I work in a job where a daily consideration is power imbalance and how this affects consent. It’s potent.
What these three men have done is extremely unethical and it’s only because “footy” that there’s any mainstream position that considers maybe there’s something fine about all this.
The fact that it’s First Nations players on the receiving end means (1) extra thought is required about the ethical transgressions, and (2) this actually highlights the lack of reflection on the part of these three men (that is, it makes less sense to try to give them some convenient “out” from the fkd-upness of their behaviour)
When I read these allegations of the clubs repeated attempts to keep indigenous players away from their partners I can’t help but think about the rumours of conflict between Walla’s partner and his adoptive mother/club.
I really hope there isn’t a similar pattern of discrimination at Essendon.
Walla chose to leave his adoptive mother’s home and to have a partner. His choice entirely, the club had nothing to do with the tensions between him and his mother.
If people can’t fairly and rationally discuss their thoughts and opinions without being labeled/put in a box, then god help us.
The world has changed a lot in the period since the events occurred. Standards have been improved since. Be careful judging on what’s acceptable today.
The world is rarely black or white but mostly grey.
That Mick Warner article is one of the more embarrassing pieces I’ve had the misfortune of seeing. I wonder if even he is embarrassed by it. From a journo I’d previously thought was reasonably sound. I can’t take anything he writes seriously now.
