Scape Goat Alleged SPP incident/broken curfew + malicious and exploitative reporting by Channel 7 news

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GremioPower

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If this had of been reported to the cops it would have taken 6 months to get processed - innocent till proven guilty - and the AFL couldnt have imposed any penalty until a court case gave a decision. What a ******* bizzario world we live in that its not even serious enough to be reported, yet if it was he would have likely only got a one week club suspension for being pissed after a curfew. The world is going mad with nanny state rules and regulations.
All true. There is an expression to describe that: anarcho-totalitarianism. But let's focus on the case before us. At this point, we can just speculate about it.

AFL seems to have taken this as an opportunity of being seen as good just fair progressive-minded protectors of the women (sic). At least, AFL has taken it as an opportunity for making Channel 7 to own the league a big favor. Regardless of the motivation, they seem willing to bring the hammer down hard on SPP. Yet, two weeks on, and... nothing! Something is holding AFL back; otherwise, they would have brought up SPP's penalty.

This could be a sign they have problems with justification. AFL hasn't found yet how to properly justify the penalty. Thus, the league would believe that an unjustified sanction could backfire. If this is the case (huge "if"), someone would not be playing the role AFL expects him to play — it could be SPP, Port, both, someone else, etc. And that would actually matter, which would be huge if true.

AFL would be in a situation where it cannot simply do whatever and get out with it. If it brings the hammer wrongly, it may get its bullshit called out — for instance, the avenue to the Human Rights Commission is ready and wide open. Worse, if AFL is silent, SPP and/or Port would get it as an authorization to sue Channel 7. So, silence is not an option either.

By standing on his ground, SPP would have left the AFL between a rock and a hard place; but just because the league wants to protect its and its partner's image. Still, this only makes the league wanting his scalp more than ever, although they haven't found how yet.

Port should put SPP as Emergency for the SANFL game against Sturt. If nothing happens until then, SPP should play. This would rule him out of the game against North, but it would point out that we are willing to take him to Perth. That would be an unofficial three-game suspension, that Port and SPP would present as a token of good-will.

AFL would have the opportunity to wash its hands, ending the investigations and declaring that the three-week absence would be more than enough to cover for any wrongdoing SPP may have committed, even though the investigations were inconclusive. SPP would be free to play at his homestate, while his and PAFC's lawyers would seat with Channel 7's to see whether they can close a deal, with AFL as mediator — to reinforce its public image of being good, just, and fair.
 

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Janus

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"Port didn't read the tea leaves"...code for get ready the AFL is going to do a number on you?
No, code for we should have suspended Sam for the behaviour, not for the fact that he was drunk/broke team rules.

That’s why we want the sexual misconduct part removed - so we can say that he has already served two of the three weeks for breaking the respect and responsibility policy in a generic sense.
 

Papa G

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Also Caro and Footy Classified were good there I thought.

They are correct, there shouldn't be any negotiation. He is either guilty and there is evidence to come to that decision, or he isn't/there is no evidence. Either charge him, or charge 7.

The only part they got completely wrong was the "vision". Wtf is going on there... that's clearly not the girl in question, my understanding was that it's his mate's gf and they are mucking around after a night out.

Honestly I wish Port would just release their vision of the whole night which Kochie claims to have. Will never happen of course.
Yeah I heard it a little different to that. I thought they were kind of going down the path that the AFL is the Judge, Jury and executioner, the AFL don't lose, Port should really have just accepted it, thrown Sam under the bus and basically just taken it up the arse.
 

70sDinosaur

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Also Caro and Footy Classified were good there I thought.

They are correct, there shouldn't be any negotiation. He is either guilty and there is evidence to come to that decision, or he isn't/there is no evidence. Either charge him, or charge 7.
I assume there is a "negotiation" going on because the AFL knows it is trying to do something that would be found to be illegal if challenged in a real court, as Port is threatening to do. The AFL doesn't want to go to court so is trying to reach a compromise/settlement.
 
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Port need to cut the BS and sy to Gill the Dill "look, we are calling a presser this morning to exonerate Sam, and he will read a prepared statement. You can work WITH us on this, or we go it alone and take you to Court if you try to screw us over. We will call your bluff. The image tarnishing you will get will never be able to be glossed over. With us or against us - your choice".

The prepared statement should be along the lines of....
"Thank you for coming today. I am here to say that the investigation into alleged claims of sexual misconduct, impropriety and assault, as alleged by sections of the media, has been investigated thoroughly, and proven to be unsubstantiated. I am relieved to have put this episode to a conclusion. No one can imagine the stress and emotional anxiety this has placed on me personally. I acknowledge that I was at fault for breaking a Club curfew and reaching a level of inebriation on the night of <<insert date>>. For that I incurred a Club imposed sanction and penalty, which I accepted without question.
As for the other allegations, I have steadfastly maintained my innocence in regard to those issues from the beginning, and continue to do so. I know the truth of what went on, and I am proud of the fact that I refused to be bullied and coerced into signing something that I know was a false document. I am glad that the truth has been finally proven.
This has been a chastening experience. I am a 20 year old young man away from home and family, in the bright lights of the city, and doing what probably 90% of 20 year old males would have done at least once in their lives - I stayed up late and got a little drunk. Many other AFL footballers have done far worse than this, and received a fraction of the trauma I have had to endure. I guess that is the price you pay for being in a two team town!
Anyway, I have resolved to use this as a learning tool. I want to be a good footballer and a good person, and a leader within my Club. I WILL learn from this episode, and I will become stronger, better and will use this experience to counsel other young men about the pitfalls of making poor choices and placing yourself in a position whereby bad things can happen to you.
I want to use this as a positive experience going forward in my life.
We would all be aware of the recent tragedy of a young indigenous footballer from my home start, and what can happen to a person's emotional head space when allegations are thrown around recklessly. The issue of youth depression is one of the most serious issues in society today. None of us wants that to happen again.
In this type of situation - THERE ARE NO WINNERS. Everybody loses. My sympathies go out to the young lady, also only 20, and what she must have been going through. If she had to endure anything remotely like I did, then I am truly sympathetic to her case, and I hope that she can recover and go forward, as I intend to. The Club has made counselling available to her, so I hope she either uses that, or seeks counsel with someone else she feels she can trust, so that we can both move forward in our lives.
I would encourage you to also respect her privacy, and not unnecessarily hound her looking for a sensationalist headline, as her emotional well being is just as important as mine, and I say that in all honesty and sincerity, having just been through it.
I totally endorse the AFL's respect and responsibility towards women policy. My Club would have thrown the book at me if I had transgressed in that aspect, and always presses the point in its education of players. Our Club and our players are at the forefront of the White Ribbon initiative. So we walk the talk in that respect.
I reiterate that I have always maintained my innocence in regard to the allegations levelled against me. All interviews and CCTV footage in the investigations confirm that the position I believed to be the case was indeed correct.
I look forward to getting back to playing good football, and developing into a person everyone can be proud of.
Thank you for your time."

Then Sam can endure 5 minutes of Q&A from the press - with Kochie riding shotgun on the Mike Smithson's of this world.
And we move on.
AFL loses no face.
Sam cleared.
Ch 7 hopefully embarrassed.
Young lass hopefully in a better emotional space herself.
Club gets kudos for sorting a potential issue out amicably.
WIN:WIN - despite there really being no winners in this whole sorry debacle.
 

yepits2020

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I assume there is a "negotiation" going on because the AFL knows it is trying to do something that would be found to be illegal if challenged in a real court, as Port is threatening to do. The AFL doesn't want to go to court so is trying to reach a compromise/settlement.
They want SPP to agree to sexual misconduct- whatever that is. If SPP agrees to this, is this close enough to vindicate C7’s alleged sexual assault. If the AFL have TVs evidence, then they should put up or shut up. The only reason they would want an agreement is if they have no real case. If SPP gets drrdgistered over this, his damages bill will be enormous. I am looking forward for this to go to court, etc etc.
 

yepits2020

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Looks like this will drag out and SPP will miss another week. Expect him to be playing SANFL in 2 weeks.
Why? This is in SPPs control. It is up to SPP to say he will play. The number of games SPP gets is incidental. The AFL needs SPP, not PA, to agree to sexual misconduct. This is what it is all about. The only way they can stop him playing is to hand down their decision, or deregister him. If this drags for six weeks and he misses six games, beyond the four asked for, won’t matter, they want SPP to agree to sexual misconduct.
 

*PAF

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Based on everything seen and read it should be guilty of drunken toolish conduct and nothing else.
Keep that sexual shit out of it as it will stick forever.

AFL playing games?
 

PowerBaz

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Maybe what's happening is Port don't want to be seen to be bending over to the AFL, go down the AFL are dragging it out line, then the AFL sanction will of passed anyway and all is forgotten after that because the AFL got their three weeks and Port looked like it held its ground.
 

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bomberclifford

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Neither Port nor the AFL give a shit about the suspension now. It’s about the terminology of what Sam is being asked to ‘admit’ to.

The AFL are protecting their broadcast partner by reinforcing the initial claims of sexual assault. This stops any future legal action by Sam against 7.

Re the girl in the video outside the club, I was also of the understanding that she is the gf of his friend. Now I think of it though, this does not mean she isn’t the one making the complaint.

Such a cluster****.
 
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Maybe what's happening is Port don't want to be seen to be bending over to the AFL, go down the AFL are dragging it out line, then the AFL sanction will of passed anyway and all is forgotten after that because the AFL got their three weeks and Port looked like it held its ground.
I hope it's more a case of Port trying to look after the short and long term welfare of a player that the AFL and channel 7 are trying to shaft and label inappropriately.
 

OneGreatClub

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Also Caro and Footy Classified were good there I thought.

They are correct, there shouldn't be any negotiation. He is either guilty and there is evidence to come to that decision, or he isn't/there is no evidence. Either charge him, or charge 7.

The only part they got completely wrong was the "vision". Wtf is going on there... that's clearly not the girl in question, my understanding was that it's his mate's gf and they are mucking around after a night out.

Honestly I wish Port would just release their vision of the whole night which Kochie claims to have. Will never happen of course.
Seven are conniving and clever.
I was at dinner with a group and some Crows dickheads were amonst them.
They aren't the brightest tools in the shed I might add but they kept going on about the video of girl 7 outside the nigh club. They said you could see clearly that SPP was trying to put hius hand up her skirt.
So dumb they couldn't understand it wasn't the girl in question. So dumb they couldn't see the video was conveniently edited.
 

Janus

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Neither Port nor the AFL give a shit about the suspension now. It’s about the terminology of what Sam is being asked to ‘admit’ to.

The AFL are protecting their broadcast partner by reinforcing the initial claims of sexual assault. This stops any future legal action by Sam against 7.

Re the girl in the video outside the club, I was also of the understanding that she is the gf of his friend. Now I think of it though, this does not mean she isn’t the one making the complaint.

Such a cluster****.
It’s not her. Why would his friends reportedly say “Don’t you know who he is?” if she was the GF of his friend?
 

finbarr

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Why? This is in SPPs control. It is up to SPP to say he will play. The number of games SPP gets is incidental. The AFL needs SPP, not PA, to agree to sexual misconduct. This is what it is all about. The only way they can stop him playing is to hand down their decision, or deregister him. If this drags for six weeks and he misses six games, beyond the four asked for, won’t matter, they want SPP to agree to sexual misconduct.
Good-o. Let’s manufacture a desired outcome....
 

1954

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I don't claim to have any legal expertise, but if this BS happened to any Joe citizen on the street, who had his name dragged through the media mud with no actual evidence presented, and the `victim' apparently having no intention of reporting the matter to the proper authorities, then I suspect there would be a lot of lawyers clambering all over it to represent said Joe citizen, due to the chances of a potentially very large damages claim.

As for that C9 BS last night that the AFL can be judge and executioner, regardless of evidence, must eventually bite that extremely corrupt organisation on the arse big time.

The downside of any legal challenge is it will almost certainly derail SPP's season, but his reputation is far more important than football, and I would back him all the way.
 

PA88

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Assuming spp does remember all of his behaviour that night and he is innocent of the allegations, and the club's investigation is thorough etc ... then why are some people here expressing concern for the welfare of the young lady? You would've thought it brings her motives into question. She made allegations in a news interview.
 

*PAF

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Assuming spp does remember all of his behaviour that night and he is innocent of the allegations, and the club's investigation is thorough etc ... then why are some people here expressing concern for the welfare of the young lady? You would've thought it brings her motives into question. She made allegations in a news interview.
Crikey. Just like he is a naive 20 yr old so too is she.
Couldn't it be that she got played by the TV mob?
 
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Janus

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Creikey. Just like he is a naive 20 yr old so too is she.
Couldn't it be that she got played by the TV mob?
It’s for this and a myriad of other reasons why this needs to go to court. Disclose everything that Elspeth did in the pursuit of her story.
 

The Flying Doormat

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No, code for we should have suspended Sam for the behaviour, not for the fact that he was drunk/broke team rules.

That’s why we want the sexual misconduct part removed - so we can say that he has already served two of the three weeks for breaking the respect and responsibility policy in a generic sense.
'alleged' behaviour
 
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Play him in the SANFL for a half and have the option to play him in the AFL on Saturday, if he's mentally and physically ready following the SANFL game. If nothing else, it forces the AFL to do something, rather than delay and delay, dragging it out to get what they want without having to make a public decision.

He's not currently suspended, therefore free to play. Nathan Broad had a club imposed AFL suspension, but still played in the VFL for those 3 weeks. The AFL didn't get involved to suspend him further or from the lower level as well. Port suspended SPP from all levels for 1 week, the AFL effectively made it 2. If they step in after the SANFL game to block his AFL return, fine, deal with that when it happens. But at the moment he's neither playing or suspended - so name him in the SANFL and get some clarity either way.
 
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