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When will Damien Barrett eff off?

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austinnn said:
When?

He adds nothing to footy, he is a spiteful little creep, his stupid Sliding Doors thing isn't sliding doors at all, his use of player nicknames is nauseating.

Just go
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Can't say I've ever understood this opinion... I'll pretty quickly take him over most other journo turned opinionist types out there. And I'd suggest the lack of engagement you've had all day in this thread suggests that I mightn't be alone in my thinking.

If you're not a fan, don't be "spiteful" yourself and move along :thumbsu:
 
Tyzza_07_09_11 said:
Can't say I've ever understood this opinion... I'll pretty quickly take him over most other journo turned opinionist types out there. And I'd suggest the lack of engagement you've had all day in this thread suggests that I mightn't be alone in my thinking.

If you're not a fan, don't be "spiteful" yourself and move along :thumbsu:
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Thanks for the advice, Damien.
 
Slow on the uptake, obvious takes, the bizarre sliding doors trope, and zero actual football insight.

Did he ever play?

I'd take a fumbling comment from a poorly trained Hodge or Selwood who have tonnes of experience and (once you sort through the poor delivery) something to say over this bloke.

He's the frozen TV dinner of football journos, not actually toxic but gives no nourishment.
 

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conrad_437 said:
This is one of the worst calls I've ever seen from any journo.



View attachment 1984366


One of the best aspects of our game is the free flowing non-stop relentlessness of it. Adding the worst part of a different sport (basketball) and adding it into ours would ruin it.

Did purple play the game at any level?
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100% this.

Getting tired of AFL Journo's trying to Americanise our great game.

Leave it alone FFS.
 
conrad_437 said:
This is one of the worst calls I've ever seen from any journo.



View attachment 1984366


One of the best aspects of our game is the free flowing non-stop relentlessness of it. Adding the worst part of a different sport (basketball) and adding it into ours would ruin it.

Did purple play the game at any level?
Click to expand...
What can you say about someone who accepts being called ‘penis head’. I mean seriously! 07FF34A2-100E-4808-A91B-BD39A232BEC2.jpeg
 
I just skimmed Barrett's article on Melbourne and Petracca. It was disturbing to see the number of times he referred to the knee in the ribs that Petracca suffered as a "hit". He is clearly seeking to give the impression that Petracca was targeted and deliberately collected. Barrett took the opportunity to have a snipe at Maynard as he drove by. Anyone looking at the event can see that Moore was attacking the ball, and that is where his eyes are focussed throughout. It is appalling that a journalist employed by the AFL can't raise a legitimate concern (the decision to send Petracca back on) without using language carefully designed to denigrate players. I will no longer read his offerings to at least deny him that clicks he craves.
 

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Gaspard said:
I just skimmed Barrett's article on Melbourne and Petracca. It was disturbing to see the number of times he referred to the knee in the ribs that Petracca suffered as a "hit". He is clearly seeking to give the impression that Petracca was targeted and deliberately collected. Barrett took the opportunity to have a snipe at Maynard as he drove by. Anyone looking at the event can see that Moore was attacking the ball, and that is where his eyes are focussed throughout. It is appalling that a journalist employed by the AFL can't raise a legitimate concern (the decision to send Petracca back on) without using language carefully designed to denigrate players. I will no longer read his offerings to at least deny him that clicks he craves.
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How would you describe it? If I wrote I would describe it as a knock or accidental knee.

I'll cop to listening to the AFL Daily podcast that he appears on because I have nothing else to listen to on the way to work (radio cuts out halfway there). But his oft used terms of "frank" and "couch" annoys me. I have not heard anyone ever use those terms in the manner her does. It is such an odd way to speak (actually most of the way he speaks seems unnecessarily long-winded or circuitous).
The less said about the other hosts personal musing on stuff outside of football the better, those segments can get in the bin. No one cares.
 
Open Letter to AFL Media Regarding Damian Barrett’s Coverage of the West Coast Eagles

To AFL Media,

I write to express concern over the ongoing tone and content of Damian Barrett’s commentary regarding the West Coast Eagles, particularly through his "If" segment and other media platforms.

For several years now, Barrett has repeatedly used phrases such as “once mighty” and “embarrassing” when referring to the club. This language has become a weekly fixture, often delivered with a tone that feels more like ridicule than analysis. While criticism is a valid part of sports journalism, it should be balanced, informed, and fair. Barrett’s commentary, however, frequently lacks context and nuance, and instead leans into relentless negativity.

What’s notably absent from his coverage is any meaningful recognition of the extraordinary challenges the club has faced in recent years:

COVID Impact

West Coast was one of the hardest-hit clubs during the pandemic. In 2022, they were forced to field teams with as few as 17 listed players, relying on WAFL top-up players—some of whom had never trained with the club—just to meet AFL fixture requirements. The AFL refused to postpone games, leaving the Eagles to compete under severely compromised conditions. This had a lasting effect on player development, morale, and performance.



Concussion Retirements

The club has suffered a disproportionate number of forced retirements due to concussion, including:

  • Brad Sheppard – 2020 All-Australian, retired in 2021.
  • Daniel Venables – 2018 premiership player, retired at just 22.
  • Luke Edwards – promising young midfielder.
  • Jeremy McGovern – 5× All-Australian and 2018 premiership hero, retired in 2025 after multiple concussions.
These retirements have gutted the club’s leadership and experience, and yet Barrett rarely acknowledges their impact.

Long-Term Injuries – West Coast Eagles (2020–2025)

West Coast’s list has been decimated by long-term injuries to both senior players and emerging talent:

Nic Naitanui

  • Missed all of 2023 due to Achilles surgery.
  • Missed large parts of 2021 and 2022 with knee and soft tissue injuries.
  • Retired in 2023 after years of battling injury setbacks.
Oscar Allen

  • Missed all of 2023 with a foot injury.
  • Missed most of 2024 due to calf and Achilles issues.
  • Returned in 2025 but suffered a hamstring strain mid-season.
Jake Waterman

  • Missed most of 2023 due to a serious auto-immune condition.
  • Returned in 2024 and led the club’s goalkicking, but suffered another injury late in the season.
Tom Barrass

Missed half of 2023

Elliot Yeo

  • Missed significant parts of 2021–2024 due to osteitis pubis, groin, knee, and ankle injuries.
Missed 2025 due to injury.

Luke Shuey

  • Missed large portions of 2021–2023 due to recurring hamstring injuries.
  • Retired in 2023 after struggling to string together consistent games.
Dom Sheed

  • Missed most of 2022 with a leg injury.
  • Had interrupted seasons in 2023 and 2024 due to foot and soft tissue injuries.
Liam Ryan

  • Missed large parts of 2023 and 2024 due to hamstring and ankle injuries.
  • Returned in 2025 but has been in and out of the side due to ongoing fitness concerns.
Jai Culley

  • Suffered an ACL injury in early 2023, ruling him out for the entire season.
Elijah Hewett

  • Missed multiple games in 2023 and 2024 due to foot injuries and concussion protocols.
Rhett Bazzo

  • Missed months in 2024 due to groin injuries and personal leave following the tragic loss of his mother.
Noah Long

  • Suffered a season-ending PCL injury in 2024.

These injuries have had a devastating impact on team cohesion, leadership, and development. The club has often fielded understrength sides, with many senior players unavailable for extended periods. Despite this, Damian Barrett continues to ignore these realities in his commentary, choosing instead to label the club as “embarrassing” without acknowledging the context. The chief AFL journalist seems to be in favour of simplistic and dismissive narratives.


Willie Rioli Saga

The club also endured the emotional and reputational toll of the Willie Rioli saga, which included:

  • A two-year suspension for tampering with a drug sample.
  • A subsequent drug possession charge.
  • The death of Rioli’s father, which deeply affected him and the club.
Throughout this period, West Coast stood by Rioli, offering support, transparency, and compassion. They reviewed internal procedures and prioritised his welfare, even sending staff to the Tiwi Islands to support him. This saga disrupted the list and morale, yet the club acted with integrity and care—qualities rarely acknowledged in Barrett’s coverage.

Double Standards

In his most recent article, Barrett joked about Geelong’s second attempt at salary cap manipulation, while simultaneously criticising West Coast for not overspending—a move many consider unethical. This contradiction highlights a troubling double standard and a tendency to protect favoured clubs while targeting others. This is but one example of such double standards – but was the tipping point to me penning this letter.

Barrett’s “Moaning Club” Narrative

Damian Barrett has repeatedly claimed that West Coast’s downfall began with their “woe-is-us attitude” during the COVID-affected 2020 season. He has suggested that the club’s public complaints about hub life and separation from family created a culture of negativity that infiltrated the club and contributed to its long-term decline.

In his own words:

“The once mighty Eagles' demise can be traced back to a woe-is-us attitude it made very public during the COVID-damaged 2020 season… They presented to the public a very disappointed team, that they were a moaning team.”
— Damian Barrett, AFL.com.au

He repeated this again in 2023:

“Maybe they have got too cozy off field at the Eagles… The very poor attitude it embraced during the early stages of the pandemic may have infiltrated key aspects of the overall business.”
— Damian Barrett, AFL.com.au


What Was Actually Said During COVID?

The only notable public comment came from Adam Simpson, who expressed concern about players being separated from their families during the Queensland hub. His comments were measured and focused on seeking clarity, not complaining.

There is no evidence of repeated whining or club-wide negativity. Simpson’s concern was valid—many players were young fathers, and the emotional toll of extended separation was real. Barrett’s framing of this as “moaning” is deeply insensitive and lacks empathy.

Where Is the Evidence?

Barrett has never cited:

  • Specific quotes from players or staff beyond Simpson’s one comment.
  • Any internal reports or player interviews confirming a negative culture.
  • Any timeline or data showing a direct link between COVID comments and performance decline.
His claims are entirely speculative and unsupported by facts.

Context Matters: Young Fathers & Family Strain

Many West Coast players were young fathers during the COVID hub. The emotional strain of being away from newborns and partners for weeks—without clear timelines—was significant. Barrett’s failure to acknowledge this context shows a lack of understanding of the human side of the game.

Whether or not Barrett has children himself, one would expect a journalist of his experience to show greater empathy and journalistic integrity.

📆 Timeline of Barrett’s “Moaning” Claims

  • 2020: After West Coast’s finals exit, Barrett first labels the club as “moaning” due to hub complaints. [thewest.com.au]
  • 2021–2022: He continues referencing this attitude as the root of the club’s decline.
  • 2023–2025: Barrett repeatedly uses phrases like “once mighty,” “embarrassing,” and “woe-is-us” in articles and segments, despite the club’s injuries, retirements, and rebuild efforts. [www.afl.com.au]
Why This Is Unfair Journalism

  • No factual basis for the “moaning” label.
  • No balanced reporting on the club’s challenges (injuries, retirements, COVID impact).
  • No empathy for players’ personal circumstances.
  • No accountability for the damage such narratives cause to public perception.
Barrett’s commentary has become repetitive, biased, and lacking in substance. It’s not analysis—it’s agenda-driven opinion.

The Broader Impact

The West Coast Eagles are clearly rebuilding. They are not reactive, nor are they combative. They have made mistakes with recruitment for sure. But what have they done to Barrett to deserve such attacks week in week out. Barrett’s coverage continues to kick the club while it’s down, offering little in the way of constructive insight or genuine news. His commentary often feels more like subjective trolling than journalism, and given his omnipresence across AFL media, this tone has a disproportionate influence on public perception.

This kind of reporting doesn’t just affect one club—it affects the broader enjoyment of the game. When media coverage becomes predictably biased and dismissive, it risks alienating fans and undermining the spirit of fair competition.

A Call for Fairness

I respectfully ask AFL Media to consider the tone and balance of its coverage. Criticism is important, but it must be delivered with fairness and professionalism. The game, the fans, the clubs, the players and the community in general deserves better than recycled negativity and selective standards. It is putting people off.

Sincerely,
(A Concerned AFL Follower)
 

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