Vice Captain and most awarded player in recent times. This was the dumbest, most stupidest move ever made in modern AFL afterhours history. This has likely cruelled the chances of a possible premiership for the club.
What About The Victim?
Now, immediately some readers may think who cares and what about the victim? Fair point, but I am not in possession of these facts pertaining to the welfare of the alleged victim. I cannot speculate about things I know nothing about. This information will be forthcoming in time. Remember I am putting my hand up to confess that I am a longtime supporter of the Sydney Swans. This is my tribal affiliation every week of the footy season. I have at times expressed how crazy it is to put one’s happiness into the hands of 23 young men you don’t even really know. That, however, is the reality of being a rusted on footy club supporter or member. You learn to ride the highs and lows accordingly, but not this left field stuff.
This is an unwelcome shock to the system. I am a longtime supporter of the Sydney Swans.
Star Swans Definitely Don’t Walk On Water
It has to be acknowledged that this monumental stuff up has involved several of the star players at the Sydney Swans. It is bloody hard to fathom what they were thinking or an individual player was thinking in inviting these women back to their hotel room. Alcohol must have been involved, as no clear thinking person in their position would choose such a potentially dangerous action. The transgressions involved are so serious that it could end their career. Human dynamics involving sexuality never end well in the majority of cases, especially in this day and age and being inclusive of sporting celebrities. There is a power imbalance here, when young women are involved in one night stands with star footy players. People get hurt and it is usually the female, whether that be emotionally, physically or mentally.
Reputations matter on both sides of the ledger.
Sinking Premiership Hopes Down To Big Heads
Is this an example of star power gone to the head of the holder? Did these footy celebrities think that they were bigger than the game? Bigger than their club? Bigger than the AFL? This is why I think that booze must have been involved. The decision making in this whole saga was completely awry. The modern world has eyes everywhere and in Melbourne, the home of AFL too! This is the dumbest move I have encountered in decades by footy players out and about. It reflects really badly on Dean Cox. It is incredibly damaging to these players themselves. The police investigation will have to run its course and we do not know the full ramifications of that. Sex, power and celebrity are tipping points in a dangerous game of snakes and ladders, especially in a moral world. Falling foul of the opprobrium from the society in which you live and work in is no small thing. Perhaps, this is just another example of the falling standards within a world where Donald Trump rules as king.
Bringing The Game Into Disrepute
AFL players being paid millions of dollars a season have a contracted role that they must fulfil. They are not allowed to mess up and make fools of themselves like some ordinary young guys do. The deal is to play footy at the highest level, don’t bring the game into disrepute via your behaviour and get rewarded with the big bucks and public acclaim. Isaac Heeney has been the face of AFL on TV ads for toothpaste smiles, with his blonde hair and good looks. He has always come across as a nice young guy, perhaps too squeaky clean for some. We have noticed a few tattoos gracing his skin of late and rumours have put this down to the influence of the lady in his life. This latest malfeasance is something else again. Is this some latent dark side emerging at long last? If it is, it could not have picked a worse time in season to do so. Suspension from the finals has been mooted and
I am reminded of another Isaac’s indiscretion from last year at the Adelaide Crows and how that ended for his team in the finals. We will have to wait to hear the full story but the Swans are going to enact punishments upon these players ASAP.
Shit Storm Engulfs Sydney Swans
You know, when I first heard about this shit storm, I immediately pegged it to some youngsters in the team. How wrong I was. That it involves Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordan and Riley Bice – all senior players is a body blow to the hopes of this longtime Swans supporter. Nick Blakey’s name is, also, being bandied about. You would not have picked this derailment of club premiership hopes in a million years. I have written about how these AFL players are like Peter Pans in the way they live these secluded lives inside a bubble. About how, perhaps, it can be a challenge to grow up when everything is done for you. These young guys work physically very hard for years to perform at their peak. They are subject to mental pressures around their performance and that of their team. But many of the normal issues the rest of us have to encounter, like making a living are taken off the table for years.
Life inside a cosseted bubble can warp the values of some. Is this an example of this, perhaps?
Obsolete Observation Of Last Week
“A little bit of Sydney Swan’s history. Paul Roos instigated a ‘no dickheads’ policy at the club, back in the 2000s. This has carried on under John Longmire and now Dean Cox. The Swans have a great culture at the footy club. But is it too squeaky clean? Football clubs are a collection of different types or they used to be, anyway. In my opinion, if there is too much homogeneity, sides can lack important elements in their make-up. Mongrel factor can reside inside dickheads. It takes all sorts to make a champion team. Something to ponder on. Think about some of the great mongrels: Malcolm Brown at Richmond and his son Campbell Brown at Hawthorn; Peter Bosustow at Carlton; Leigh Matthews at Hawthorn; Tim Watson at Essendon, John Worsfold at West Coast, Tony Liberatore at the Western Bulldogs; Gary Ablott at Geelong; Carl Ditterich at St Kilda; and Barry Hall at St Kilda and the Swans. Luke Parker now at North. There are many more, of course.”
I am a longtime supporter of the Sydney Swans.
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of The Stoic Golfer; The AI Heresy; What Price Life?; America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump; and other titles. NOW AVAILABLE AT APPLE BOOKS & GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS. Google Play Books AUDIOBOOK
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