Mega Thread Matt Rendell situation thread #2

[Slippery Pete]

Seeing as the mods didn't want too many threads running, I was going to bump my "Steven Trigg - Mr Diplomacy, Mr AFC" thread from 18 months or so ago, until I realized it had been locked.

Glad we're all on the same page now. I wonder if we can unlock it......

 

[Slippery Pete]

Supposedly, the family lifestyle would have more elements of structure and less causalness with one white parent, thus, enabling the child in that family, a better prospect or hope of perservering and coping with the discipline and regimental structure of an AFL footballers life.

Anybody who's been to a remote Aboriginal Community or area would know it's a million miles away from playing AFL football.

Acknowledging this fact and wanting to put steps in place to help it is not racist, it's constructive. You can't be constructive with AD and the PC police constantly stifling truthful discussion on the matter.

 

[bjn1960]

Anybody who's been to a remote Aboriginal Community or area would know it's a million miles away from playing AFL football.

Acknowledging this fact and wanting to put steps in place to help it is not racist, it's constructive. You can't be constructive with AD and the PC police constantly stifling truthful discussion on the matter.

Yes, it's a sad and shamefull state of affairs.

 

[afc1991]

The bottom line is Rendell would have been sacked by Demetriou if Triggy didnt act which Triggy knew.
Now if Triggy went against Demetriou, Demetriou would have found a way to get rid of Triggy as well long term.

I dont want to be harsh on Triggy, beacause they are good people down at the crows.

But he was in a lose-lose situation.

What would you have done?

Stood him down indefinitely pending the outcome of the full story.

It would have satisfied the wowswers, and by now:-

-he'd be back in a job

-we wouldnt look racist, as the majority of intelligent humans recognise the whole affair is pc gone mad.

- and we wouldnt look half as stupid as we do now.

The argument he had no choice is absolute bollocks imo. Rendell had every right to explain things first. Given that trigg knows the mans character, and had both sides of the story, he could have backed him in. This has unfolded in a very predicatble manner imo.

In the end, this is the whole "dangerfield says if craig goes so do I" story all over again. Where people pick up the sensational headline, without reading the story, like it on facebook, tweet it, etc, and before you know it everyone is brainwashed by bulshit.

Ofcourse in this instance the topic is far more serious and its cost a man his job. Bottom line is Vlad/Trigg lost their nerve amidst all the hype and hysteria.

 

[WhySoSerious]

I honestly cant believe how stupid people have been on this one, especially the AFC and the AFL. Context is everything, and I dont understand how you can react so quickly and harshly over a comment said behind closed doors and not even in a formal environment.

The comment as it stands may be wrong, as Rendell is in a power of position. But to deal with it in, in this matter, purely on the basis of the one line and not taking into account the context is an absolute joke. I'd love to hear some of the comments these 'white knights' up in AFL house say behind closed doors about clubs and players. Using their logic I can guarentee none of them would still be in their positions. Especially if your going to mince words.

This is big business. The clubs spend huge amounts of money developing players. If there is a common trend when selecting players that certain groups perform better, and its not just about talent. Its the whole package. Any good business, from football to local retail will play the percentages and reduce the percentage of risk. The wording of Rendell's comments were not correct, I dont believe the AFC select indigenous players with one white parent. I do however believe the overall trend disadvantages those from indigenous families, as all clubs make selection decisions based on risk.

Its the AFL's obligation to address the issue and find a solution. Not label an individual as racist and kick him out of the game.

 

[PAFC04]

I think that Matt was crucified because he seems to think that the attrition rate is with indigineous recruits is getting worse, who has been banging the drum to the AFL and says that if action is taken to help this issue, recruiters will look at players who have more modern lifestlye perhaps having a one caucasion parent that may be a requirement for future recruitment of players....thats not being a rascist......it how it may effects his decisions in future if this issue is not attended to.

what he was trying to convey that if a player had a white parent, the player would have had a better upbringing.....theoretically.....therefore reducing the attrition rate.

 

[macca23]

Fairly sure Trigg is answerable to the AFC Board. The Board is then answerable to the SANFL Commission.

Correct.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Anybody who's been to a remote Aboriginal Community or area would know it's a million miles away from playing AFL football.

Acknowledging this fact and wanting to put steps in place to help it is not racist, it's constructive. You can't be constructive with AD and the PC police constantly stifling truthful discussion on the matter.

Very true SP.... But those turkeys are too pathetic to admit such. They would rather do nothing than address the situation and be made an example, like Rendell, and lose his $2million pay each year....


They could go to Ethiopia and they wouldn't have the balls to admit those poor people need help.... To say so would be racist...

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Well, to be honest, racism trumps disloyalty to your staff as an issue you don't want to be tainted with.

I was being sarcastic. Once Rendell cleared the air there will be no racism stigma attached.

It was an avoidable problem.

 

[SydCrow]

We are looked as a weak franchise. You say Eddie wouldn't stand for racism, and I agree 100%...

But if Trigg bothered to do the full inquiry, he would of realised there was nothing at all racist to be concerned of. He jumped the gun like an amateur CEO would.

There were three other clubs who spoke of concerns about drafting Indigenous players.... Would be very interested to here what was said. Would be very interested to hear if they had an idea to fix the problem as Rendell had.

It's hard to believe that Trigg gave Rendell an ultimatum if Matt gave him the same story he gave last night.

But Matt also said that he understood that the club would be tainted by the implication of racism and therefore resigning was the right thing to do - ie he made it easier for Trigg than it probably should have been.

And if Rendell is pissed off with "clubland" as he called it, and not sure that he really wanted to take on the job for another three years - his resignation may have actually come as a relief to him, ie to hell with the whole club/AFL/PC thing. He may have dropped his bundle with Trigg and just resigned. In which case Trigg may have sensed that it was the right thing (for Rendell personally and the AFC) to do.

What Trigg could have said was take a few days (not a couple of hours) to think about it. However, Rendell wouldn't want the stink hanging over his head for that period so he just quit. Problem is that until he got to tell his side of the story, the mud stuck to him. And once he had told it, it was too late.

Trigg's mistake was not letting Matt tell his side of the story on Friday. If Matt was emotional (as he would have been), Trigg was probably worried about letting Rendell have his head at a press conference (with idiots like Wilson baying for blood).

 

[King Elvis]

That's a massive over-simplification. His primary interest was not furthering his own career but protecting the image of the AFC & ensuring that it was not tainted by the stain of racism.

I think Triggy should fought for Rendell on this, and I'm ashamed that we haven't - but I believe that Trigg felt like he was acting in the best interests of the AFC, not himself.

 

[macca23]

I've sent my rather lengthy email off to Trigg with a cc to Chapman, very much on the same tone as big fella etc have.

Alex, while you're right that it will openly probably achieve nothing, it does let those in charge of the club know of the anger and disappointment that we supporters feel in respect of their actions, and that is important.

If nothing is said, they will continue on in fool's paradise thinking they are doing a great job, when the 2 events of the last week clearly show that they are not in touch with reality IMO.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

I've sent my rather lengthy email off to Trigg with a cc to Chapman, very much on the same tone as big fella etc have.

Alex, while you're right that it will openly probably achieve nothing, it does let those in charge of the club know of the anger and disappointment that we supporters feel in respect of their actions, and that is important.

If nothing is said, they will continue on in fool's paradise thinking they are doing a great job, when the 2 events of the last week clearly show that they are not in touch with reality IMO.

21 years and still following the same path.

 

[Deaneus!]

Has anyone established why it took two months for the story to come out?

A conspiracist at heart, I've heard so far:

- Rucci did some actual investigative journalism and discovered that the AFL were tendering for large moolahs from the Government for indigenous programs / anti-racism programs of some sort, and that the story coming out earlier would have lost the AFL the funding;

- The AFL wanted to see if it could derail our NAB Cup campaign the day before the Grand Final (sucked in losers didn't work)

- Apparently, Matt Rendell, Mark Robinson and Grant Thomas are great mates and AD/Vlad hates Thomas; he threw Rendell under the bus as part of an ongoing war between the three and City Hall

- AD/Vlad only found out this week after an anecdote at a meeting

Can anyone confirm/deny any of these?

 

[Slippery Pete]

Trigg is going to be reading emails for a week.

In the meantime, I vote Spackler as stand in CEO

 

[Northalives]

Going into the semantics of it, did he actually say "HE" or did he say - the AFL will not....

I don't recall him saying him, as in Matthew Rendell or the AFC. His throwaway line was an overall comment to blanket the competition as one. As in, that's the direction it is taking.

Can you please tell me why it would make any difference if an Aboriginal had one white parent ?

That is what this whole thing is about: what difference would it make to retaining Aboriginals on AFL lists if they had a white parent?

You see this is why Mr. Trigg, the Adelaide Football Club, the AFL and many others have condemned what Rendell said, that is, the "one white parent" comment reeks of a bygone era where the white fellas thought that Aboriginals were uncivilised and to bring them "up to" the level of the white man, meant taking them away from their "heathen" way of life.

 

[Big Animal]

Stood him down indefinitely pending the outcome of the full story.

It would have satisfied the wowswers, and by now:-

-he'd be back in a job

-we wouldnt look racist, as the majority of intelligent humans recognise the whole affair is pc gone mad.

- and we wouldnt look half as stupid as we do now.

The argument he had no choice is absolute bollocks imo. Rendell had every right to explain things first. Given that trigg knows the mans character, and had both sides of the story, he could have backed him in. This has unfolded in a very predicatble manner imo.

In the end, this is the whole "dangerfield says if craig goes so do I" story all over again. Where people pick up the sensational headline, without reading the story, like it on facebook, tweet it, etc, and before you know it everyone is brainwashed by bulshit.

Ofcourse in this instance the topic is far more serious and its cost a man his job. Bottom line is Vlad/Trigg lost their nerve amidst all the hype and hysteria.

Agree with this 100%. I watched MR on Footy Classified last night and cannot believe the reaction taken by the AFL which forced Adelaide's hand.

You would have to be a complete ******, or Caro to not hear his side of the story and think he is even the slightest bit racist. It was at most a throwaway comment re a theoretical scenario in a empassioned talk behind closed doors by a man who wanted an outcome ASAP which would benefit Aboriginal draftees. Anyone can see he has the utmost respect for Aboriginees and spends much of his time working with them (i.e. has put his money where his mouth is - not just PC crap talk by the AFL media, most of which could count on one finger the number of Aboriginal people they spend time with).

I am so angry at the AFL administration, and at the bored oversupplied AFL media who whilst waiting for R1 to start jump on any opportunity to get on the back (and front) page of the paper to further their careers.

As a supporter of another club in another football mad state who knew nothing of MR before last night, I do not in any way think the Adelaide FC or MR is racist. Rather the opposite for the employment and life opportunities they have given Aboriginal males in such a synergistic relationship which has given us the likes of Andrew MacLoed to marvel over on our TVs. But I do think Trig needs to grow some balls and stand up for the people under his responsibility - at least until he knows all of the facts. For this Adelaide FC has lost some credibility for me as it is run by a poor leader. Disloyalty may be less than racism but since in my eyes there was no racism, the disloyalty was very disappointing for a man who has given so much and so many years.

Can't believe how angry this made me. The king of AFL crucifying a loyal subject irrespective of the full story because he worries that the AFL brand may be tarnished. Well the AFL brand was tarnished, again, but not for racism. Won't forget this one in a hurry Andrew!

 

[ftmch]

At the time at which Rendell had resigned, Trigg clearly understood the context. In his presser he repeatedly made reference to MR's context and his comments arising out of wanting to 'help' - pretty much everyhing that was reiterated by Rendell in his interview last night.

Trigg must have known that once that actual story became public and the true context known by all relevant AFC stakeholders, MR could be not reasonably be considered a racist, and nor could the club.

On that basis, it gives a fair bit of credence to the theory that his hand was well and truly forced by the AFL. Understanding the context as he did when he effectively sacked Rendell, I can't believe his decision would have been based on a perceived tainting of the Crows brand going forward.

On another note, this Mifsud clown is getting off lightly in relation to this issue. If my understanding of events is correct, he raised the comments from Matt Rendell on 2 seperate occassions - once in front of an audience of AFL execs (including Vlad), and once to the media! In neither instance would the correct context have been portrayed, so honestly, how else did the stupid f*&%er think this was going to play out.

Sure, he didn't come out and name names, but referencing this quote without context to these resepctive audiences is like waving a red rag to a bull.

If he didn't want this issue to escalate or be taken out of context, he would have done well not to raise it in either of these forums in the first place.

Stupidity personified.

 

[Macca19]

- The AFL wanted to see if it could derail our NAB Cup campaign the day before the Grand Final (sucked in losers didn't work)

Can anyone confirm/deny any of these?

lol. Why would they give you home ground advantage if they wanted to derail your NAB campaign? Why would they care at all? If they wanted the Crows to fail, why did they ensure you are the only team to play Port, GC & GWS twice this year?

 

[Vader]

Bottom line is Vlad/Trigg lost their nerve amidst all the hype and hysteria.

Nobody is accusing Vlad of losing his nerve. The hopped up little dictator has achieved exactly what he set out to, destroying the career of a honourable man who openly mocked the stupidity of some of Vlad's decisions.

Can you please tell me why it would make any difference if an Aboriginal had one white parent ?

That is what this whole thing is about: what difference would it make to retaining Aboriginals on AFL lists if they had a white parent?

You see this is why Mr. Trigg, the Adelaide Football Club, the AFL and many others have condemned what Rendell said, that is, the "one white parent" comment reeks of a bygone era where the white fellas thought that Aboriginals were uncivilised and to bring them "up to" the level of the white man, meant taking them away from their "heathen" way of life.

The "one white parent" was clearly a bit of hyperbole.

What he was really discussing was the difference between recruiting players from remote & isolated settlements, who have a history of problems assimilating with the lifestyle of an AFL player based in a large capital city... and an aboriginal player recruited from a less disadvantaged background, the odds of whose success rises significantly.

 

[Big Animal]

Can you please tell me why it would make any difference if an Aboriginal had one white parent ?

That is what this whole thing is about: what difference would it make to retaining Aboriginals on AFL lists if they had a white parent?

You see this is why Mr. Trigg, the Adelaide Football Club, the AFL and many others have condemned what Rendell said, that is, the "one white parent" comment reeks of a bygone era where the white fellas thought that Aboriginals were uncivilised and to bring them "up to" the level of the white man, meant taking them away from their "heathen" way of life.

You realise that you just said "Aboriginals were uncivilised and to bring them "up to" the level of the white man, meant taking them away from their "heathen" way of life." This is an extremely racist comment!!! Oh...you said other stuff which when put in context means the comment in quotes is not actually racist??? Well I'll be darned! Lucky I got the full comment then isn't it and i can use a bygone skill called logic when presented with the full story.

 

[icrow32]

Seeing as the mods didn't want too many threads running, I was going to bump my "Steven Trigg - Mr Diplomacy, Mr AFC" thread from 18 months or so ago, until I realized it had been locked.

Glad we're all on the same page now. I wonder if we can unlock it......

Haha, I thought of this thread too. The term "soft touch" was thrown around in that thread to describe Triggy, no we can add "weak AFL lap dog" to describe him.

I have been a member for 21 years and have never beed as disgusted with the club as I am today, what a weak leaderless organisation we are "members" of. By the way speaking of weak leaders, where is our spineless, faceless chairman, he has no full time job now so has plenty of time to deal with AFC matters. We will here the usual from him too, absolutely nothing.

 

[Deaneus!]

lol. Why would they give you home ground advantage if they wanted to derail your NAB campaign?

Hmmm. Obviously the term "conspiracist" is unbeknownst to you, but what time is it in Melbourne when Perth hosts a night match? Would you say it's prime viewing & advertising time?

 

[afc1991]

Nobody is accusing Vlad of losing his nerve. The hopped up little dictator has achieved exactly what he set out to, destroying the career of a honourable man who openly mocked the stupidity of some of Vlad's decisions.

Ofcourse there was an element of panic. He was caught out and embarrassed, and also wouldnt have wanted the comments attached to the afl. The chants of racism from the media and cyberspace were very loud. Didnt he backpedal the other day and say rendell could come back?

If you dont agree and want to make it as purely vlad hates rendell and poor triggy had no options, thats your call, but please dont try to speak for the rest of the world.

 

[Stiffy_18]

It's been 14 hours since Rendell told his story last night and I am in no way shape or form less angry than I was last night. This is PATHETIC!

I was due to go to the Season Launch tonight but I am seriously considering not going. I just cannot support the club that has displayed severe lack of integrity in dealing with one of the employees who has been integral in recruiting some of the most exciting young talent in the AFL. The man who has put in countless hours assisting with various football programs dedicated to assist youngsters from the Indigenous community achieve their footballing dream and at the same time integrate into general community.

I am disgusted with the way this has been handled and I really feel for Matthew Rendell. I sincerely hope Matthew gets to read this board and realise that he has the full support of majority of the AFC supporters, members and followers. The actions of my club have been gutless and severely lacking in integrity.

I cannot begin to express how disappointed I am and how ashamed I am to be associated with a club that is currently led by people who lack leadership, integrity and loyalty. The sort of characteristics we all look for in our player and people involved in the club.