The Rendell Fiasco

[alex_is_on_fire]

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

Look, I don't think the AFC or for that matter Matthew Rendell are racist in any way but their is no way he could have kept his position after the comments were released.

The comments made wouldn't have allowed him to build any trust with the indigenous players because of that perception.

I also don't think Johncock or Andrew McLeod beleive the AFC have any racial tendencies.

 

[kurandus]

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

Only outcome sadly. I'm not supporting what was said, as it was a racially discriminatory remark, but our culture supports instant vilification of anyone making a racist remark period, and association with Rendell would of harmed the club, and the AFL. Adelaide had to control the fallout and be decisive to limit the current and future damage to sponsors, supporters, players, club involvement, etc. which I personally think they have done very well, but only time will tell.

I could very well be wrong, there's not a lot of fact to go on, but I don't believe Rendell is racist, I don't think he discriminates against indigenous players. I think he chose a very poor way to highlight that for an indigenous youth from a remote community, adapting to a vastly different culture, or indeed football clubs adapting to their culture, is not a simple task, however what came out was indeed a very racist comment.

It's a stupid comment regardless of it being racist. Is an Indigenous Australian from a remote community going to have different factors for a recruiter to weigh up than someone from suburban Sydney, regardless of ethnicity? Certainly, but that doesn't mean one is more likely to succeed as an AFL footballer than the other purely based on those factors, as their upbringings, personality, etc. all come into it, and I'm sure he, and any club wouldn't remove a talent pool, and enhance rivals ability to draw on said pool.

Once the comment was made it should of stayed a private comment. What he was attempting to get across about cultural differences, which recruiters would be negligent to not consider, and how to get meaningful support for indigenous youths that may benefit from it, to have more indigenous talent involved in AFL, been what was taken from it. Instead, his livelihood has basically been destroyed. You'd hope a journo somehow got a hold of it and parties involved where forced to act publicly, if in house action was deemed required if it wasn't made public fine, but if its come to light, politically motivated rather then forced, that's an absolute disgrace to do that to someone.

 

[Drummond]

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

The Crows are the most gutless club in the entire AFL.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

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

The Crows are the most gutless club in the entire AFL.

What should have they done?

 

[WheresGroomgone]

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

Ok so perhaps I should have been wiser with my words but it is Friday night.

If Rendell made the statement it is incredibly racist -there is no denying that.

If he has recruited using that as a guideline then that is a real concern - however, having said that I don't think he has unless it is a recent thing {think 2011} because he has recruited players that don't follow that line of thought.

I would hate to think this is a commonly held belief at AFC, but what makes me worry is how would the head recruiter explain why they are not keen on player x without it becoming known?

Poor statement and incredibly poor timing tainting an exciting preseason.

 

[Drummond]

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

What should have they done?

Defended their man, just even a little bit? We're always happy to throw people under the bus.

 

[FAITH]

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

The guy he told it to was a good mate of his from his coaching time at the Saints, so it is an absolutely disgraceful break of trust from that ****wit who leaked a private conversation to the media. Shows you can't trust anyone these days if in a high profile position, words just aren't safe anymore in any forum.

Completely agree this bloke and Demetriou are complete aholes.
They've completely ruined Rendells reputation

 

[Bicks]

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

Ive only just noticed...so let me get this correct, Rendell said he would only look at drafting Aboriginal players with at least one white parent?

I'll probably get a precious you racist ban but...

It is a smart policy, we have seen the troubles/go home problems etc associated with many aboriginal players (particularly rural, isolated players still closely linked to their tribes). For mine it just makes sense, he shouldn't of said it, but the policy isn't that bad.

If the club thinks it is best to avoid drafting full blooded Aboriginals then allow them that right! It isn't a racist policy, it is a football policy aimed at getting the most stabled competitive squad.

I'll get massacred for this and labelled a racist

But we have lost a fantastic recruiter over this crap...stupid comment...job loss worthy ridic!

Totally agree, whay a "dropkick" this Jason Mifsud must really be, surely this off the cuff comment by Matt has been taken to the enth degree by "Vlad" and his lackeys....All Matt has done is state what most other recruiters have felt and known deep down for some time, there are risks involved in recruiting indigenous players from remote areas who find it very difficult to assimilate to a structured lifestyle in the city. Rendell's record of recruiting indigenous players to our club flies in the face of those hinting at that word racist.

 

[OldCrowBloke]

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

Well done WheresGroomgone.
Your explanations of how Aboriginality depends on how a person identifies (eg Jon Griffin), debunking "walkabout" and what really constitutes racism were spot on.
Unlike Baccs, I think what you have posted is some of the best in this thread.

 

[BACCS]

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

What so he can make a ridicously stupid and racist remark outlining the head of recruitings thoughts and there's no need for concern?

How are AFC the strongest recruiters of indigineous talent get a grip -compare our history with the mob down the road for starters then have a look at some of the Victorian clubs then get back to me!

If Rendell made these comments, which by the way I am incredibly disappointed in because so far he appears to have done quite well, then yes he is being racist -it's not that hard to work out.

No, why would there be? Whether his quote was taken out of context or not, it was clearly his view. If it was the AFC's, they wouldn't have been dumb enough for it to leak out into any forum. And if it was their opinion and they sacked Rendell for it, I don't think his exit would be as clean as we are seeing. Surely that isn't hard to comprehend for you.

I never said we were the strongest you nimwit, I said our club has always drafted indigenous players if they were the right fit. I know for a fact after reading 'The Draft' that we didn't draft Rioli over Danger because Craigy and Rendell thought he was lazy and wouldn't cope outside of Melbourne, which I reckon they were spot on with considering how homesick Rioli was as a junior. That isn't being racist, that is just making a calculated decision about the weakness in a player.

Rendell is not racist if his versions of events are true, and there are no reasons to doubt they aren't given how honest he is. He was simply pointing out the AFL have a huge problem down the track with indigenous drafting if they don't do something about it. Misfud should have simply told the AFL that there were concerns from certain high profile recruiters and left it at that, he didn't need to mention the one line which has cost Rendell his livelihood. It was a throwaway line that is by no means racist, and if Misfud thought it was, I'm sure we would have heard about this story in January. Is Misfud a racist too then? Surely someone who isn't racist would have reported the incident straight way, right? And if he isn't a racist, then he is seriously shit at his job and the scummiest of liars.

 

[FAITH]

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

Defended their man, just even a little bit? We're always happy to throw people under the bus.

Have to agree with you here.
Just once please STAND UP TO THOSE w***erS AT THE AFL!!!!!!!!!!

The guys at the crows are great, but they let the AFL walk all over them all the time, im sick of it

 

[BACCS]

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

Defended their man, just even a little bit? We're always happy to throw people under the bus.

They had no other option tbh, as much as I disagree with the whole situation. Unless the club wanted to be dragged along with the controversy, they had to react swiftly and get the support of Vlad and co. at the AFL. They were shit with the handling of Vince's situation, but they have rectified that here I reckon.

 

[BACCS]

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

Ok so perhaps I should have been wiser with my words but it is Friday night.

If Rendell made the statement it is incredibly racist -there is no denying that.

If he has recruited using that as a guideline then that is a real concern - however, having said that I don't think he has unless it is a recent thing {think 2011} because he has recruited players that don't follow that line of thought.

I would hate to think this is a commonly held belief at AFC, but what makes me worry is how would the head recruiter explain why they are not keen on player x without it becoming known?

Poor statement and incredibly poor timing tainting an exciting preseason.

You do realise the club (and all clubs for that matter) probably agree with the sentiment behind what Rendell actually meant, just not how he said it. Drafting indigenous talent, for some reason or another, has become a lot more miss than hit in recent seasons. Why wouldn't that worry clubs? You'd be naive to think it hasn't become a worrying trend.

 

[A FEW GOOD MEN]

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

Like all other clubs we are biased in our assessment of players. The ethnic bias is less obvious than some of the other ones
1) We prefer South Australian to those outside our border (and fair enough too)

2)We prefer Vic country boys to Vic city boys

3) We prefer smart boys to dumb boys. The club seemed to be particularly pleased that three of our playeras scored close to perfect scores in year 12 (VB, Davis and Shaw)

4) We prefer private school boys to public school boys.

We seemed to be convinced that if we chose only intelligent, college boys they would always do the right thing. Who has caused us the most grief, Walker and Vince or Davis and Gunston?

 

[WheresGroomgone]

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

I never said we were the strongest you nimwit, I said our club has always drafted indigenous players if they were the right fit.

It was a throwaway line that is by no means racist, and if Misfud thought it was, I'm sure we would have heard about this story in January. his job and the

Hey please don't get all tough and aggresive before rereading what you've wriitten, here ya go;

"The AFC have been one of the strongest recruiters on indigenous talent for christ sakes, so keep that shit 'everyone is racist if they bad mouth an aboriginal' attitude to yourself next time."

You just don't get it do you? A throwaway line that was very much racist like it or not.
__________________

 

[FAITH]

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

They had no other option tbh, as much as I disagree with the whole situation. Unless the club wanted to be dragged along with the controversy, they had to react swiftly and get the support of Vlad and co. at the AFL. They were shit with the handling of Vince's situation, but they have rectified that here I reckon.

Understand where you are coming from BACCS but how hard is it for AFC to say 'MR will not be sacked becasue his comments were taken out of context'?

Defend your own man.......

If MFC and the AFL can defend Jarrah i dont see why we cant defend our own?

 

[CroCop]

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

Understand where you are coming from BACCS but how hard is it for AFC to say 'MR will not be sacked becasue his comments were taken out of context'?

Defend your own man.......

If MFC and the AFL can defend Jarrah i dont see why we cant defend our own?

Exactly, great post

The AFL and Melbourne by defending Jurrah are saying its ok to nearly kill someone but its not Ok to be honest in your opinion about whether you would draft someone whom was half white because the full blacks struggle to make the system.

Get a life AFL. Its a shame the world we live in . They teach you honesty is the best policy and when you are honest in life it actually brings your downfall.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

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

Defended their man, just even a little bit? We're always happy to throw people under the bus.

Understand where you are coming from BACCS but how hard is it for AFC to say 'MR will not be sacked becasue his comments were taken out of context'?

Defend your own man.......

If MFC and the AFL can defend Jarrah i dont see why we cant defend our own?

Among others posts of the same subject, I think could be the start for a new thread about the constitution of the club and how the board is elected.

But that is for another thread.

 

[Dolemite]

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

Why is it racist to question cultural complexities? He is clearly not basing it on skin colour but on challenges that the club and players have to deal with. This is not racist. it is simply addressing facts in a multi million dollar industry where you have to get it right.

 

[Shuffler]

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

This is an absolute crock of shit. Look at his record in drafting players...doesnt seem to be any bias. Last time i was asked for feedback in a private meeting it stayed private! Congrats mifsud, youve ruined a good blokes career. I cant believe some of the comments on here and on the radio this afternoon. Rucci will be miffed that he wasnt the biggest muppet at the press conference. Smithson is a complete clown.

 

[Magma]

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

if there was some sort of prevelant racist culture at the club then wouldnt johncock, petrenko and co be out the door already, refusing the play? come off it.

 

[MatDark]

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

This might be a dumb question, but if Rendell said the comments in private like it has been said, how could Misfud prove it when he dobbed him in? Rendell ended up admitting to it in the end, but where was the proof if he denied the claim?

 

[hippyhippy]

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

jurrah gets charged by the police for an alleged machete attack on another human being, Rendel gets fired for speaking what is the truth... well done AFL

 

[Cap]

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

The AFL have lost a lot of respect from me today. Despite other people not being their biggest fans, they have always had my support, but this is absolutely pathetic.

Surely at a minimum some "education" was in order, but to sack the guy is a disgrace especially given he can never have an opportunity to explain his side of the story.

The afl and afc have lost any respect I have for then, together they are the most two faced limp wristed and poorly led institutions I can think of.

I wonder if real supporter s rather than fictional ones started handing in their memberships they would start to get real

 

[dylan123]

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

You twit Rendell you should have kept your mouth shut.
Big loss as Recruitment Manager.

Yet we all love it when he isn't a closed book before the draft and speaks his mind. Can't have it both ways...