Scandal Dustin Martin in drunken scuffle

[FuManchu]

Unlike the afl?

The AFL has been far more pro active in dealing with social issues. They may not be perfect and they may also make decisions with a fair amount of expediency in their own favour, but they still have championed certain causes which have lead to changes in society. Look at their racial discrimination policy and how that is now viewed. The AFL played a big part in starting the momentum for change.

EDIT: in lieu of the Herald Sun piece on how the AfL and Richmond have tried to play down this story, the AFL have set back their cause 20 years as being a vehicle of change

 

[Bunk Moreland]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...3f8465de7af8563e12ca21493#load-story-comments

Reproduced in full due to paywall

On Monday morning after Tracey first reported that she’d been threatened with being stabbed with a chopstick, it seems that Richmond’s primary concern was not the victim but damage control.

According to sources close to investigation, Richmond club was keen to contain the story, fearful that the allegation would leak to the media.

The club ordered Martin to phone the victim personally and apologise, one could hypothesise in the hopes that would shut her up.

Other Stories

‘Australia famous for drunks and racists’
‘Australia famous for drunks and racists’
El Chapo: ‘We will destroy you’
El Chapo: ‘We will destroy you’
It’s back! SuperCoach 2016 reveal
It’s back! SuperCoach 2016 reveal
Cops contact Shorten over text drive bust
Cops contact Shorten over text drive bust
Windies top order crumbles as Lyon strikes
Windies top order crumbles as Lyon strikes

According to one source a Richmond officer said to the victim “there must be a better way to deal with it than through the media”.

The club then briefed an accommodating journalist only too happy to reveal not only the name of Tracey’s employer but also her specific role within that organisation.

To identify a victim of violence in such a manner is beyond the pale. It not only needlessly traumatises them but is likely to dissuade other victims from coming forward.

One would have hoped we moved past the ugly old days when victims were intimidated into withdrawing complaints or blamed for the aggressor’s actions with a compliant media happy to spin a story to protect ‘the game’.

Once the case was in the public domain and it was clear that more significant action would be required the victim was visited on her own turf, by a seemingly empathetic integrity officer from the AFL along with a representative from Richmond.

But at that meeting, the victim was given the impression the offence was not viewed as a criminal one.

Then when they presented to the victim her statement from the meeting it is understood she was very unhappy about several “falsifications” that played down the extent of her terror and the seriousness of Martin’s actions.

One AFL officer has since been accused by those close to the victim of essentially monstering her; lambasting her for leaking and talking to the media and repeatedly questioning her evidence saying there were contrary views about how far away Martin stood while he threatened to stab her and what he said.

They insisted that she come to AFL House to give a statement.

At that meeting the AFL representatives were said to be rude.

Tracey was questioned about whether she was sure she wanted to proceed with her claim that Martin threatened to stab her with a chopstick, and warned that if she did they would have to refer it to police and it could potentially end his career.

She was also warned that he could be charged with offences carrying jail time of 10 years. They then reiterated the warnings, giving the victim the impression that they wanted her to water down her complaint.

At no point was the victim encouraged to bring someone with her for support or legal advice.

When the AFL eventually referred the matter to police they did not bother to advise Tracey that they had done so.

On social media an AFL staffer used his private twitter account to release the information instead of the AFL’ s official account which has more than 500,000 followers.

But the most shameful conduct, apart from Martin’s alleged explosion of violence, was to come on Thursday evening when the AFL actively briefed the media against the victim once the case was out of its hands.

One of the investigators who had been the most aggressive towards her told her “we’ve washed our hands of this’’.

How is it that these investigators, who are well credentialed former police officers on significant salaries, could be so ham-fisted in their handling of the case?

An integrity officer is charged with protecting the integrity of the investigation but their primary concern appears to have been to protect the image of the game.

At best the handling of this matter has been incompetent, at worst it has been malicious in intimidating a traumatised victim.

The investigators’ insistence that the offences were minor coupled with pressure exerted on the victim to water down her allegation, with claims that it could land Martin in jail, are utterly unscrupulous.

As soon as the allegations were made why wasn’t it determined that it was a criminal matter that should be immediately referred to police?

Why did the league and the club spend four days needlessly distressing the victim and potentially contaminating the case before they eventually referred it to police?

The police’s performance on this issue, has been almost as woeful.

Why could they not have put in a call to the AFL at the outset, when it was surely clear a potential criminal offence had been committed.

Why did it need the Herald Sun to yesterday point out in its newspaper editorial that police could open an investigation despite not receiving a formal complaint?

It was only after that editorial, and after the Herald Sun online revealed the victim had belatedly been advised that threatening to stab or kill is a criminal offence, that the police got involved.

Also, Richmond being allowed to investigate the matter alongside the AFL, who would later assess if the club acted appropriately, is reminiscent of the ASADA fiasco and shows the AFL has learnt little from that saga.

The AFL may pride itself on being a leading light in changing community attitudes towards women but though it talks a good game about respect and responsibility it fails to live up to even the lowest of expectations.

The culture of cover ups and intimidation has seen the league sell out a victim of violence in a vain attempt to protect the brand.

Just a pig of an organisation.

 

[FuManchu]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...3f8465de7af8563e12ca21493#load-story-comments

Reproduced in full due to paywall



Just a pig of an organisation.

Wow. Bloody hell!!!

Now that changes the complexion of everything.

 

[Tyrone Time]

If that story is true, those responsible at Richmond and the AFL are absolute scum and should be named, shamed and run out of the game.

Only a sledgehammer suspension now on Martin will settle this.

 

[Sttew]

If that story is true, those responsible at Richmond and the AFL are absolute scum and should be named, shamed and run out of the game.

Only a sledgehammer suspension now on Martin will settle this.

I am sick of the AFL and clubs sweeping problems under the rug. This has backfired spectacularly.

 

[legend166]

The AFL needs an overhaul from the top down, and fast.

Why would we expect the rest of the organisation to act with integrity when the rotting head that is Mike Fitzpatrick acts the way he does?

 

[Ron The Bear]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...3f8465de7af8563e12ca21493#load-story-comments

Reproduced in full due to paywall



Just a pig of an organisation.

Journo's name please.

Edit: Oh, it's Rita.

 

[ComradeSplutnik]

The words "AFL" and "integrity" should never appear on the same page let alone the same sentence.

 

[Achilles Heel]

Wow. Bloody hell!!!

Now that changes the complexion of everything.

now what where you saying about the AFL, and I am not for one moment condoning martins actions.

 

[Achilles Heel]

The words "AFL" and "integrity" should never appear on the same page let alone the same sentence.

this is the same AFL that condones Match Fixing and Doping, why does anything surprise you?

 

[FuManchu]

now what where you saying about the AFL, and I am not for one moment condoning martins actions.

Didn't you read my edit?

What are your thoughts on Richmond's actions in this too?

 

[Brown Bottle]

The way it was handled was out of control, a frenzy. If Martin should be suspended for a year, what penalty should the Hawthorn players accused of rape get?

More to the point, why aren't we all participating in a 100+ page thread and talking about what shit campaigners they are and how they should be stood down out of Footy forever?

 

[Tyrone Time]

The AFL needs an overhaul from the top down, and fast.
Why would we expect the rest of the organisation to act with integrity when the rotting head that is Mike Fitzpatrick acts the way he does?

Correct. It certainly makes me question my position on some of the things Melbourne, Sydney, Essendon and Adelaide have claimed about their dealings with these clowns. I'm glad the whistle has been blown on this one. Richmond are by no means in the clear over this cover up either.

KB might just get his wish now as the only way the AFL proves these allegations are not correct is by smoking Martin with a crushing suspension.

I hope Erin Riley and the fright bats go to town on the AFL about their hypocrisy towards the treatment of women. This is simply disgusting! The fans (females in particular) need to smash the AFL and Richmond over this. It's time to draw a line in the sand about their filthy cover ups and back room deals!

 

[TropperFarquhar]

Caroline's silence on this matter proves what a poor journalist she is. Biggest story of the offseason and she has written one tame editoral article.

 

[Tyrone Time]

Caroline's silence on this matter proves what a poor journalist she is.

Very good point.

Imagine this was Essendon or North, she'd be going to town!

 

[Rich01]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...3f8465de7af8563e12ca21493#load-story-comments

Reproduced in full due to paywall



Just a pig of an organisation.

According to sources...
It is understood...
Appears to have been...
One could hypothesise...

This reeks of herald sun editorial sensationalism.

 

[blackshadow]

So both the Age and Hun gunning for the AFL over their handling.

The Age also gunning for the cops for inaction and the Hun lambasting Richmond for trying to sweep it all under the carpet.

I'd say Dusty's goose is cooked and there's a fair chance that some heads will roll at AFL House and Punt Road if both major papers run hard with the issue.

 

[TropperFarquhar]

Very good point.

Imagine this was Essendon or North, she'd be going to town!

The most embarrassing article by Wilson was indirectly blaming Dane Swan for leading Martin astray.

 

[peppy la pew]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...3f8465de7af8563e12ca21493#load-story-comments

Reproduced in full due to paywall



Just a pig of an organisation.

Jeebus, that is a sorry arsed story that doesn't help Dusty one little bit.

Yet again the sordid AFL house have tried to sweep muck under the carpet, and again been found wanting. How much longer can those in charge of this organisation remain there ?

Disgraceful behaviour all round from the ex police Integretiy officers. Who are they, throwback jacks from the 80's ?

 

[Tiger2709]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...3f8465de7af8563e12ca21493#load-story-comments

Reproduced in full due to paywall



Just a pig of an organisation.

Who the HUN or the AFL or both, that article has a total of two very small quotes, so its hard to know if it is more of the HUNS usual rubbish or not?

 

[Tyrone Time]

The most embarrassing article by Wilson was indirectly blaming Dane Swan for leading Martin astray.

Surprised she didn't mention Luke Hodge's DUI, that appears to have some relevance/justification for Dusty's actions in the eyes of some Tiger fans!

 

[Achilles Heel]

Didn't you read my edit?

What are your thoughts on Richmond's actions in this too?

they are a part of the AFL

 

[Rich01]

The most embarrassing article by Wilson was indirectly blaming Dane Swan for leading Martin astray.

Which article are you referring to?

 

[Tyrone Time]

More to the point, why aren't we all participating in a 100+ page thread and talking about what shit campaigners they are and how they should be stood down out of Footy forever?

Against my better judgement, I'll take the bait. Unlike Martin's case, it's an allegation they deny even happened. (Same with Daw case).

Hawthorn has made no attempt to cover it up and has fully co-operated with Police from Day 1. Been as open with the media, AFL and supporters as is legally allowed.

IF charged and found guilty, I have no doubt they will be sacked, jailed and playing footy for Barwon prison, not the Hawks! And no club will touch them after any sentence which hopefully would be beyond their playing days anyway.

Your attempted deflection is however pathetic, as is you trying to use the "everyone else is doing it" defence! It's times like these I reckon the fright bats have a point on the culture of AFL fans. The Richmond Football Club, AFL and Dustin Martin are not the victims here, stop trying to act like we are all picking on poor little Dusty. If he did what is alleged, he's a scum bag and deserves a crushing suspension! Only cowards and mice threaten, assault and bully women! This goes beyond tribalism, this is a society issue and enough is enough!

 

[TropperFarquhar]

Which article are you referring to?

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/afl...ustin-martins-punishment-20151208-glipay.html

The focus has been on keeping the player on an even keel. The key, according to the club, has been to maintain routine and regularity in his life. Never mind that Martin still struggles sometimes to behave; that his end-of-season trips with the likes of Dane Swan become journeys other players are told to stay away from