Interesting interview about the eagles

[Bestbird]

In regards to the majority of the interviews mention of the corporate beginnings of the WCE

It is misleading to some degree as the set up the company was due to the VFL demanding the 4 million dollar entry fee up front instead of the original terms of over 10 years.

The VFL's change of heart meant that the funds had to be raised unexpentantly in a short period of time so it was bankrolled in the main by a group of businessmen to ensure the club could be part of the AFL. This was covered in the excellent documentry on the formation of the Eagles by Foxfooty last year

In that respect most current AFL clubs are bankrolled by businessman who exert power within the club and always have through the history of VFL, see Pratt as the most recent example, from the Dockers perspective Rick Hart and of course the high profile Gutnick for Melbourne in the past.

In terms of the press treatment of West Coast, it is maginified both ways due to the high profile of the club and it's players compared to the Dockers.

See the first 5 pages coverage of the Cousins booze bus incident in the West Australian compared to the minimal coverage around the same time of H Black assaulting a female Police Officer. In the end Cousins recieved a small traffic infringement whislte whilst Black copped a $5000 court fine.

 

[Kempie]

This is the tip of the iceberg, and more to come.

Tip of an ice-block perhaps

Intimidating and controlling the media is no different to say Collingwood in Melbourne.

Or any club who would if they could.

There's nothing new in Duffield's comments - they've all been made before, and in the media too

 

[redglare]

I quite like Mark Duffield - he seems like a reasonable fellow, but this article is a bit of a joke.

I've listened to Dockers suporters (and others) bleat on for years about the preferential treatment West Coast get in the media, and how those big bully Eagle's try to influence everyone.

Which is it - are the media part of an eagles love fest or are they scared of them? If they are scared, grow some balls and speak out - its not like they are going to end up like Veronica Guerrin. Duffield spoke out and he didn't get censured, so what's the problem?

Of course, the West Australian is hypocritical. After the Cousin's NiIght Club incident, Duffield was featured on the front page calling for Cousin's to lose the captaincy - a nice little opinion piece about Cousin's poor character. A week later, the Paper runs with a promotional poster for Cousin's 150th (?) game milestone.

And WTF is Geraldine Doogue's comment about new money? I'm guessing she might have English heritage and is attached to the class system.

 

[thewest]

Intimidating and controlling the media is no different to say Collingwood in Melbourne.

Do we not all remember how poor little Alan Didak was kidnapped by big bad bikies and made to do things against his will (even though all evidence brought forward shows otherwise)?

Then when you can't intimidate and control hit the courts like the AFL did to protect another Vic side:

8 detected drug users
2 caught twice
1 suspected of dealing around the club and being referred to as "The Man' during last years Spring Carnival.

It's not like WCE are alone.

AMEN!

 

[Scotland]

Interesting...

Would explain a lot, wouldn't it?

Positive coverage - WCE own the media, it's a disgrace etc.

Negative coverage - stiff shit.

Good run with umpires - WCE favoured, bribing the umps etc.

Bad run with umpires - stiff shit.

Boring and predictable, Freo trolls, time for something new.

 

[Topdock65]

Which is it - are the media part of an eagles love fest or are they scared of them? If they are scared, grow some balls and speak out - its not like they are going to end up like Veronica Guerrin. Duffield spoke out and he didn't get censured, so what's the problem?

Its both !!!!

The fact you missed is that WCE Management tried to get Duff dismissed.

Alot of WCE issues over the last few years could`ve have been nipped in the bud quite early if the media did`nt fall into line behind the Spin Doctors at WCE.

 

[estibador]

Duffield spoke out and he didn't get censured, so what's the problem?

Duffield is the highest ranking footy journo in this state - the equivalent of Caro or Sheahan in Victoria. It would be no easy feat for the eagles to get him fired - yet they tried.

Imagine how every up and coming rookie reporter in the west feels - write one bad article about the eagles and your career is over. That's a really healthy environment for our budding journos to develop in.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

Ray Wilson must be happy, looks like he'll be getting the Liberal preselection and platinum membership that comes with being the chief spin-doctor.

 

[The Magenius]

Duffield is the highest ranking footy journo in this state .

By that you mean, the most Freo-friendly journo in W.A.

You do understand that the AFL is a business, and media outlets are businesses ???

 

[estibador]

By that you mean, the most Freo-friendly journo in W.A.

I don't think there is such a thing.

You do understand that the AFL is a business, and media outlets are businesses ???

So what? Business can still be unethical.

 

[Biggie]

Interesting yet slightly unsurprising.

Go West Coast.

 

[doh its me]

While the media are flogging the drug-culture pony that is the West Coast Eagles they are not exposing the laughable Docker delisting of several good young blokes whilst names like McDudas and Carrntplay are still getting games.

You must be wrapped!

Or maybe they are adressing some bad eggs at the club which WC will do only after handcuffs are placed on their such eggs.

Or maybe there is a strategy to rookie some of the kids.

This article is not about Freo, neither is this thread

 

[redglare]

Its both !!!!

Alot of WCE issues over the last few years could`ve have been nipped in the bud quite early if the media did`nt fall into line behind the Spin Doctors at WCE.

Well thats a relief. All this time I thought West Coast Management were to blame, now I find out its the media.

I find the contradictions in this argument interesting. I fully support a free and open media, but I also believe strongly that the media should not be the ones solving problems for us - getting into minute details of peoples personal lives to satisfy the public's morbid tendency to chase ambulances. The media has a massive responsibility - it is so easy to destroy someone's life by making something public before it should be, especially when not all of the facts are known.

So the West Coast are spin doctors, trying to keeop the media out of internal problems. Big deal - anyone with a public profile tries to do the same.

Its my opinion that most sensible people would argue for less media scrutiny.

 

[amazingjoshy]

haha...lol at the docker supporters....

so we should apologise for being a strong and powerful club?

ur club tried to do the same a few years ago by refusing interviews with certain media outlets.....and no one cared....haha!!!

 

[royalsfan]

Mark Duffield is pretty much spot on with his analysis I believe, and the following is the story in a nutshell, with a couple of key points:

Judge was dismissed because he was a crap coach and the team played like crap under him.

 

[beyondthevalley ofthedogs]

To paraphrase Terry Wallace - if I see one more West Coast supporter blame the media for their problems I'll SPEW UP!!

 

[Biggie]

To paraphrase Terry Wallace - if I see one more West Coast supporter blame the media for their problems I'll SPEW UP!!

****ing media.

 

[WCgirl]

In regards to the majority of the interviews mention of the corporate beginnings of the WCE

It is misleading to some degree as the set up the company was due to the VFL demanding the 4 million dollar entry fee up front instead of the original terms of over 10 years.

The VFL's change of heart meant that the funds had to be raised unexpentantly in a short period of time so it was bankrolled in the main by a group of businessmen to ensure the club could be part of the AFL. This was covered in the excellent documentry on the formation of the Eagles by Foxfooty last year

In that respect most current AFL clubs are bankrolled by businessman who exert power within the club and always have through the history of VFL, see Pratt as the most recent example, from the Dockers perspective Rick Hart and of course the high profile Gutnick for Melbourne in the past.

In terms of the press treatment of West Coast, it is maginified both ways due to the high profile of the club and it's players compared to the Dockers.

See the first 5 pages coverage of the Cousins booze bus incident in the West Australian compared to the minimal coverage around the same time of H Black assaulting a female Police Officer. In the end Cousins recieved a small traffic infringement whislte whilst Black copped a $5000 court fine.

Excellent point

 

[huggy_b]

I ownder how many other people get just a small traffic infrigment after running from a booze bus? Not many, if any I would wager....

 

[Carn the Coasters]

I ownder how many other people get just a small traffic infrigment after running from a booze bus? Not many, if any I would wager....

What do you suppose they would get, that Cousins didn't?

or were you just making a general comment that you didn't intend to back up?

 

[huggy_b]

How many footballers get a punishment fitting the misdemeanours in public life, like what we as Joe public would recieve?

They are all like teflon, nothing sticks.

 

[Carn the Coasters]

How many footballers get a punishment fitting the misdemeanours in public life, like what we as Joe public would recieve?

They are all like teflon, nothing sticks.

I guess that means you have nothing to back up your claim.

 

[huggy_b]

Kerr got an $1800 fine for jumping on the boot of a cab, tearing the aerial off and beating the cabbie with it.

A $400 charge and no conviction for forging valium prescriptions.

He was fined $2,000 for the assault occasioning bodily harm. The second charge was dropped through "lack" of evidence.......

Alan Didak's problems with taking a lift with the wrong blokes just vanished into thin air.

Tarrant and Johnson involved in a brawl that left a guy in hospital - no charges laid.

I could go on all day if you like....

 

[thewest]

Alan Didak's problems with taking a lift with the wrong blokes just vanished into thin air.

Eddy Maguire owns the victorian police dept

 

[alinghi]

A female writing about football?

WTF?!?!