They were prime ministers less than a month later.
Today, many in the football bubble (not all) forget that clubs are accountable to fans, partners, sponsors, donors and corporate sponsors, so their default position is to take themselves too seriously and the that is really happening. They take on a different personality depending on whether they are inside or outside the club’s multiple walls.
That’s not to say that confidentiality isn’t necessary in many circumstances, but the club’s talk of teaching players to have the courage to express themselves and be true to who they are as individuals comes across as foolish when ethics” the team is the only thing that matters.” it is instantly invoked to help clubs cover up and shuffle the narrative when the need to face the truth becomes essential for a club to move forward.
Eddie Langdon spoke the truth. Surely this can’t be doing the wrong thing. Credit: Getty
The reaction of the Melbourne hierarchy to winger Ed Langdon’s comments that Collingwood was a “one-trick pony” and “all duck no dinner” was instructive of a club’s ethos. Simon Goodwin applied a strong message with a light touch.
“So Ed will hold his hand up and say he made a mistake, but I don’t think we should criticize players for making mistakes when they go out to the media,” Goodwin said.
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Goodwin seemed concerned that it might be interpreted as disrespecting Collingwood, but the effect of what he was saying was to be careful with the truth.
This is not a criticism of Goodwin as he might consider the comments not helpful to his immediate goal of beating the Magpies or legitimately want to protect his player from the barrage of comments that might come his way.
But the underlying sentiment or message (held by many of the clubs at all levels) is that what the players say must be controlled.
Langdon’s comments were his truth and let’s face it, probably not far from the truth. They created a rare atmosphere around the game and gave fans a much-needed reminder of what football should be about.
McVeigh’s comments showed that he has learned that honesty is the best policy.
We can see the Adelaide camp debacle as yet another failure of leadership, an example of over-access to outside players, and we think it is resolved by removing and discarding those responsible and improving integrity measures.
This might help in the short term, but these outrages will happen again until the game learns to handle the truth and respond appropriately to those who put their name to words.
The Western Bulldogs or the Saints or the Blues?
Which team would you rather be with two rounds to go?
Carlton need just one win to reach the finals but could face top-four sides in the final two rounds without their skipper Patrick Cripps.
The Blues’ Patrick Cripps (left) and Charlie Curnow celebrate during a game against the Giants last month. Credit: AFL Photos
The Western Bulldogs need to win both against bottom-six sides, but don’t seem to have a system in place to get them far enough into the finals to make 2022 anything but a disappointment.
St Kilda aren’t good enough but if they beat the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans they will have earned a place in the finals and everyone will rate the Saints as glass half full.
All of this assumes Richmond makes it.
Supporters of the Blues, Bulldogs and Saints can also enjoy the excitement their finals run will provide because they won’t last long in September.
The Blues still have their destiny in their own hands, so they must take this fact as a confidence booster as they attack their biggest fortnight in a decade. And his fans, who have hit the panic button, need to calm down because he’s not helping his team, who seem scared to win.
Carlton are also on the rise, having made positive strides this season and their roster is good. The Bulldogs have developed the talent well, and with the arrival of Liam Jones and possibly Rory Lobb, and the emergence of Sam Darcy and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan they will start better with an easier draw probably in 2023. But the defensive system needs tweaking .
Saints’ roster remains a concern and it could be that no matter what Brett Ratten does, they will remain a mid-table team with mid-range players.
The De Goey option to stay
Jordan De Goey is making it difficult for Collingwood to imagine playing for another club. His performance against Melbourne was his best of the season as he arched his back and pumped his legs to find the space that was so hard to find for most on the ground.
He is linked with his team-mates and manager Craig McRae has made it clear he wants him to stay at the Magpies, but wider competition at the football club and, let’s not forget, a series of off-field incidents have cast doubt on the mind of those outside the football department to see if he can fulfill his end of the bargain.
Jordan De Goey played his best game of the year on Friday nightCredit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
If De Goey was willing to accept a short-term contract to stay with the club he seems comfortable with and be surrounded by those who know him best, he may change the minds of doubters and reveal his commitment to being a teammate and a player who doesn’t. i just like but trust.
It would allow him to enjoy his football with a little less pressure than that which would accompany him at a new club, all but ignoring those who travel the corridors of power unless he gets dirty again. Then, if not already, he would have no one but himself to blame.
Port Adelaide: Upgrade or Reset?
Ken Hinkley has been adamant he will honor his contract to coach Port Adelaide in 2023, his connection with the players and his coaching ability high after 10 seasons in charge where he has led the team to at least 10 wins a season (until this year when they have won eight after losing their first five) and three preliminary finals.
Power coach Ken Hinkley understands the pressureCredits: AFL Photos
Good managers are hard to come by and while a vocal band of Port supporters complain about Hinkley due to his lack of a grand final appearance, Port would be foolish to pull the trigger on the basis that enough has been done time
However, it is up to the club to communicate their plan beyond the end of next season and make the necessary changes around the manager. They need to make sure next season they don’t budge on their commitment to Hinkley if he stays because having a lame duck manager for a season doesn’t do anyone any good. A new commitment to Hinkley with some new faces in support seems a logical approach beyond 2022.
One guarantee is that Hinkley will be honest with himself and the club about what lies ahead, which stands the club in good stead as they plan for next season and beyond.
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