Sydney Stack Discussion

[Mr Magic]

He’s struggling big time, has been for a while.
There are people at the club who feel absolutely helpless, some annoyed but most just worried about him and where he’s heading. Quite a few who had good connection with him early on have just lost him.
Honestly worrying about him being a senior Richmond player is way down the list.

Why do some feel helpless?

Can't communicate with him, nothing reasonating??

Do not understand his values and drives, what makes him tick?

How have some just lost him? Different viewpoints, events occurred, bad blood??

Does anyone understand what gets him up, what gets him down, what propells him, what he enjoys? Does Stack even know. I speak to some guys, they don't know but at least Stack knows what he is good at and how he can be more successful.

Apart from the footy it looks like he is passionate about his aboriginal heritage, he got up and danced with the other cultural dancers at the G a few years back versus Essendon didn't he?, Does he want to paint about his heritage? Does he want to promote his culture knowing a successful footy career will help him do that?? Does he have other interests to progress his learning and growth?

 

[Grrr]

I suppose you also think the hotel quarantine bloke just had "a cheeky little root" too, nothing to see here!

hahahahahaha

A laugh a minute. Such fun to see a young talented kid locked up and most likely headed that way in the future. Must be so much fun for you.

 

[Grrr]

"Former St Kilda assistant coach Jason Mifsud, who like Stack is Indigenous, questioned the decision to put Stack behind bars.

"Challenge the behaviour, support the person. Not sure incarcerating a vulnerable young person is the only solution in a case such as this. Seems unimaginative and unnecessarily punitive," Mifsud wrote on Twitter."

Can he tell us what the alternative was?

Hotel quarantine perhaps.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Been thinking on this and I keep coming back to the fact he has got as far as he has on his own and on his ability without elite pathways and financial advantage, private schools and discipline and structure.
He’s had success doing it his way.

The last 12 months he’s lived by more rules and restrictions than he’s probably had in the last 5 years (or ever) and in the past he’s broken them but he’s got by on ability and by preforming on the ground.
Richmond knew all this when they signed him and then we’ve had the biggest restrictions and reductions in people’s personal freedom (for good reason) that has ever existed in this country.
I worry now with reduced soft cap how clubs can support Indiginous kids in the transition. We are going to lose talent because theyre not highly functioning student/athletes who can deal with the schedules and structures as a young professional with the distraction of more money in their pocket and attention from strangers and social media than anyone in their families or community.
Stack is a Noongar man.
How many people in Australia would have much of an idea about Aboriginal culture if it wasnt for the AFL?
Bugger all I reckon. It’s given me more of an insight. I found an article written by Konrad Marshal called the “Noongar Warrior” it was after they picked the Noongar team of the century. Sheedy was apart of it he called them “the Zulu’s of this nation”.




From these experiences, the Noongars developed a certain defiance. AFL legend Kevin Sheedy recently called the Noongars a warrior tribe (“The Zulus of this nation”), and Roberts agrees. He thinks that mindset comes back to one word.

He writes it down in blue pen: winyarn.

“It means scared, or soft, or weak,” Roberts says. “You can’t be winyarn. You just can’t. To the Noongar, if someone has wronged you, you’ve gotta face them. Doesn’t matter if he’s twice the size, if he’s a cop, if there are three of them. You stand up.”


Stuck in a cell 20 hrs a day by yourself till next year.
Might make him might break him, I think the club should keep him and lets see what happens

Well posted...

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

"Former St Kilda assistant coach Jason Mifsud, who like Stack is Indigenous, questioned the decision to put Stack behind bars.

"Challenge the behaviour, support the person. Not sure incarcerating a vulnerable young person is the only solution in a case such as this. Seems unimaginative and unnecessarily punitive," Mifsud wrote on Twitter."

Can he tell us what the alternative was?

Live with Baz...

 

[Ron The Bear]

Can he tell us what the alternative was?

Laws are just for show, responsible people make decisions on gut feel.

 

[Bazzar]

Hotel quarantine perhaps.

How can he when he failed to show for the magistrates hearing?
Don't forget bail was denied the day before

 

[Serenity_Now]

How can he when he failed to show for the magistrates hearing?
Don't forget bail was denied the day before

Wasn’t it said that he wasn’t allowed to appear for hearing due to having to quarantine in the prison?

 

[THE_GUN]

Very kind to ask and thank you.

Going ok. Battling Stage 4 Kidney Disease, but if I stay off VB_longneck diet tips I should be ok.

I have nothing to complain about.

Haere Ra

Get well soon mate and the Tiger army is here if needed

 

[_RT_]

The depth is the like of Dow ans garthwaite I think you may be getting carried away

I'm not just talking about the players like them, but the depth in our best 22. When you have the likes of Caddy Broad Graham McIntosh Ross Aarts Soldo Nankervis being the types of players that rotate in and out of the side over the last couple of years our depth is quite strong when you compare it to the side that Carlton & Melbourne had running around when they booted Fevola and Jurrah.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Why do some feel helpless?

Can't communicate with him, nothing reasonating??

Do not understand his values and drives, what makes him tick?

How have some just lost him? Different viewpoints, events occurred, bad blood??

Does anyone understand what gets him up, what gets him down, what propells him, what he enjoys? Does Stack even know. I speak to some guys, they don't know but at least Stack knows what he is good at and how he can be more successful.

Apart from the footy it looks like he is passionate about his aboriginal heritage, he got up and danced with the other cultural dancers at the G a few years back versus Essendon didn't he?, Does he want to paint about his heritage? Does he want to promote his culture knowing a successful footy career will help him do that?? Does he have other interests to progress his learning and growth?

He’s a very hard young man to keep focused.
We have a fantastic group of people at the club across different areas, a strong indigenous presence one of which I know personally and he’s just a challenging proposition from his perspective and not just his.
He’s says he’s a great kid with high energy levels but also has the downs and all the associated problems. I have met him for all of 5 minutes and saw the really hyper version but he’s obviously in a bad place right now.
When I say lost him I mean more they were able to influence and motivate him more in the early days than recently, and are at a bit of a loss on how to get him back focused.
Nothing nasty or bad blood.

 

[_RT_]

Very kind to ask and thank you.

Going ok. Battling Stage 4 Kidney Disease, but if I stay off VB_longneck diet tips I should be ok.

I have nothing to complain about.

Haere Ra

All the best Slowy

 

[Ancient Tiger]

He gave details of where he would
be isolating and agreed to isolate . Regardless of whether the rules are ridiculous or not , he knew them and intentionally broke them as he did on the Gold Coast .

But the time must fit the crime. The rules are just ridiculous if they start including stopovers at airports. If he had gone straight to WA from Melbourne there would have been no need to quarantine. Yes, he was stupid but stupidity like that should not land you in jail for 2 weeks including missing Christmas. That is WAY over the top. FFS even murderers are granted bail.....

 

[CaptchaProofBot]

Loved that movie, best characters, swear they were from a genuine asylum

I watched the series Ratched and never made the connection with nurse Ratched from the movie.

 

[YeOldTiger]

I'm hoping we can hold off the dismissing of Sydney until all the facts (remember those ?) come out and at least he gets a chance to explain himself. Even then I'm hoping that he doesn't get dismissed at all, losing his contract, falling through the cracks. On the face of it he's a young man in a lot of pain, seemingly unable to make healthy decisions for himself, let alone the rest of society (quarantine/isolation rules). So many young aboriginal kids find themselves in prison, it's incredibly disproportionate on our society and Sydney is a very public example of what we all know happens. Particularly in rura and remote areas. Some of these young men do very hard time. Particularly mentally.

For that reason, I think the club will support him through this because that's what they took on when they signed him. Due diligence it's called and Richmond knew he lacked direction. Richmond are engaged in improving the prospects for young aboriginal people and that brings into focus young people like [PLAYERCARD]Sydney Stack[/PLAYERCARD]. Disadvantaged, needing direction and support. Not just once but throughout.

Perhaps they don't call it punt road for nothing. Take a punt, not give the boot.

He's still only 20. There's a player at Freo who had great difficulty adapting to the pressures and disciplines of being a professional footballer and with support and some strong direction (at one time sent away from the club) has become a gun player and leader (even if does go to ground a little too easily at times !). [PLAYERCARD]Michael Walters[/PLAYERCARD] has shown what might happen when you lift someone up, not push them back down or blow them away.

Sydney's actions have made us all angry, dissapointed and that leads to some very strong reactions. Most agree his actions are self centred if not selfish but he's learned from a young age to look out for No1. He's dealing with just being right now. I doubt he gives a lot of thought to doing his bit for society just yet. Selfish, yes. Understandable given where he's come from perhaps. Sydney's future is about to play out very publicly and there is so much anger and hostility.

However I think we can all still be concerned for him. It's possible to have sympathy for people who missed funerals and have lost loved ones to Covid (some from selfish actions) but also have sympathy for a young man who feels like a square peg in a round hole (and who is in a deep hole right now). Those two things aren't mutually exclusive. We can also be angry and frustrated at him. Just remember, he has noone. He's alone. Worst of all he will know he brought it on himself.

Richmond saw something in him. He's different, he's introverted which explains some of his immature extroverted online behaviour imo and he's talented. I think on that we all agree.

Many people see something in him too and at this time of year, a little understanding and retrospection go a long way. Last time I looked it was Xmas. He has a very tough time ahead. He's made stupid decisions, who knows why ?

Perhaps in time, all the facts will come out. So until then, let's dial down the rhetoric and dial up the spirit of the season after a shitty year. Because with support and direction [PLAYERCARD]Sydney Stack[/PLAYERCARD], like others before him, can come back. But without it, he almost definitely won't and might be lost to us all.

I for one don't want to imagine that.

After all, he's one of ours. Isn't he ?

 

[Grrr]

How can he when he failed to show for the magistrates hearing?
Don't forget bail was denied the day before

According to the above article - A Perth magistrate has adjourned the matter until January 6 as the prison's quarantine policy prohibits Stack from leaving his cell to speak to the court via a video link during his isolation period.

Unless the procedure is different that you are talking about, it seems it was out of his hands, 14 days quarantine courtesy of WA.

 

[Grrr]

He’s a very hard young man to keep focused.
We have a fantastic group of people at the club across different areas, a strong indigenous presence one of which I know personally and he’s just a challenging proposition from his perspective and not just his.
He’s says he’s a great kid with high energy levels but also has the downs and all the associated problems. I have met him for all of 5 minutes and saw the really hyper version but he’s obviously in a bad place right now.
When I say lost him I mean more they were able to influence and motivate him more in the early days than recently, and are at a bit of a loss on how to get him back focused.
Nothing nasty or bad blood.

Hell Covid can do that to well adjusted people. It's been pretty obvious he has struggled for the past year, his second year was awful.

 

[Hank Heavenly]

A laugh a minute. Such fun to see a young talented kid locked up and most likely headed that way in the future. Must be so much fun for you.

I'm not laughing at Stack, nor do I think its funny the young fella is stuck behind bars and realistically, the worst may still be ahead for him...

I AM laughing at you, and your flippant defence of him and his actions as if they are not important, not serious or of little consequence.

I have no problem you wanting the best for him, wanting to keep him on the list etc. but seriously trying to downplay his (numerous) indiscretions is the exact thing that makes him think his choices aren't as bad as they are...

So my hahahahahahaha is directly solely and straight in your direction, just in case you needed me to be a bit clearer on that, as you didn't seem to get the hint the last 2 times.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Hell Covid can do that to well adjusted people. It's been pretty obvious he has struggled for the past year, his second year was awful.

Been struggling for a while even last year at times but yeah doubt Covid would agree with him.

 

[Tigeral]

Stack stopped over in a hot spot. Quarantine rules are in place for a reason. He broke them.

Just recently a WA magistrate gave a FIFO worker who cracked it over madnantory quarantine the option of 14 days in a hotel at his expense or 14 days at Hakea, naturally he chose the first after reflection.

Maybe Stack would have been given the same option if he appeared before the magistrate yesterday.

SA is hardly a hotspot. They just had 50,000 people go to the cricket over three days. Was the quarantine really because he spent 1 hour in Adelaide airport on the way over? That’s absurd!

 

[Mr Magic]

He’s a very hard young man to keep focused.
We have a fantastic group of people at the club across different areas, a strong indigenous presence one of which I know personally and he’s just a challenging proposition from his perspective and not just his.
He’s says he’s a great kid with high energy levels but also has the downs and all the associated problems. I have met him for all of 5 minutes and saw the really hyper version but he’s obviously in a bad place right now.
When I say lost him I mean more they were able to influence and motivate him more in the early days than recently, and are at a bit of a loss on how to get him back focused.
Nothing nasty or bad blood.

Anyone asked him whats changed, is their perception wrong? Have they missed something?

Sounds like he might be struggling outside of footy. Connecting with other endeavours. What other interests does he say he has to give him some life balance?

 

[muzhogg]

According to the above article - A Perth magistrate has adjourned the matter until January 6 as the prison's quarantine policy prohibits Stack from leaving his cell to speak to the court via a video link during his isolation period.

Unless the procedure is different that you are talking about, it seems it was out of his hands, 14 days quarantine courtesy of WA.

The WA Govt. released a statement in response to that article saying that the prison's quarantine policy doesn't actually prevent video links.

I don't think anybody knows what's going on.

 

[THE_GUN]

Just out of interest

If [PLAYERCARD]Sydney Stack[/PLAYERCARD] was not indigenous and he was a white Australian named would all the same concerns regarding his incarceration be spoken about or the same leeway be warranted by some !

[PLAYERCARD]Sydney Stack[/PLAYERCARD] has now been at the club 2 years after coming from a troubled junior season and has been provided with alot of support from coaches players and staff and has continued to make the same mistakes and put people off side even before the kebab gate fiasco.

Stack loves the attention and is always seeking it which does put alot of people including some of our players off side, He will be hurting now and regretting 'getting caught' but not too sure he will be regretting actually doing what he did.

I have issue's with his attitude and his preparation and his inability to maintain focus on his career and tow the club line, His reason for heading to WA was for the death of his grandfather or the funeral depending on which story you read but soon as he gets there his focus was on his new years celebration and going out on the town and partying on as well as fighting 'again'.

This brings me to the question about kebab gate , Was it stack the led CCJ astray ? Will he continue this way ? Will he drag other young players in his ways ?
What confidence do we have he will actually learn , grow up and focus ? Will we be repeating this every year ?

Dont think any player or coach should have to be burdened with the responsibility of 'taking care' of stack living with him and having to worry about his mistakes and having to be burdened with covering up for him.

Is he that great of a player that we need to go through all his growing pains , I personally dont think so
He is a good player and potentially an elite talent but alot need to go right and alot of growing up and maturing needs to be done from stack.

I will be surprised if stack has a career t Richmond or in the AFL in 2-3 years time

Good luck to him whatever happens

 

[CaptchaProofBot]

Very kind to ask and thank you.

Going ok. Battling Stage 4 Kidney Disease, but if I stay off VB_longneck diet tips I should be ok.

I have nothing to complain about.

Haere Ra

JFC !!! I just looked up Stage 4 Kidney Disease...just tell me you've "stabilised" right ?

 

[Hank Heavenly]

This brings me to the question about kebab gate , Was it stack the led CCJ astray ? Will he continue this way ? Will he drag other young players in his ways ?
What confidence do we have he will actually learn , grow up and focus ? Will we be repeating this every year ?

Dont think any player or coach should have to be burdened with the responsibility of 'taking care' of stack living with him and having to worry about his mistakes and having to be burdened with covering up for him.

I questioned this in the idiocy thread...

I can easily see, Stack was going no matter what, CCJ thought well, better someone goes and looks after him then let him go on his own...
Whilst the potential thought of care may have been right, it was still the wrong choice for CCJ... So he has to wear that...

But I agree, I wonder if people trying to 'help' him end up making the wrong choices also and find themselves in a position they shouldn't be.