What we're talking about

b on Attendance not worrying Demitriou Andrew Demitriou says he's not concerned Neither is the rest of the public HAHAHAHA. more
Jason on Attendance not worrying Demitriou Football has become a very soft game and is nothing like traditional VFL. A game that was once played by men as a contact ... more
Mylene on Attendance not worrying Demitriou There's an extra team in the competition and a every team gets a by. Factor that in and there's actually more people ... more
gbh on Time to punish abusive AFL fans? Grow a pair, Seb. more
Taking the Mikie on Time to punish abusive AFL fans? It is unAustralian NOT to abuse the umpire at an AFL game. But one should do so politely, caringly, without malice or foul ... more
col on Demetriou 'doesn't get it' Can we the people of the game get rid of Demetriou more
col on Time to punish abusive AFL fans? Hey Demetriou start selling good food at the footy and the behavior will change, Sell crap and you get crap more
Enoch Powell on Time to punish abusive AFL fans? In this country we are free to yell and scream if we want to, please don't try to take this right away from us, it is bad ... more
Mark on Demetriou 'doesn't get it' Adolf Demetriou should be a dictator in the Middle East.The play is very fast now and things happen in a split second. I am ... more
ian on Demetriou 'doesn't get it' Get a real job andy,you get paid more than a P/M what a joke. more
Susan on Demetriou 'doesn't get it' Join the sad fans who are mourning the death of the tackle this week and wear a black armband to your game. All games, not ... more
Chris on The tackle heard around the world The match review panel is a joke the tackle itself was within the rules of the game, whether an injury is sustained from the ... more
Ken of Euroa on The tackle heard around the world Australian Rules Football is the greatest game in the world. We have a well run competition with great stadiums and amazing ... more
brendan cohen on The tackle heard around the world That was a perfect tackle.If the AFL uphold the suspension, then the AFL should be dissolved; and all the footballers should ... more
Pedro on The tackle heard around the world WHO CARES, last week this mob were back stabbing the coach!! more
Matt - proudly Un-Australian on The tackle heard around the world "Heard around the world"...hahahaha sorry to break it to to old white bogans from 3AW but nobody around the world has heard ... more
Kelli Mcleod on The tackle heard around the world The AFL have no credibility. Inconsistent tribunal decisions, three weeks for a good tackle is a disgrace. Umpires on ... more
Steve on The tackle heard around the world If this was a North player Mitchel would not have given it air time... more
Simon on The tackle heard around the world I barrack for St. Kilda and I think that Jack Trengrove was VERY stiff with this decision. His tackle was a perfect example ... more
Harvey on North Melbourne getting left behind Congratulations, another person taking an easy pot shot at my club. I'll think you'll find that we're doing everything that ... more

Try that if you're not a footballer

Posted by: Derryn Hinch | 1 September, 2010 - 5:22 PM

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EDITORIAL: There’s a huge headline in the Herald Sun today which I think sums up where the football bosses, and the Players’ Association, and some footy supporters and the media have gone wrong.

Sums up why Ben Cousins is treated like a hero. Sums up why, in another field of heroes, Matthew Newton is being treated like a victim rather than the women he bashed. The headline read: 'Brave Tuck walks tough track'.

What’s so brave about somebody turning to illegal drugs to escape from their problems? Even if they do suffer from depression?

And these drugs are illegal. You wouldn’t have known it listening to Adrian Anderson the AFL’s legal eagle last night.

He stressed that Travis Tuck’s problem was not what he called ‘recreational drugs’. It was ‘a severe by-product of clinical depression’.

And another Herald Sun headline summed up the impotency and what I believe to be the illegality of the Three Strikes policy. The headline says: 'Drugs policy finally bares its teeth'. I would say bares its gums.

If it had any teeth a third striker would be banned for life. At least his club’s president and board should have been told they had a problem in their ranks after the first strike.

And surely a young man’s parents had the right to know that not only was their son taking illegal drugs but he had been diagnosed as clinically depressed.

How can a football administration think that they know best? On this one Jeff Kennett is right. He is not only the president of the club that employs Tuck, he is the head of Beyond Blue. Surely Kennett and his organisation could have helped Tuck yonks ago.

And how about Victoria Police ? I couldn’t believe Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe and his comment that charging Tuck was ‘not in the best interests of the community’.

We checked with Police and this was their official statement: "Before pursuing any investigation for ‘use and possess’ offences at incidents of non-fatal overdoses, members are to first consider whether this action is in the best interests of the community. Removing the fear of prosecution may encourage people present at overdoses to call for any ambulance without delay."

Tuck was found unconscious in his car. Does that mean that if a drunk is found unconscious they don’t get booked for being in control of a vehicle?

Try that defence if you’re not a footballer.

Not a happy team at Hawthorn

After Travis Tuck was suspended by the AFL for 12 matches after his Friday night overdose led to a third positive test to illegal drugs, Hawthorn could barely hide its fury over being kept in the dark by the AFL over its player's clinical depression and drug issue.

READ:

AFL's full and unedited statement regarding Travis Tuck

AFL Stance - He's been receiving treatment and OD was relapse

Mike Sheahan on the 'three strike' Tuck

Drug Foundation: GHB's high 'overdose rate' and is hard to get

Joel Selwood on how AFL players 'respond to the news'

Talkback callers on the 'three strike' policy

Caroline Wilson on Breakfast

Neil Mitchell's editorial

Blog comments

The internet and global media is not a private forum! People have been trying to explain that one for years. Don't believe me, ask Stephanie Rice. Honestly, you are placing police and afl players in the same mould? I expect nothing from overpaid sportchildren but I expect a lot from my police force. Our children model themselves on "us" on a daily basis and should be encouraged to see sports and media people for what they are, sports and media people. They new the rules, they broke the rules. A shame when it is their own sworn duty to enforce the rules. Harsh, yes, but at least someone is trying to hold people to a decent social standard. IF the emails were harmless, there would be no issue

paddy Thursday 9 September, 2010 - 6:49 AM
One rule for the 'pampered and puncy' AFL players, one rule for everyone else. AFL players are not above the law, they're mearly average men who play a sport as their job, nothing less, just a normal citizen and should face the same punishment as everyone else.

Atina Saturday 4 September, 2010 - 4:56 AM
4 Police Officer's got sacked last week, not for a Criminal Act, but for sending 'inapropriate' e-mails to each other, had there superior's/OPI not made a song and dance over this matter. No one would have known let alone cared. Football Player's and Television personalities commit Ciminal Act's in the Public Area (Let's not forget whom our kids are exposed to on a daily basis and no doubt model themselves on). CLEARLY there are two sets of rule's. One for those in the Public Area and one for the Mug Copper who send's a bloody E-mail to someone else they know in what one would expect to be a private forum. I can only wonder what would have happened had they used an envelope and stamp, then who would be commiting the Criminal Act.

whosthecrook Thursday 2 September, 2010 - 9:17 AM
As far as I'm concerned the AFL is an accessory to illegal drug use amongst players. They are allowing the continued use of illegal drugs through the secret 3 strikes policy and then only slap a pathetic 12 match ban on a druggy.
Get serious, zero tolerance with a lifetime ban. Fair enough if they want to provide rehabilitation for the druggy, but don't let them back on the field.
Little wonder with AFL's drug policy that many in the community believe illegal drug use is acceptable.

Simon Wednesday 1 September, 2010 - 7:17 PM