Collingwood's drinking culture

[Ondie J]

The media always loves to hype up events and tear someone down. Wonder how many more people are actually caught doing this type of thing but because they aren't an icon, the media world doesn't really care. The way the world spins.

[rcon]

The media always loves to hype up events and tear someone down. Wonder how many more people are actually caught doing this type of thing but because they aren't an icon, the media world doesn't really care. The way the world spins.

That is my point tho - Joe Who isn't reaping $1,000,000 per year in salary and sponsorship deals that are directly dependent on him being a role model for little kiddies etc. Of course the media doesn't care.

[stevo]

I agree totally! Players know what they are getting into when they sign an AFL contract however how many actually expect to become a Gary Ablett or a Buddy Franklin and become stars and huge role models for kids all over Australia, probably not many and therein lies a big part of the problem, they don't actually realise what influence they may hold over children etc. and they can't actually deal with the stardom/spotlight that the media piles on them. I definitely agree that with the amount of money they get paid just to participate in the sport they love that they should be able to make these kind of trade-offs, after all it is this spotlight that is a big part of the reason for them getting paid so much!

Anyway, good that Shaw and Didak got suspended for the rest of the season.

[maccatak11]

As far as I'm concerned, what players do outside of their club is their own business - unless it affects their playing performance.

You can't tell me that players being out at 3am on a Sunday night, TWO days after a game, and with only 5 days until their game isn't going to affect their training, preparation and subsequent performance in upcoming games. Of course it will.

[BigPete33]

Only just caught up on this thread....

This is one of those topics that will always always always be discussed when something like this happens.

I think it's absolutely fair to say those that play competetive sport at the top level are role models whether they like it or not. People (which obviously includes little kiddies) follow their favourtie sports team, so quite naturally they'll have their favourtie players and so on who they will cheer their heads off for. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.

If a player that is looked up to goes and does the wrong thing (legally or morally) then that WILL have a negative influence on both themselves AND the club they play for. It's also very true that the media makes an even bigger deal about it and generally just makes things worse (especially in the UK).

So who's fault is it?

Is it the clubs for paying them too much money? Is it the publics for hero worshipping athletes? Is it the medias for sensationalising things and speculating on facts?

Nup.

It's the players themselves because they are adults and are responsible for their own actions. They have nobody to blame but themselves and they should be absolutely flogged for it. It is a clear failure to meet their responsibilities to themselves as an athlete and to their club as an empoyee and also to the clubs fans as a role model.

[Scotty]

So who's fault is it?

Is it the clubs for paying them too much money? Is it the publics for hero worshipping athletes? Is it the medias for sensationalising things and speculating on facts?

I heard it was Pete's fault.

It's always Pete's fault.

[BigPete33]

I've got nothing for that mate