The Rendell Fiasco

[noddy]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

He also paid way above the odds for Tambling! I am sure Rucci the slag wont mention that. But he is questioning why he picked up Talia infront of Jetta? 4 other clubs after us passed over Jetta and I know who we currently need more, but you go for it Rucci

If this is what now becomes the norm & why a club passed on who & why they picked up he before who because who is an indigenous player then they can stick the AFL up their backsides.

Matt Rendell said the wrong words & for that he pays a heavy price.

 

[Coopers]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Who is our recruiting manager now?

The guy has to be out there working watching the kids play this season... which starts... really soon.

 

[Stripple]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Morning all. Been a quiet old night for the AFC.

My 2 cents worth:

What happened to the three strikes policy? (Sorry, couldn't help that.)

Matt obviously misread Mifsud (try saying that in a hurry). He should have known that everything he was saying was being taken down and could be used against him (and the club).

Vlad is a heavy handed autocrat (Clive Palmer come on down, FA has nothing on the AFL). It is disappointing that this could not have been handled in-house - we are not talking about actual racism here but a potential change in recruiting approach - and any club that chooses players purely on race would be stupid (as Sheedy says - send them over here, we'll take them).

How about Vlad picks up the phone, calls Trigg and says I want a meeting with you, Rendell and Mifsud. Put the comments to Rendell and ask him to explain. If he can't, he is gone.

Once it was out there (thanks to the AFL), in defending Rendell or the comment (and Rendell will now forever be associated with the comment), the club risked making itself look stupid. They had no choice but to act. Even Eddie would have done the same thing.

Overall, a complete debacle. Rendell loses his job, the AFC is tarnished (can't wait to check out the Bay) and Vlad adds another skull to his throne.

Essentially where I sit as well. He should be fired for the wording he used even if the quote was extended to "If things keep going this way I would not recruit an aboriginal kid unless he had one white parent and our club would not be alone in that" that is still a very racist comment, and must be dealt with harshly. However he should have had a chance to explain his comments (not defend) to the AFL. The other thing is he should be afforded some support from the AFL in regards to counselling as Racism is wrong but vilifying people for being racist wont stop racism education is the key.

I am glad Matt has been let go as the use of race to try and explain what the issues are with drafting Aboriginals from rural communities is wrong. Not all Aboriginals with two aboriginal parents are from rural communities as such saying that we will not recruit any aboriginal with two black parents in it self a racist comment. Even if his meaning was to convey the difficulties with assimilating different cultures in to an AFL environment and the need for that difficulty to be addressed he damned himself when he placed the blame on race rather than a cultural divide.

Someone coming from the culture of a rural community may have just as much trouble as some white kid from a tight knit family who live on a remote farm, or a Irish lad who has no family/cultural support network in Australia.

Cultural difficulties are completely separate from racial profiling. Not all Aboriginals will have cultural difficulties and not all white private school kids wont have cultural difficulties pretty simple.

 

[JP Sauce]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Can we just hire him back in time for the draft?

 

[cmndstab]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Who is our recruiting manager now?

The guy has to be out there working watching the kids play this season... which starts... really soon.

It sounds as though Hamish Ogilve will be take over, who has been our head recruiter based in Melbourne for some time now (anyone know how long?)

 

[amer]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

We can be precious, demonstrate aversion to issues if we like, but there are clearly risks, based on the experience Rendell has had, with recruiting players from a fully indigenous background. His comment was terrible, and that philosophy completely inexcusable, but strip it back and attack the issue - his comment has to do with observed risks. Statistically significant risks, I've no doubt.

If you're going to take racial sensitivity to the point where you're ignoring issues that just ****ing patently exist; no getting around them; I don't know what to tell you. It's tough for a lot of young indigenous lads to adjust to being away from their families, such a tight-knit set of familial cultures exist. Tough to the point that recruiters are concerned about their ability to keep talented, budding young footballers at the clubs they're drafted to. This needs to be addressed. These kids need stronger support networks, and the AFL needs to wake the **** up and acknowledge that Rendell (and make no mistake, many other recruiters like him), despite there clearly being a lot wrong with what he said, is concerned enough about the system's ability to retain indigenous Australian footballers that he checks himself when running through his recruiting processes.

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Not entirely relevant to the case, but Ellis-Yolmen had an aborignal father and a Papua New Guinean mother. However, he was brought up almost entirely by his white grandmother (who adopted his mother from PMG at a young age), with Scotish and English heritage. She was essentially a "white-parent" to him, if we want to look at it that way...

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Nice work Rucci...

Crows officials deny discrimination policy after recruiting manager Mark Rendell quits

 

[Cap]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

You are on the money. The AFL is only worried about its image rather than investigate why they were said

 

[Vader]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

We can be precious, demonstrate aversion to issues if we like, but there are clearly risks, based on the experience Rendell has had, with recruiting players from a fully indigenous background. His comment was terrible, and that philosophy completely inexcusable, but strip it back and attack the issue - his comment has to do with observed risks. Statistically significant risks, I've no doubt.

If you're going to take racial sensitivity to the point where you're ignoring issues that just ****ing patently exist; no getting around them; I don't know what to tell you. It's tough for a lot of young indigenous lads to adjust to being away from their families, such a tight-knit set of familial cultures exist. Tough to the point that recruiters are concerned about their ability to keep talented, budding young footballers at the clubs they're drafted to. This needs to be addressed. These kids need stronger support networks, and the AFL needs to wake the **** up and acknowledge that Rendell (and make no mistake, many other recruiters like him), despite there clearly being a lot wrong with what he said, is concerned enough about the system's ability to retain indigenous Australian footballers that he checks himself when running through his recruiting processes.

There's absolutely no problem with the comments that you've made - and if Rendell had restricted himself to phrasing it in this way then he'd still be employed by the AFC.

Unfortunately, that's not the phrasing which he chose to use. Rendell was a dead man walking as soon as he started talking about players with "one white parent". That's blatantly racist - and that's why he's currently unemployed.

For all those who are trying to blame Trigg, ask yourself what other option he had open to him? The answer is NONE. Yes, he had options when it came to the handling of Vince (albeit limited options given that it was Vince's 4th offence). When Vlad comes down like a ton of bricks, because one of the employees has made a blatantly racist comment, then Trigg's options evaporated.

As for this being a "private conversation". You've got to be kidding me. This was an official meeting between the AFL and the recruitment managers. The meeting would have been minuted and Vlad had every right to see the minutes and query the comments as recorded. This was not just a quiet word between a couple of old mates, it was an official AFL meeting. While the public were excluded, there was nothing "private" about the meeting.

 

[Vader]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

You are on the money. The AFL is only worried about its image rather than investigate why they were said

Absolutely, 100%. Blame Vlad for that though.. not Trigg.

 

[afc1991]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

There's absolutely no problem with the comments that you've made - and if Rendell had restricted himself to phrasing it in this way then he'd still be employed by the AFC.

Unfortunately, that's not the phrasing which he chose to use. Rendell was a dead man walking as soon as he started talking about players with "one white parent". That's blatantly racist - and that's why he's currently unemployed.

For all those who are trying to blame Trigg, ask yourself what other option he had open to him? The answer is NONE. Yes, he had options when it came to the handling of Vince (albeit limited options given that it was Vince's 4th offence). When Vlad comes down like a ton of bricks, because one of the employees has made a blatantly racist comment, then Trigg's options evaporated.

As for this being a "private conversation". You've got to be kidding me. This was an official meeting between the AFL and the recruitment managers. The meeting would have been minuted and Vlad had every right to see the minutes and query the comments as recorded. This was not just a quiet word between a couple of old mates, it was an official AFL meeting. While the public were excluded, there was nothing "private" about the meeting.

The comments should never had been blabbed to the age by an afl employee. They should have been kept in house, let MR explain himself, take the issue on board.

Once the story broke he went from 'some phantom recruiter' as andy d put it, to someone real, and the afl had to sack him to save embarrassment.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

I'm past this topic now.

Just glad we got Dangerfield over RIoli

 

[Hank93]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

I'm past this topic now.

Just glad we got Dangerfield over RIoli

Let's hope we win tonight so we can forget about this situation. Go Crows!

 

[OldCrowBloke]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

he made an observation that kids with 1 white parent are better prepared to cope with a white domminated society such as AFL. which probably means the parents have over the years banished the money bludging hangers on, the bad influences, brought he child up with some white values, attitudes and diciplines that are demanded in our society.

surely you cant hang a bloke for making those observations? is political correctness too powerful?

Is there a Stormfront branch on the Gold Coast?

 

[Vader]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

The comments should never had been blabbed to the age by an afl employee. They should have been kept in house, let MR explain himself, take the issue on board.

Once the story broke he went from 'some phantom recruiter' as andy d put it, to someone real, and the afl had to sack him to save embarrassment.

No argument there. The AFL should also be having an internal investigation, resulting in the sacking of the person who leaked this to the media.

 

[fairdinkum]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Last point, have to agree with those who have said it's easier to scapegoat Rendell and call him racist than actually deal with any issues in terms of Aboriginal pathways and recruitment. The AFL hold a forum and ask recruiting managers for advice, but when they get honest (albeit possibly not PC) feedback, they squeal about it and stage a public character assassination. What a joke of an organization.

/rant

Entire post was excellent. Top shelf stuff.

 

[WALL-e]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

I hope that at any further AFL meetings whether it's coaches, CEO's, development managers, recruiters, player welfare managers... whatever, that we just sit there mutely and run out the clock.

Yep! Nothing is sacred so no feedback for you AFL.

As I've said previously in this thread, once Rendell brought the colour of a man's skin into it, his comments were always going to be branded as racist.

Having said that, it surprises me that no-one has raised the topic of Ellis-Yolmen, drafted only months ago by Rendell at the National draft.

Rendell was very proud of that selection when talking to me and the fact that he got such a steal at pick 64.

Ellis-Yolmen hasn't got a white parent to the best of my knowledge, being part Fijian and part aboriginal.

Sadly for Matt, he suffers occasionally from foot in mouth disease, but this time he's choked on it.

Not a racist but exagurates when making a point.

On the money, Macca.

It might take 6 months, but he'll bob up again at another club, although probably not as the front man for recruiting. He's got too much to offer to be left in no-man's land forever.

Will be working next season at high level.

No argument there. The AFL should also be having an internal investigation, resulting in the sacking of the person who leaked this to the media.

Not to mention why it only became an issue when it was brought up in the media.

 

[Snatchemstrap]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Not to mention why it only became an issue when it was brought up in the media.

Agreed, there is so much slime coming from so many people in this situation... The AFL and the AFC have cleaned up some of it, but the AFL had better keep probing their own deeper as well.

Interesting how this meeting was held almost two months ago, yet only becomes "leaked" to the media and therefore the public when some related high profile stories are floating around the tv and the papers.

**** I hate the power of the media too... They have the ability to impact so many livelihoods and individuals' well-being with next to no accountability for their actions.

 

[TheStinger]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Has there been a conclusive version of what Rendell actually said rather than the leaked chinese whisper from an unknown source? From what I can gather, Rendell was making a completely separate point from the one he is being accused of saying. He said the words but in the context of a potential problem down the line.

It would seem he has been scape goated for something he never actually intended.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

The conversation between Rendell and the AFL took place 2 months ago....

IF it was so bad what Rendell said why has it taken so long for the AFL to act upon it?

IF the media weren't all over it, were the AFL going to turn a blind eye?

Hopefully this blows up in Vlads face

 

[cmndstab]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

Has there been a conclusive version of what Rendell actually said rather than the leaked chinese whisper from an unknown source? From what I can gather, Rendell was making a completely separate point from the one he is being accused of saying. He said the words but in the context of a potential problem down the line.

It would seem he has been scape goated for something he never actually intended.

The short answer is, no.

Rendell is going to conduct interviews tomorrow so perhaps we'll get a clearer picture then.

 

[AFC979810]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

The conversation between Rendell and the AFL took place 2 months ago....

IF it was so bad what Rendell said why has it taken so long for the AFL to act upon it?

IF the media weren't all over it, were the AFL going to turn a blind eye?

Hopefully this blows up in Vlads face

Very relevant... The AFL have had over 2 months to deal with this - especially since it was said at an AFL meeting and they only deal with it when it becomes public?

The club should be going after vlad with everything we have.... Really have the feeling we have been too meek during this event and the Bernie event...

 

[cmndstab]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

What are we possibly going to go after Demetriou about? Unless we're going to accuse them of deliberately waiting two months to spring the news before the NAB Cup grand final, I'm not sure what possible indiscretion we could accuse the AFL of here?


Look, I get sick of getting a raw deal from the AFL, and just taking it without a complaint as well, but in this particular incident there is precisely one individual who has acted inappropriately.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Re: Rendell Says the club will only recruit Aboriginals that have one white parent

What are we possibly going to go after Demetriou about? Unless we're going to accuse them of deliberately waiting two months to spring the news before the NAB Cup grand final, I'm not sure what possible indiscretion we could accuse the AFL of here?


Look, I get sick of getting a raw deal from the AFL, and just taking it without a complaint as well, but in this particular incident there is precisely one individual who has acted inappropriately.

He only acted because his hand was forced. That is the issue Stab....

If what Rendell said was so bad, and at this stage none of us know, why did he wait til the media were all over it to act?

Would of he acted if the media didn't act?

That is the issue....