The Rendell Fiasco

[Freddy Bassett]

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

You're a disgrace by trying to defend him.....

Rendell is gone now so just get over it now,the club is always bigger than the individual........life goes on.

How many Aboriginal players did Hawthorn have before 2000? Just out of curiosity?

 

[WALL-e]

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

MR has gone into a development meeting, topic of AFL indigenous development given the drop in indigenous numbers in the league this year and the Jurrah incident.

Along the lines of "more likely to look at drafting a player with 1 white parent, hesitant to draft without"

Put in meeting notes, notes back to AFL House, AD pissed, AD forces clubs hand.

 

[radiojake]

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

It appears the club has caved in again, 2 times in one week.

Grow some balls afc

The Vince scenario was a joke - Agree


However, Rendell stuffed up big time and he made the right decision to step down.

Obviously a bit of poor form from whoever leaked the conversation, but it's too late now and Rendell has to suffer the consequences

 

[MatDark]

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

These days if you're in the public eye, you have to be ridiculously careful about what you say & how you word things, as one wrong word or sentence will get you fired, or have activists coming down on getting said person punished for offending them.

Any person not associated with the AFL or Media can express their desire at free will to a point, without overstepping the mark. It's suicide if you are affiliated with any organization, so you know the rules, keep things like this to yourself.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

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

It appears the club has caved in again, 2 times in one week.

Grow some balls afc

Wow, just wow.

 

[Wood_Duck]

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

Moral of the story for all clubs. Do not be honest with the AFL.

Hang Rendell out to dry as a racist, that way you don't have to actually address the issue.

 

[Slippery Pete]

This is a shit day for our club. Rendell has been one of the very good things about our club.

He is a very engaging bloke and I have spoken to him at length in the past and have massively enjoyed his insight.

Sadly he is incredibly honest and sometimes lets you know exactly what he is thinking. In light of recent events there has been lots of discussion re the drafting of indigenous kids, I'm sure he said what others had been suggesting. I can almost guarantee that this is not the view of the club nor Matt Rendell. It would have been a throw away line in front of people that he thought he trusted not to take it any further.

Nonetheless he has done the right thing under the circumstances. I feel desperately sorry for him. The rest of us get to apologize and get on with our lives when we @#$%up.

This.

.

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

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

Cant wait for the threads complaining about sanitised boring, clichéd press conferences and media statements....

As soon as a guy speaks the truth in an honest statement he is brutalised and sacked.

 

[radiojake]

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

It Would of been Matty 'honestly' saying it was too hard to bring Jurrah-like players from Central Australia........


But to say it is hard work to pick up lads from Central Australia is the truth. And he has lost his career for it...

If that is what he said, then it wouldn't have been a problem. Although this is probably what he meant, this is not what he said.

He specifically said that unless a indigenous kid has a white parent, then he would 2nd guess drafting him. Nothing about remote location. This implies indigenous kids in the city, otherwise fully climatised to 'city living', without one white parent are draft risks also.

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

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

If that is what he said, then it wouldn't have been a problem. Although this is probably what he meant, this is not what he said.

He specifically said that unless a indigenous kid has a white parent, then he would 2nd guess drafting him. Nothing about remote location. This implies indigenous kids in the city, otherwise fully climatised to 'city living', without one white parent are draft risks also.

Be a bit sensible at least...

Everyone knew exactly what he meant...

Context, Context, Context, Context, Context, Context,

 

[roguetendencies]

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

He specifically said that unless a indigenous kid has a white parent, then he would 2nd guess drafting him. Nothing about remote location. This implies indigenous kids in the city, otherwise fully climatised to 'city living', without one white parent are draft risks also.

But this is the problem: we don't know what else was said. For all we know he could have spent 2 hours discussing the virtues of an all-Aboriginal team before making an off the cuff remark in a private setting. This remark has now cost him his job (and probably his career) because the AFL, otherwise known as the home of political correctness, decided that the comment was too far and essentially ordered his sacking.

I can't imagine there will be many club representatives giving their honest opinions to the AFL from here on in. Perhaps this is exactly what the AFL want since it makes them look good when no one is saying anything negative.

I love the game but I can't stand how it's run.

 

[radiojake]

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

Be a bit sensible at least...

Everyone knew exactly what he meant...

Context, Context, Context, Context, Context, Context,

We are assuming we know what he meant, most probably out of an effort to atleast put a 'brighter note' on this sad situation.

But we can't say for sure that we knew exactly what he meant: - Here are the facts: He said that unless an indigenous kid has atleast one white parent, then clubs will baulk at recruiting them. That is crap.

The club has done the right thing, Rendell has done the right thing in stepping down, as unfortunate as that may be -

 

[Hank93]

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

Be a bit sensible at least...

Everyone knew exactly what he meant...

Context, Context, Context, Context, Context, Context,

The official quote was "I would not recruit a Aboriginal player unless one of his parents is white".

In no way is this comment acceptable and cannot be associated with the AFC in anyway.

If he said, "the transition of aboriginal players from very remote areas to an AFL club is a difficult task to undertake" then I believe this would have been acceptable.

 

[mulz]

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

hung out to dry by the afl. when honest feedback is given this is what happens. time for our club to stop being so naive when it comes to dealing with the afl.

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

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

I'm not blaming the AFC their hands were well and truly tied...the AFL however...I wish

Surely nobody on hear believes he would refuse to draft a player on the basis of him not having at least one white parent...clearly what he is saying is...aboriginal players from 100% Aboriginal families often have associated problems when it comes to playing/living the lifestyle at AFL clubs and as a result of this present a risk. This risk means he has a policy where he doesn't like to recruit them....BINGO

A smarter way of saying what he said...he said a stupid sentence now he gets his rep destroyed and loses his job.

MADNESS

 

[FAITH]

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

Apparently Demetriou is very angry. In fact the whole footy community is angry. Andy D is leaving it to the club to deal with first before he intervenes (if necessary). I fear he might get the flick.

What a load of garbage!!
Rendell is not racist he was making a point that the afl needed better programs to support indigenous players.

Rendell did everything he could to get Rioli but didnt want to come, petrenko and Milera he picked and would have picked Sibosado if available at our pick.

So let me get this right, Demetriou supports a guy who used a machette to cut someones head but when it comes to comments about improving AFL indgenous programs he does everything to sack the bloke?

Whose the real racist here?

 

[SilverCrow]

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

I’m with you Rayven but your message will be lost in a PC world armed with pitchforks and torches.
On the surface, Rendell’s comments are certainly not fit for public consumption which is why they were made in private. The AFL chose to make his comments public and therefore force the AFC’s hand leaving the club no other option but to stand Rendell down and distance the club from the comment made.
I for one have no doubt Rendell was highlighting the risks and challenges clubs face when recruiting Indigenous players from purely tribal communities and that risk is certainly diminished when the player has a parent(s) that is already adapted to the rat race called ‘city life’ and by proxy don’t have to make the massive cultural/lifestyle changes required when taken out of said community. I don’t think it was a comment against indigenous parents per say but more so to highlight the fact that when some people are taken out of their natural environment they often find it difficult to adapt to a new set of circumstances. I just think he chose extremely poor words to make a point.
Call him a racist if you want but we all guilty of not always choose the right words to make a point.
Thank you for your service to the club Rendell, your recruiting record proves you are not a racist. Actions always speak louder than words.

 

[CrowCro]

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

We are becoming so precious in Australia its becoming rediculous. I have been all over the world and our country would be amongst the most fake countries in the world. Its just so political in everyday life. People just say what they think is politically correct and fits the company line. No one says what they think here and as soon as honest cultures speak their
mind we jump all over them. At least we know these people are real.

Firstly I think if this was a private meeting this should not have made its way to a footy show and secondly I'm sure that there are other recruiters think much like Rendell they are just more politically correct and would not say it. In view of the issues with aboriginal players lately what Rendell has said does not mean he is anti aboriginals in any way but rather
appreciated the risk in drafting aboriginals with the huge cultural differences they face.

There is so much discreet racism in this country. How many aboriginals does Rob Chapman employ in the bank and of all the highly qualified people in this country of other cultures from Europe etc how many of these do we see in high managerial positions. Im sure that most people have noticed that most people in these positions are of Anglo -Saxon
background and in many cases of lesser qualifications.

What your seeing here is no different to what rendelll has done in a way.
Lets ask all of the Indian Engineers driving taxis, and aboriginals in normal employment outside football, or other cultures struggling in this very Anglo dominated country.

Now dont get me wrong this happens all over the world as unfortunately it is human nature.

The other thing that we are forgetting here and is annoying me today is all these comments on the news re how Rendell has supported Aboriginal
drafting etc . Andrew Mcleod has come up and so has Patrenko. This is a silly example as here we have two players who are only half aboriginal. Patrenkos father is Ukranian and McLeods father is Scottish.

These journalist need to investigate what they are writing or putting out in the media rather than beating everything up. lets not forget that most of the aboriginals actually drafted in the AFL have one parent of white origin in some way or another, not because they are racist but because it is reality that these guys handle the lifestyle alot better.

 

[Wood_Duck]

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

I’m with you Rayven but your message will be lost in a PC world armed with pitchforks and torches.
On the surface, Rendell’s comments are certainly not fit for public consumption which is why they were made in private. The AFL chose to make his comments public and therefore force the AFC’s hand leaving the club no other option but to stand Rendell down and distance the club from the comment made.
I for one have no doubt Rendell was highlighting the risks and challenges clubs face when recruiting Indigenous players from purely tribal communities and that risk is certainly diminished when the player has a parent(s) that is already adapted to the rat race called ‘city life’ and by proxy don’t have to make the massive cultural/lifestyle changes required when taken out of said community. I don’t think it was a comment against indigenous parents per say but more so to highlight the fact that when some people are taken out of their natural environment they often find it difficult to adapt to a new set of circumstances. I just think he chose extremely poor words to make a point.
Call him a racist if you want but we all guilty of not always choose the right words to make a point.
Thank you for your service to the club Rendell, your recruiting record proves you are not a racist. Actions always speak louder than words.

Good post. Sadly its easier the crucify Rendell than address the issue.

 

[IddyBiddy]

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

Completely deflating. I would like to believe Matty. I hope those views are out of context. I certainly hope that those views are not those of my club. Sad that Misfud decided the best way to deal with this was to speak to The Age. The whole thing is a mess.

 

[radiojake]

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

I don't think anyone is actually trying to claim that Rendell is racist -

But his comment was -


Unfortunately a (probably?) private comment has come out public - This is unfortunate for Rendell and Adelaide, there may be an agenda behind it, but there is nothing that can be done now - This stuff sticks, there is no way in the media obsessed world that this out of line comment would never be associated with Rendell, and therefore, if he remained at the club, Adelaide.

 

[crowman86]

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

As far as I understand he said something along the lines that the AFL need to do more to engage the community or in a few years time clubs will only start looking at players who have at least 1 white parent... So he was trying to help them by giving feedback that its becoming an ever increasing risk recruiting aboriginal players.
If that's true than I can see how it has been taken massively out of context..
Its not excuse for saying something so stupid like that though, there are many many ways to say something like that but he choose the wrong way to go about it.
Club had no choice but to sack him or force him to resign, we cant be tied to anything that can be remotely interpreted to being racist..

Sad day for the club and sad for Rendell..

 

[FAITH]

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

Who should be our new recruiting manager?

Apparently it will be Ogielvy.
Joint at the hip he and Rendell were, so we should be ok.

 

[lunacy]

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

I still believe he was taken out of context as he's had no problems drafting indigenous players before. I have had a few conversations with him in the past and he really is a great guy, but is an open book. This is what got him in trouble.

Interesting how Jurrah can Machete someone's face and get support from the AFL and Melboure FC, but Rendell says one thing that is probably a reasonable point but poorly articulated (in a "private conversation") and he immediately gets the sack (or would have if he didn't jump first).

I'm sure he meant the extreme example like Jurrah who come from very remote communities and wouldn't know the first thing about our city culture let alone learning about nutrition, team meetings, curfews, press conferences, school visits etc. Where as if they had at least one parent who has been exposed to these things the chances of the player being exposed to it and his ability to cope would be increased.

Surely common sense says if the kid has come from some remote place in the bush where there is no infrastructure, no rules, no guidelines and no structure it is too big an adjustment. Look at Jurrah. It hasn't worked. He's still mixed up in the 'rules of the land' (tribal war) which is a totally different set of rules.

Common sense, but you just can't say it.

 

[radiojake]

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

Surely common sense says if the kid has come from some remote place in the bush where there is no infrastructure, no rules, no guidelines and no structure it is too big an adjustment. Look at Jurrah. It hasn't worked. He's still mixed up in the 'rules of the land' (tribal war) which is a totally different set of rules.

Common sense, but you just can't say it.

I am sure he could have said the above (and maybe did?)

However, that is not what he has been crucified for - He made a blanket call about indigenous kids without a white parent as undesirable AFL draftees - That is the issue.