What's wrong with the media?

[tbagrocks]

Coaches leaving press conferences! But why? We all know it's because of the crap the media tries to dictate so, my question is

Is it the Coaches who MUST answer to even the most ludicrous of media dribble they can try manipulate just to get a story or

Do the Coaches who are far superior in football knowledge have to put up with the idiotic and self pretentious media and therefore get t chose when to speak or when to tell em to "Get flowered" ?

[Big Mac]

It's part of their job to be available to answer questions from the media, but if the media ever gets out of line then the coach can definitely tell them where to shove it

[Mailman the 2nd]

It happens in all jobs that have media attention. Actors walk out on scheduled interviews all the time. Most AFL coaches don't really walk out until they get asked like 3-4 consecutive dumb questions that they have to deflect.

Like Hardwick on Rance. He has more important things to do than get bombarded with speculation about where his player is going in the middle of the season. When the media serve up crap, just don't buy into it

[johnnyy23]

A Boo for Barrett

This isn’t a boo for Goodes. This isn’t a boo for Boomer. This is a boo for Barrett.

It seems those commenting on AFL issues can say whatever they want without being held responsible for their opinions. Journalists like Mark Robinson, upfront and hard-hitting, who tackle the toughest topics in footy and admit their mistakes keeping their credibility in tact, are hard to come by. If the integrity of AFL is to be maintained, journalists need to report with a sense of plausibility and accountability that reflects the game’s integrity and pride.

The Australian public admire accountability in journalists. Above all else, beyond entertaining their audience, journalists are responsible for informing and educating the public with plausible ideas, in fields they’re experts in. Presumably, for Damian Barrett, this is AFL.  We encourage and admire contentious discussion that generates debate â€" not nonsense. We don’t encourage journalists to opportunistically take advantage of massive occurrences in our great game, to put their ridiculous ideas in the spotlight to generate attention. We don’t encourage journalists shooting non-sensical sh** at the wall to see what sticks. It seems journalists can be blatantly wrong and move on without being responsible for their opinions â€" without apologising, without taking it back as they should. This reflects poorly on the individual journalist, the AFL media as a whole, and our beloved game.

During the week, Damian Barrett wrote an article in the lead up to Boomer’s 400th game. While it made some decent points and touched on the loyalty owed to Brent Harvey by North Melbourne, Barrett joined the group of journalists opportunistically speculating about Brent Harvey’s playing future, tarnishing the lead up to a brilliant and historical milestone. Damian Barrett can pose that…”Alastair Clarkson and the Hawks seriously asked him the question three seasons ago, and would almost certainly do so again…” but not without considering why, as any respectable journalist should.

Let’s look beyond the fact that the next day Brent Harvey came out stating he wouldn’t play at another club. Let’s look beyond the potential salary cap ramifications for the Hawks. Let’s assess the degree of football understanding behind this comment. Let’s assess, why on earth Damien Barrett thinks Hawthorn would seriously ask the same question three years later.

At the end of 2009, Hawthorn tabled an offer to Josh Kennedy who opted to leave to the Sydney Swans. While his grandfather John Kennedy Sr. was a legend for the Hawks, the strong family ties were not enough to keep Josh Kennedy at the club â€" one of the reasons being that around the likes of Hodge, Sewell, Lewis and even Sam Mitchell (as big of a surprise as that may be to Wayne Carey), Josh Kennedy’s opportunities to break into the best 22 were somewhat limited. Now one of the most prominent midfielders in the league, Josh Kennedy serves as a reminder to Hawthorn, of just how important giving opportunities to young footballers is.

Hawthorn’s ageing list is in a remarkably different position now to what it was 3 years ago. Will Langford, Jonathan Simpkin, Jed Anderson, Billy Hartung, Jonathan O’Rourke, Brendan Whitecross and Alex Woodward are all on the fringe of playing senior footy consistently over the next couple of years. So in assessing why Damien Barrett comments that Hawthorn would again “seriously” consider a 38-year-old for its ageing list; I wonder whether he gave it any proper thought or merely interviewed a 6 year old wearing gold-and-brown at his local Auskick clinic. 

Can Damian Barrett not see that playing Brent Harvey ahead of the younger players on the list would open Hawthorn up to losing them, in a similar fashion to Josh Kennedy in 2009? Can Damian Barrett not see that in the last 3 years Hawthorn have won 2 premierships and are in a markedly different position to what they were then? Can Damian Barrett not see, that if Hawthorn wants another player at the club it would be someone who is a better fit than Brent Harvey at 38? Can Damian Barrett not see, that it isn’t 2007 and Hawthorn doesn’t need a Stuart Dew?

Hawthorn has averaged 116 points this year, the most of any club, boasting one of (if not the) the most damaging forward lines in the league. With small forwards Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo, is Boomer seriously required? With the outside run provided from Isaac Smith, Bradley Hill, Shaun Burgoyne, Liam Shiels and Billy Hartung, the only thing for Hawthorn to seriously consider is how quickly to dismiss Barrett’s claim.

A professional AFL journalist should be able to. Boomer is a gun, and Barrett is a professional. But for someone who’s Twitter account regularly holds the AFL tribunal accountable for mistakes, he’s a big pot calling the kettle black. He has a responsibility to inform and educate his audience, not deal out this sort of rubbish. His comment was outright ridiculous. I feel for the 60-70 year old men who love their footy, read that, took it to their discussions at the local pub and got laughed at by those who were exposed to high quality insightful commentary over the course of the week; such as Dermott Brereton discussing the tactics of Fremantle’s midfield positioning and how other teams have combatted this over the course of the year. 

Damian Barrett, I’ll never be able to listen to anything you say, or read anything you write without cringing. Maybe that’s just because I see you as a shock-jock with access to some industry sources and thousands of misled followers on Twitter. There are people out there who are good at what they do, are professionals and experts in one field or another. If you’re a professional, be one. Put forward your plausible opinions; keep the ridiculous conspiracies to yourself. When you’re wrong, take it back.

If Hawthorn want Brent Harvey, it’s so that he can sit down and have a cup of tea and a nostalgic chat with 86 year old John Kennedy Snr - about how the game’s changed from their time to now, and have a good laugh at the sensationalist fodder published in the media that journalists get away with.

Nighthawk out.

[Spite]

Reminds me of a similar situation in 2006

[Capper]

Well said Johnny

THE AFL media are trying to get in to the Sydney papers and are trying to blow the Adam Goodes thing out of proportion. They are struggled to get even close to the back page of the paper and with all the goings on in the NRL they will never get close.

NSW and QLD are the areas that the AFL wants to break into and get the TV viewers on board.

Well AFL here is a thought. Show us more than 4 games a weekend and dont put shower games on (yes Sydney were even shower on the weekend). The AFL are to blame as much as Barrett and the media

[Holz]

Well said Johnny

THE AFL media are trying to get in to the Sydney papers and are trying to blow the Adam Goodes thing out of proportion. They are struggled to get even close to the back page of the paper and with all the goings on in the NRL they will never get close.

NSW and QLD are the areas that the AFL wants to break into and get the TV viewers on board.

Well AFL here is a thought. Show us more than 4 games a weekend and dont put shower games on (yes Sydney were even shower on the weekend). The AFL are to blame as much as Barrett and the media

Why would the AFL be trying to shine focus on such a negative issue though. I don't believe in any publicity is good publicity.

[fanTCfool]

I know this a little different to what this thread started for, but I just saw this...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/the-fart-that-cost-a-premiership/story-fni5ezdm-1227541699772?from=herald%20sun_rss
The Fart that cost a Premiership

This is ridiculous, Herald Sun.

[nas]

I know this a little different to what this thread started for, but I just saw this...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/the-fart-that-cost-a-premiership/story-fni5ezdm-1227541699772?from=herald%20sun_rss
The Fart that cost a Premiership

This is ridiculous, Herald Sun.

Wherever you may be, let you wind run free!

Doesn't pay rent, evict it.

[Capper]

Well said Johnny

THE AFL media are trying to get in to the Sydney papers and are trying to blow the Adam Goodes thing out of proportion. They are struggled to get even close to the back page of the paper and with all the goings on in the NRL they will never get close.

NSW and QLD are the areas that the AFL wants to break into and get the TV viewers on board.

Well AFL here is a thought. Show us more than 4 games a weekend and dont put shower games on (yes Sydney were even shower on the weekend). The AFL are to blame as much as Barrett and the media

Why would the AFL be trying to shine focus on such a negative issue though. I don't believe in any publicity is good publicity.

The AFL want people in Sydney who dont know anything about AFL talking about AFL any way they can