Family Day Concerns

[BUCKS THANKS]

I will probably get smashed for this but was at the family day on sat and was sad to see the way people conducted themselves around the players and to the players credit they were exceptional.

I got there at about 10:45 and the line for autographs was half an oval size, I know we go there to see the players and meet and greet but the way people carried on and for some players Pendles and scotty burns they were stuck in the one spot for the couple of hours I was there, to me I felt bad and embarassed for them.

Yes I understand we help pay there wages and the players were great the way they handled themselves, I remember going to the family days at Vic Park as a youngster and it was great but now most people are after a sig to sell on ebay and make a quick buck. I just hope the young kids got to see there fav players and had there photo's taken with them.

I have a little 4 year old boy and he had the time of his life in the footy clinic thanks to the great coaching staff, my idol was Gavin Brown and to see him taking my son for a clinic was priceless.

I just felt for the players and embarrased at times for the way people behaved around them, it was almost paparazzi like the way the players were hounded and some people were just down right rude I know its exciting to see them and am happy they only have that once a year and I bet the players are glad its over too.

[The Royal Sampler]

It certainly did look as though they were mobbed by the fans that turned up. You're right, they're probably relieved it's only once a year.

[martyTHOMAS]

I felt sorry for Dale Thomas, when he was signing autographs up the front near the stage everyone was just going 'come on Dale, hurry up come over here, don't forget us' When he did get to where i was he was nothing but nice.

[hellfire]

I felt sorry for Dale Thomas, when he was signing autographs up the front near the stage everyone was just going 'come on Dale, hurry up come over here, don't forget us' When he did get to where i was he was nothing but nice.

He deals with the attention suprisingly well. I've met him a few times outside of footy - at the races, at a couple of clubs etc. - and while you can sometimes see he is a little frustrated because he just wants to be left alone, he still smiles and has a bit of a chat.

[Snag Breac]

I will probably get smashed for this but was at the family day on sat and was sad to see the way people conducted themselves around the players and to the players credit they were exceptional.

I got there at about 10:45 and the line for autographs was half an oval size, I know we go there to see the players and meet and greet but the way people carried on and for some players Pendles and scotty burns they were stuck in the one spot for the couple of hours I was there, to me I felt bad and embarassed for them.

Yes I understand we help pay there wages and the players were great the way they handled themselves, I remember going to the family days at Vic Park as a youngster and it was great but now most people are after a sig to sell on ebay and make a quick buck. I just hope the young kids got to see there fav players and had there photo's taken with them.

I have a little 4 year old boy and he had the time of his life in the footy clinic thanks to the great coaching staff, my idol was Gavin Brown and to see him taking my son for a clinic was priceless.

I just felt for the players and embarrased at times for the way people behaved around them, it was almost paparazzi like the way the players were hounded and some people were just down right rude I know its exciting to see them and am happy they only have that once a year and I bet the players are glad its over too.

You have a very valid concern. The public response to the players is partly a result of the celebritisation of footy. It's inevitable that once you pair sport with big business that sponsors will want their pound of fit flesh - and that means the players will have to be "out there". You see it in everything for Didak's plug for Armani "one of our sponsors" on the stage yesterday to the St Kilda players last night thanking NAB - it's cringemaking.
There's also the fact that too many people are simply rude and disrespectful. As you say, they've come to get something signed and will achieve their aim no matter what. It's up to the club to protect their players more effectively from that. It was alarming to see Dale mobbed, and with no way of escaping yesterday.
Maybe our taking photos and posting them here is also intrusive; although as it's a family day and a public event I would have thought that was fine. I think however, it's not on to approach players when they're off duty. They are entitled to a life. We were in the Lexus Centre Cafe having coffee last year when Dale walked in. We pretended we hadn't noticed. Ha! Grace Darling thinks she should get into heaven for her good behaviour on that occasion alone.:p

[malteaser]

I agree with what everyone is saying it's a disgrace. I have noticed the difference since I was a young girl in the 70's and compared to today, the way people go about making the family day a money making opportunity.

If we don't watch out, players will be off limits like the way they are in Soccer and the NFL. It's nearly getting that way now. as far as know, AFL is the only sport that allows the general public down to the change rooms.

[MagpieGirl_13]

Well I've never been to a family day before so I can't comment too much on that, but I'd hope that people would be showing respect to these players. Our players are here to do their job, just like anyone goes off to work every day to earn a living, these blokes play footy for a living. They deserve respect.

I suppose Family Day is a chance for fans to meet their favourite players, get autographs & photos. The players are obviously happy to oblige because that is what they have to do as part of their job.

Imagine if you were a professional footy player & you were walking down the street when some stranger comes up to you asking for your autograph? I think that is an invasion of their privacy, & I'd hope that people don't do that to them on a regular basis.

I really do feel for Dale though, he is just a player in the team but ends up getting so much attention. He is just like any other bloke out there except he plays for Collingwood. & he probably has a following of teenage girls who just want to marry him or something :rolleyes:. What if he played for another team? would he get as much attention?

I'm surprised that the reports I'm hearing about some poeple at Family Day, I personally think it a rather disgraceful, athough it is probably the minority.

[Visions]

I agree that there were moments yesterday where some fans took it that step too far to get an autograph. There were a few players that were posted in certain sections of the oval (it seems on purpose) and most fans were orderly in their requests, waiting patiently.

However when some players were making their way down to the autograph tent, they were mobbed by fans from all over and some were downright rude. I remember a mum with three young kids, one of them a girl around 10yo who once she saw a player would run and try and bust her way through the mob that had congregated around the player and her mum would urge her on. Disrespectful.

[The Frederick]

If we don't watch out, players will be off limits like the way they are in Soccer and the NFL. It's nearly getting that way now. as far as know, AFL is the only sport that allows the general public down to the change rooms.

Umm... what? A-League players appear everywhere.

[Pie eyed]

I think he is talking about "real" soccer players.
You know in Europe etc.

[The Frederick]

Well, maybe he should stick to what he knows and not talk about "real" sports players, i.e. non-AFL players.

[Hoggy]

Well, maybe he should stick to what he knows and not talk about "real" sports players, i.e. non-AFL players.

Do f*** off you negative c***.

[MarkT]

The club should organise a rotation so the like of a Burns gets excused after half an hour or so. An official just has to come and collect him and say sorry folks we need Scott for xyz but we’ve got Nick Maxwell to sign some autographs for half and hour or so. That way the player gets out of it without anyone being insulted.


Just a side comment, when I was a kid players were more accessible and when these events took place it wasn’t as big a deal. As a kid I’d have a kick on Vic Park after the game and then we’d wait to get autographs or some times get into the rooms after a game. I remember one time we were I n the rooms after a game and Ron Wearmouth was having a beer. My mate said good game Ronny to which Ron relied bullshit or something similar. It’d probably be front page news now and Ronny would be counselled and dropped from the leadership group but it was a laugh at the time. If you waited in the stand before the game players would often come out to watch the reserves and sign the odd autograph. There were no mob scenes. It was all very casual. Player had a drink at the local and people didn't attack them. Times have changed.

[tess]

Just a side comment, when I was a kid players were more accessible and when these events took place it wasn’t as big a deal. As a kid I’d have a kick on Vic Park after the game and then we’d wait to get autographs or some times get into the rooms after a game. I remember one time we were I n the rooms after a game and Ron Wearmouth was having a beer. My mate said good game Ronny to which Ron relied bullshit or something similar. It’d probably be front page news now and Ronny would be counselled and dropped from the leadership group but it was a laugh at the time. If you waited in the stand before the game players would often come out to watch the reserves and sign the odd autograph. There were no mob scenes. It was all very casual. Player had a drink at the local and people didn't attack them. Times have changed.

Careful there Mark, but as you say times have changed.

I don't bother with family days anymore because of the BS that goes on, I feel for the guys but as you say if the Club wanted to it could be done better.

I guess we either go with the times as they change or we are left behind.

[favourites]

I dont bother with family day for the above reasons. I just have a casual chat to the guys if i catch them out and about... had a chat to both BJ and Heater on Sunday night, in a much more relaxing environment, however again they were hearded by people at times and im sure they begin to wonder whether its worth going out.

Mind you I am never abrupt about the conversation, I dont charge in and talk about footy, I approach it as if I was talking to a "normal" human being, something that alot of people whould learn about.

[rowdybrown26]

Like the two previous posts I don't bother with the family day's anymore either. Too many people being too pushy to get an autograph.

Back in the day it was still busy but the players were less hounded. You'd often find a bunch of them standing around doing they're thing. They'd have time to have a chat with you or a photo whereas these days they don't because someone is too busy shoving you out of the way.

Its less personal but a Autograph station would solve it. You can still get photos and autographs but at least the players aren't 'mobbed'. People form a queue and there is the table between them to give them breathing space. Like they do at the Tennis. It would have queues yes but it would be better for the players.

I just count myself lucky that I had so many good times at the family day's when I was younger... kids of today don't have it as easy.

[Hoggy]

I dont bother with family day for the above reasons. I just have a casual chat to the guys if i catch them out and about... had a chat to both BJ and Heater on Sunday night, in a much more relaxing environment,

Lower Plenty pub?

[favourites]

G-Bung Polo Club. not sure if that is the same thing, its in hawthorn.

[Hoggy]

Oh ok, they generally hang around the Lower pub, well the Shaw boys, BJ, Pendles, Tarrant used to be a regular.