Media Swans Talk in the Media 2024

[Ticky009]

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[Millky95]

Pretty serious and disappointing allegations.

Former junior footballer suing Sydney Swans over serious allegations

“The purpose of bringing this claim is to seek justice for the harm and trauma I have endured.”

www.zerohanger.com

Please tell me this guy currently doesn't work with us

 

[Kiama Chris]

Pretty serious and disappointing allegations.

Former junior footballer suing Sydney Swans over serious allegations

“The purpose of bringing this claim is to seek justice for the harm and trauma I have endured.”

www.zerohanger.com

They lurk everywhere. They hide very expertly. I would be hesitant to blame organisations unless there was a clear indication that they knew and failed in their obligations. Been there and done that.

 

[Cadsky]

Pretty serious and disappointing allegations.

Former junior footballer suing Sydney Swans over serious allegations

“The purpose of bringing this claim is to seek justice for the harm and trauma I have endured.”

www.zerohanger.com

It gets worse and worse the more you google this mark Heaney guy. Acused of raping a Melbourne player last year and jailed in 2014 for pleading guilty of using a carriage service to groom a person under 16. Sounds like a disgusting human being.

Ex-Dees recruit Daniel Hayes suing AFL, junior coach Mark Heaney over sexual assault allegation

Ex-Dees recruit suing AFL, junior coach over sexual assault allegation

www.foxsports.com.au

Coach accused of raping former AFL player was once employed by the league

Court documents reveal a coach accused of raping former Melbourne Demons player Daniel Hayes served as the AFL's regional manager for northern NSW, helping to establish the Sydney Swans' academy in Coffs Harbour. Warning: This story includes text messages including graphic sexual content.

www.abc.net.au

 

[bedford]

Pretty serious and disappointing allegations.

Former junior footballer suing Sydney Swans over serious allegations

“The purpose of bringing this claim is to seek justice for the harm and trauma I have endured.”

www.zerohanger.com

A long time ago , it's not a good write Swans academy , but he's in Melbourne ?

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I’ll be more than disappointed in the swans / AFL if the allegations were known at the time Heaney was at the swans academy and then he was passed onto to another club to do more damage to young boys and men. It would reek what the Catholic Church did for years and years.

Regardless, the swans academy was set up when people should have known better. It is a huge failure not to have had systems in place to manage these risks at the time. Not knowing is almost as bad as knowing and ignoring.

I’m very sorry for the young boy who was hurt at the time, and is now a brave man seeking justice - likely not only for himself but the other boys who likely experienced similar abuse but do not feel comfortable to come forward.

The club needs to atone.

 

[Jewelsbon]

I’ll be more than disappointed in the swans / AFL if the allegations were known at the time Heaney was at the swans academy and then he was passed onto to another club to do more damage to young boys and men. It would reek what the Catholic Church did for years and years.

Regardless, the swans academy was set up when people should have known better. It is a huge failure not to have had systems in place to manage these risks at the time. Not knowing is almost as bad as knowing and ignoring.

I’m very sorry for the young boy who was hurt at the time, and is now a brave man seeking justice - likely not only for himself but the other boys who likely experienced similar abuse but do not feel comfortable to come forward.

The club needs to atone.

From the article Cadsky posted:

In a response to questions from the ABC, a spokesperson from the Sydney Swans confirmed "the Swans Academy employed Mark Heaney on a casual basis from 2011-2013".
In its statement to the ABC, Sydney Swans confirmed that Heaney was "stood down immediately when the charges came to light".

This is a terribly sad story and my heart cries for the bloke involved, but I can't see what the Swans have done wrong. He was very well credentialed and they apparently got rid of him as soon as the initial allegations surfaced.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I’ll be more than disappointed in the swans / AFL if the allegations were known at the time Heaney was at the swans academy and then he was passed onto to another club to do more damage to young boys and men. It would reek what the Catholic Church did for years and years.

Regardless, the swans academy was set up when people should have known better. It is a huge failure not to have had systems in place to manage these risks at the time. Not knowing is almost as bad as knowing and ignoring.

I’m very sorry for the young boy who was hurt at the time, and is now a brave man seeking justice - likely not only for himself but the other boys who likely experienced similar abuse but do not feel comfortable to come forward.

The club needs to atone.

Reading the ABC article it appears that AFLNSW/ACT (Harley) had no prior knowledge of his activities in Victoria, nor did the Swans. The kid's family reported his contact straight away to the police who caught him. Harley stood him down immediately, ending contact with the Swans. There may be more that comes out but at this stage it doesn't appear that the club, or Harley in his previous role, have done anything to atone for other than miss a predator.
No doubt it will all come out in court.
We can only hope that this kid, and any others, find peace.

 

[bedford]

Let's wait for the court heh , we have done nothing wrong

 

[McGowan3]

Let's wait for the court heh , we have done nothing wrong

Media never waits for the trial these days, ruining things for both the accuser and the defendant. Disturbing.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Ah my apologies (somewhat). I thought the incident in Melbourne happened after the swans.

That said, it does seem like Heaney was a serial offender and I doubt the person code named Morino was the only person impacted at the swans.

Also, given the nature of the academy and the duty of care it has to the boys in its ranks, I suspect all Morino needs to do is demonstrate that the incidents most likely happened and that his psychological injuries were caused by those incidents. Whether swans leadership knew will not matter, and nor should it.

 

[bedford]

Should this be on the society page , asking for another poster

 

[hairy biker]

Should this be on the society page , asking for another poster

 

[The King!]

Wow that's shocking

 

[caesar88]

I think two things can be true at once. The Swans could've done nothing wrong whilst also needing a reminder - as all organisations do, and should - to assess their vetting process with employees.

 

[liz]

I think two things can be true at once. The Swans could've done nothing wrong whilst also needing a reminder - as all organisations do, and should - to assess their vetting process with employees.

And also to review how coaches and their charges interact with each other to minimise - ideally eliminate - opportunities for grooming and abuse. Like trying to ensure coaches are never alone with the youngsters.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I think two things can be true at once. The Swans could've done nothing wrong whilst also needing a reminder - as all organisations do, and should - to assess their vetting process with employees.

I think it goes beyond vetting. If you are going to have adult men in positions of power over boys you also need mechanisms in place to (a) ensure bad man have very limited opportunity to perpetrate offences and (b) ensure the boys have safe opportunities to raise concerns.

There will always be bad eggs, you need a system that catches them and forces them out.

Assuming the alleged concerns are true, I’m not convinced the swans had their system set up right, and therefore would have failed their duty of care.

Would this make the Swans or swans leadership bad? Probably not. My guess is that all the leaders were good people who thought they were doing their best for the boys. However, they would still be responsible / liable for what happened and would need to lift their standards in future.

 

[Ticky009]

I think it goes beyond vetting. If you are going to have adult men in positions of power over boys you also need mechanisms in place to (a) ensure bad man have very limited opportunity to perpetrate offences and (b) ensure the boys have safe opportunities to raise concerns.

There will always be bad eggs, you need a system that catches them and forces them out.

Assuming the alleged concerns are true, I’m not convinced the swans had their system set up right, and therefore would have failed their duty of care.

Would this make the Swans or swans leadership bad? Probably not. My guess is that all the leaders were good people who thought they were doing their best for the boys. However, they would still be responsible / liable for what happened and would need to lift their standards in future.

You're doing an awful lot of "I'm guessing' and suppositions around this. Best maybe just stick to what is known for the moment until further info is released.

 

[bedford]

You're doing an awful lot of "I'm guessing' and suppositions around this. Best maybe just stick to what is known for the moment until further info is released.

Ticks with respect , is this the right thread for this .

 

[Ticky009]

Ticks with respect , is this the right thread for this .

Yes. Its still about club business.

 

[bedford]

Yes. Its still about club business.

But the discussion is now on a personal level , nothing to do with the Swans and yes i have stories as well

 

[Ticky009]

But the discussion is now on a personal level , nothing to do with the Swans and yes i have stories as well

It was ONE post. You've posted more off topic in response to it.

 

[bedford]

It was ONE post. You've posted more off topic in response to it.

It's quite confronting some of the posts , that's all . Really i don't know what thread it would go under and please i'm not having a go at you or anyone

 

[caesar88]

But the discussion is now on a personal level , nothing to do with the Swans and yes i have stories as well

It's hardly personal. People are allowed to offer their personal views and experiences on a subject posted in here. As always if it veers too off-topic we will move things.

 

[bedford]

It's hardly personal. People are allowed to offer their personal views and experiences on a subject posted in here. As always if it veers too off-topic we will move things.

Ticky already explained that 88 , my point is that it needs it's own thread . I've always been strong on this thread , how it's for Swans media , not general discussion and yes maybe it is , but in my view it needs to be separated

 

[Nuggetz]

I think it would be a bit unfair to blame the Swans unless they had a history of poor vetting. It sounds like this was a once off hiring issue that was resolved once the issues came to light. Thoughts go out to all those impacted.