In the past few weeks, every day, I contemplated, read, listened and watched the world of AFL and all that it entails, and I’ve come to a realisation and conclusion resulting in this being a post not about the game on Friday, but about the game and the environment it lives in. I contemplated stopping to write, as it was just not worth it. But I was reminded by someone close that it is something that I love to do, and it is a voice that is different, and if I do stop, then the bullies have won, and I refuse to let that happen.
In the past few weeks, I realised that social media, media commentators, and, more importantly, some supporters are fuelled by their own self-posturing. This serves nothing and does nothing other than make themselves seem more prolific, which results in more ‘clickbait’ for them and their ‘brand.’
In the game against St Kilda, a game that was heralded for being one highlighting the need for more understanding and compassion when it comes to mental health, especially in men. Recently, we saw at Carlton the need for two players to step away from the game for a while to deal with that very factor. Yet at the game, whenever Harry McKay got the ball, the sounds of booing across the ground were mind-boggling. Here, St Kilda are supposedly recognising the need for greater support in mental health that stemmed from the suicide of one of their own, but supporters booed a player who was dealing with mental health issues.
This week, we have heard about the loss of yet another ex-player who died months after the death of his twin brother. The authorities were asked to do a welfare check on him, and he was found dead. The outpouring of emotion from supporters and the media is, in my opinion, at times hypocritical. Here they are sending their love and support behind a great AFL family and rightly so, but on the other hand, they have no issue laying into other current players and coaches who have been openly battling mental health issues with such vitriol that it is disgusting.
The disgusting vitriol shown by some supporters who refuse to understand the modern game and all that it entails could one day have repercussions that go far beyond the simple words on a page or via a phone call on the air.
Tom Boyd, who spoke at the St Kilda game, was at the top of his playing career when he had to step away due to mental health issues and the way the media and some supporters bullied and harassed him. I don’t blame him! Coaches, players and everyone involved at a sporting club understand the damage these so-called ‘experts’ of the game can do to a person who is already dealing with mental health issues and clubs have come out and stated that some have crossed the line, yet no-one listens or is prepared to take action because it means less ‘click-bait’. It is low, disgusting and downright hypocritical. You can be upset and angry at losing a game, but it is just that – a game!
Then there are these so-called Carlton ‘supporters’ who are so steeped in the glory days of the 1980s and 1990s that they just don’t seem to want to understand that the modern game and the environment that it is in are entirely different. Or that no other club has gone through the constant sacking of coaches in the past that Carlton has. Or that the salary cap issue that the club faced sent them back not a few years, but many, many, many years. The utterly ludicrous spoutings from these people are uttered by those who really believe they know and understand the game much better than anyone else could or does. They love the sound of their posturing and voices that their hypocrisy is ‘laid-out-bare’; that one week, the team is the best, the next, the worst. That one week they support a player and the next, they boo them. That one week they support the coach, the next week, sack him.
No, I am not saying in any way, shape or form that the loss against Sydney was not disappointing, but it was not one that signifies the end of the club’s season. We are not even halfway through yet, and for all intents and purposes, for many ‘supporters, that’s it, the season is a disaster! After Round 10 in 2024, Brisbane Lions lost five, won 4, and drew a game. Here we are, Carlton, after Round 10 with six losses and four wins. If you look at it this way, we are only two points behind what Brisbane was last season. Hey, but we are a terrible team after ten rounds, eh?
The loss on Friday was tainted with very poor decision-making from players and the umpires. However, I firmly believe that no matter what is thrown at you, you must overcome that and win despite the poor decisions. To do that takes a step that some are just not ready to do yet because they are not experienced enough, yet.
We are surrounded every day by those who want to hate, belittle, bully, harass and treat others with such disrespect that translates with the nasty vitriol from the media and those on social media. The world is a smaller and more intolerant place than it has ever been. Yet some want nothing more than to promote this using social media as an outlet, or the radio, TV or newspapers.
What will it take for the media, especially, to realise that their words can and will do damage to a person that could lead to another player walking away from the game permanently? What will it take for them to realise that no ex-players want to coach because of how they are spoken about by the media and supporters? This is not a ‘harden up’ situation; it is so real that it has resulted in some players stepping away from the game for a while. Some may choose, in the future, to not come back. How sad would that be for the game?
Never underestimate the impact words can have on a person who puts themselves out there, whether as a player, a coach, or even an umpire (even if they have been terrible this year). They may deserve our disappointment, but they don’t deserve the nasty, bullying vitriol some believe they have the right to spout.
Always will…#GOBLUES!
SPORTZ 