Phil Cleary

[Horace]

I am probably guilty of continuing this well and truly overdone saga, but I think that Phil Cleary deserves a mention for his stance on the chicken affair.

I wish to preface my remarks about Cleary by saying that I abhor what happened in the case of his late sister and I have nothing but the utmost sympathy for him and his family.

In this instance however in my view the chicken video hardly compares with the murder of his sister by a jilted boyfriend as I understand the situation.

What I think needs to be remembered is that Cleary as a player and coach of Coburg, would have spent lots of time with footballers in the changeroom, would have seen and most likely participated in many of the "activities" that footballers get up to and surely has a greater understanding than most as to why these situations occur.

But the thing that I find most hypocritical about Cleary is that I have heard him on numerous occasions speak in glowing terms of the old VFA and its on field thuggery. Some of the players in that era (the 1970's) indulged in nothing short of brutality, yet strangely people like Cleary seem to find that humorous.

Where is the consistency in that?

 

[Mordecai]

In fairness to him after what he has been through your view of reality would be warped forever. Such a sad and tragic thing is never to be recovered from and nor should it be.

I'm still disappointed in what he has had to say... there are so many other issues more heinous than what has occured at North Melbourne and the malice in this act would be close to nil, if not nil.

 

[jacko57]

He is a vain, arrogant, self-absorbed windbag who latches onto any excuse for self-promotion via the media, as if to compensate for the fact that the media never seeks his comments on the basis of any of his own achievements in life.

Failed footballer. Failed politician. Failed human being.

 

[gokangas]

Important to remember that all we have seen from Cleary is a few quotes in the newspaper. We don't know what he said in full and in what context. I'm reluctant to question Cleary until I see what he said in full. Given what has transpired I don't trust the newspapers to have presented the full story.

 

[Woodson]

I am probably guilty of continuing this well and truly overdone saga, but I think that Phil Cleary deserves a mention for his stance on the chicken affair.

I wish to preface my remarks about Cleary by saying that I abhor what happened in the case of his late sister and I have nothing but the utmost sympathy for him and his family.

In this instance however in my view the chicken video hardly compares with the murder of his sister by a jilted boyfriend as I understand the situation.

What I think needs to be remembered is that Cleary as a player and coach of Coburg, would have spent lots of time with footballers in the changeroom, would have seen and most likely participated in many of the "activities" that footballers get up to and surely has a greater understanding than most as to why these situations occur.

But the thing that I find most hypocritical about Cleary is that I have heard him on numerous occasions speak in glowing terms of the old VFA and its on field thuggery. Some of the players in that era (the 1970's) indulged in nothing short of brutality, yet strangely people like Cleary seem to find that humorous.

Where is the consistency in that?

I think your definately barking up the wrong tree here Horace. What happens on the field whether it happened 20+ years ago or whenever is totally on a different tangent. No consistency issues relevant. Men vs Men in a sporting battle. Even if it's the case of Big Mal Brown slogging a young Trevor Keogh in that mouch. Just that when it becomes personal to someone then it's depicted totally offensive regardless how 'light hearted' the intending meaning was. Let it go.

 

[Horace]

I think your definately barking up the wrong tree here Horace. What happens on the field whether it happened 20+ years ago or whenever is totally on a different tangent. No consistency issues relevant. Men vs Men in a sporting battle. Even if it's the case of Big Mal Brown slogging a young Trevor Keogh in that mouch. Just that when it becomes personal to someone then it's depicted totally offensive regardless how 'light hearted' the intending meaning was. Let it go.

I'm afraid I disagree Woodson.

Firstly it might have happened 20+ years ago, but people like Cleary laugh about it today. It was still violence irrespective of when it happened.

Secondly saying that violence is okay if it is in a "sporting battle" is hardly acceptable in my view. The AFL certainly does not think so, hence its stance on cleaning up the game.

Thirdly the game is called football, the object has always been to win the game fairly and through skill and football courage yet the VFA was renowned for and implicitly condoned violence at that time. Deliberately splitting someones face open on the football field, or condoning such action and somehow seeing humour in that, is hardly a position of strength from which to lecture on the morality of the chicken situation.

So sorry Woodson, I have difficulty viewing Cleary as having a large amount of credibility in this instance.

 

[Errol Street]

Cleary is Clearly a moron....he is the only person willing to comment on the saga who isnt from a biased womans society.

 

[Zvim]

I think being in his position gives you a biased point of view, if his sister was murderd by a drunk driver he probably would have gone off the rails at what Edwards did and had a laugh at the video.

It really depends on how mentally/emotionally stable you are. I know a chick who has been a victim of violence and she laughed at the video when she saw it because she saw it for what it was, a parody, and not the avocation of violence against women.

The video was always going to upset some people, it is why it wasn't intended for the public, it is just disappointing that it got onto the internet and it is disappointing those who are fragile and/or biased mentally/emotionally or trying to promote their own flagging journalistic career are driving what is a shitstorm out of a nothing event.

 

[Errol Street]

He should be commented on Bock not this silly video, u see worse on late night tv

 

[roobear]

I think Cleary's stance comes from looking back at the environment he was surrounded by before the death of his sister. He recognises that footy clubs can foster attitudes that would be unacceptable in a society that is not so male-intensive.

I think his view, Horace, as alluded to by Woody, is that rough-and-tough footy was bloke against bloke, knowing what you were potentially in for.

I think his concern that a large group of blokes saw the assault and death of a female-representing character as ok is understandable.

I don't like Phil Cleary because he is a smarmy, arrogant, self-important tosser. But I admire his work in the area of violence against women, and i see no hipocrisy in his stance this week.

 

[Zvim]

I think Cleary's stance comes from looking back at the environment he was surrounded by before the death of his sister. He recognises that footy clubs can foster attitudes that would be unacceptable in a society that is not so male-intensive.

I think his view, Horace, as alluded to by Woody, is that rough-and-tough footy was bloke against bloke, knowing what you were potentially in for.

I think his concern that a large group of blokes saw the assault and death of a female-representing character as ok is understandable.

I don't like Phil Cleary because he is a smarmy, arrogant, self-important tosser. But I admire his work in the area of violence against women, and i see no hipocrisy in his stance this week.

He is a dinosaur, the AFL puts players through excessive education programs of how not to be a cretin in public. Football is far more professional now and players have a lot on their plate, most are professional about it and don't drink excessively, look after their health, get plenty of rest so they can train hard, etc.

Back in ye olden day footy players were just yobbos.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

I put in Phil Cleary and Les Twentyman in the same bag.

In principle, I agree with what they say. Violence against women is abhorrent and our society doesn't do enough about it. The state of the western suburbs and the broken subset of our society than can be found in parts thereof is a tragedy. And so on.

The problem is that both of them are self-serving, provincial bloody deadshits, the ultimate big fish in little ponds. Rent a quote tossers.

Just because someone holds 'correct' political views doesn't mean they can't be A-grade ****wits.

For example, one of the nastiest, most self serving and hypocritical and plainly unlikeable people I know is a senior activist with Amnesty International ...

And at the same time, there's people I work and socialise with who hold political views I vehemently disagree with, who are kind, loyal and generous who I'm proud to call friends.

 

[Long Live the King]

I think we should put this in context....from what Ive read people have contacted Cleary for his opinion...I havent read where Cleary has sought out the media to air his opinion...

and like most people he has one....

and I have no doubt if we asked the question....who condones violence against women or were the players idiots for making the video we would all answer the question the same way........Cleary's opinion is consistent with the majority...

 

[jacko57]

I think we should put this in context....from what Ive read people have contacted Cleary for his opinion...I havent read where Cleary has sought out the media to air his opinion...

I remember a few years back, Cleary was running for Federal parliament as an independent in Wills (around Coburg). At my daughter's school in the eastern suburbs, they had a debate, involving candidates from the ALP, Liberals and Democrats. Cleary somehow heard of it, and rang up, aggressively demanding to know why he hadn't been invited to speak. !!

Don't worry, he doesn't need to be asked before offering to share his opinion, on any subject.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

Lord preserve us from self-appointed saviours of the working class like Phil bloody Cleary.