The Cryptkeeper
7 Mar 2008, 23:43
From Friday's Herald Sun comes this story about Melbourne "scout" David Dunbar dressing up as a construction worker in order to spy on a closed training session at a rival AFL club:
AFL's Spying Game Heats Up
Jon Ralph
March 07, 2008 12:00am
THE AFL season is two weeks away but already Melbourne clubs are at each other's throats - over training spies.
The issue of scouting espionage has become so heated it is likely to erupt at next week's coaches' meeting.
Clubs have ejected rival scouts from closed training sessions in recent weeks, with Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson involved in heated exchanges.
Melbourne plays Hawthorn in Round 1 and new Demons scout David Dunbar has repeatedly been ejected from Waverley Park, the third time disguised as a worker in the adjoining construction zone.
Dunbar would not comment yesterday but the Demons are known to be surprised at Clarkson's ferocity in insisting Dunbar leave training.
Clarkson, who in 2005 threatened to remove Sydney scout George Stone physically, zealously guards Hawks training sessions to ensure tactics remain confidential.
After a pre-season full of confrontations, the AFL Coaches' Association has listed the ethics of spying at closed training sessions as an agenda item for Thursday's summit.
At issue is whether spies must leave when spotted during what a club considers a closed session.
Clarkson was led to believe there was a gentleman's agreement in place, but rival clubs said yesterday they had no such understanding.
Coaches' association chief executive Neale Daniher said that while Clarkson had raised the issue in recent years, rival coaches felt they had given him no assurances.
"Alastair thought that was the agreement, but that's not the case, so we will address that issue at our next meeting next Thursday," he said.
"To be fair to Al, it was raised by him, but there was no vote on it. We will have a good discussion about it. There are a number of issues we have to consider."
Clarkson is keen for a policy that all clubs follow.
"If it's warts and all, we will go as hard as anyone, but if the protocol is going to be in place, let's abide by it," he told 3AW.
The issue has reached flashpoint at Waverley Park, which is surrounded by a gym, cafe, construction site and apartments.
Hawthorn's deal to move its training base to Waverley provides remarkable facilities for a peppercorn rent, but zero privacy.
Opposition clubs say several spies have been told to leave the cafe, but a number have watched training by paying for entry to the gym and running on the treadmills that overlook the training surface.
One spy said yesterday a club was considering how it could rent or gain entry to one of the new apartments to watch training without being confronted.
Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said yesterday the club now held off-site training sessions to avoid prying eyes.
"There has been a feeling if you are asked to leave a closed session that you should. That's the general protocol. Some clubs are comfortable with that, others are not," he said.
"Usually from club to club, you end up coming up with an agreement and from our point of view it's important to know what it is beforehand rather than at (the session)."
Hawthorn is also active in the spy game, luring Collingwood opposition analyst John Wardrop to the club in January
Now take a close look at the man pictured second from left in this publicity photograph of the 70's gay pop group The Village People:
http://www.thexfactor.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/538840653_452839dd1c_o.jpg
Is this man David Dunbar, Melbourne Football Club scout?
Or, is this just an eerie coincidence?
You be the judge.
AFL's Spying Game Heats Up
Jon Ralph
March 07, 2008 12:00am
THE AFL season is two weeks away but already Melbourne clubs are at each other's throats - over training spies.
The issue of scouting espionage has become so heated it is likely to erupt at next week's coaches' meeting.
Clubs have ejected rival scouts from closed training sessions in recent weeks, with Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson involved in heated exchanges.
Melbourne plays Hawthorn in Round 1 and new Demons scout David Dunbar has repeatedly been ejected from Waverley Park, the third time disguised as a worker in the adjoining construction zone.
Dunbar would not comment yesterday but the Demons are known to be surprised at Clarkson's ferocity in insisting Dunbar leave training.
Clarkson, who in 2005 threatened to remove Sydney scout George Stone physically, zealously guards Hawks training sessions to ensure tactics remain confidential.
After a pre-season full of confrontations, the AFL Coaches' Association has listed the ethics of spying at closed training sessions as an agenda item for Thursday's summit.
At issue is whether spies must leave when spotted during what a club considers a closed session.
Clarkson was led to believe there was a gentleman's agreement in place, but rival clubs said yesterday they had no such understanding.
Coaches' association chief executive Neale Daniher said that while Clarkson had raised the issue in recent years, rival coaches felt they had given him no assurances.
"Alastair thought that was the agreement, but that's not the case, so we will address that issue at our next meeting next Thursday," he said.
"To be fair to Al, it was raised by him, but there was no vote on it. We will have a good discussion about it. There are a number of issues we have to consider."
Clarkson is keen for a policy that all clubs follow.
"If it's warts and all, we will go as hard as anyone, but if the protocol is going to be in place, let's abide by it," he told 3AW.
The issue has reached flashpoint at Waverley Park, which is surrounded by a gym, cafe, construction site and apartments.
Hawthorn's deal to move its training base to Waverley provides remarkable facilities for a peppercorn rent, but zero privacy.
Opposition clubs say several spies have been told to leave the cafe, but a number have watched training by paying for entry to the gym and running on the treadmills that overlook the training surface.
One spy said yesterday a club was considering how it could rent or gain entry to one of the new apartments to watch training without being confronted.
Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said yesterday the club now held off-site training sessions to avoid prying eyes.
"There has been a feeling if you are asked to leave a closed session that you should. That's the general protocol. Some clubs are comfortable with that, others are not," he said.
"Usually from club to club, you end up coming up with an agreement and from our point of view it's important to know what it is beforehand rather than at (the session)."
Hawthorn is also active in the spy game, luring Collingwood opposition analyst John Wardrop to the club in January
Now take a close look at the man pictured second from left in this publicity photograph of the 70's gay pop group The Village People:
http://www.thexfactor.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/538840653_452839dd1c_o.jpg
Is this man David Dunbar, Melbourne Football Club scout?
Or, is this just an eerie coincidence?
You be the judge.