It seems footy commentators and journalists either go conveniently silent or inconveniently vociferous when the opportunity and personal agenda suits them. Last weekend a number of media personalities came out on-air and attempted through their interpretations to sensationalise an on-field incident and possibly, surreptitiously influence the verdict and punishment the AFL tribunal should administer to a player before he was proven guilty.
This wasn’t isolated speculation, as some media not only continued to relentlessly pontificate on the length of sentence the tribunal should dispense, but encouraged interactive public opinion polls on the verdict as well – If such a circus was made about a pending case in a court of law, their comments, actions and behaviour would have been held in contempt. Instead, they came out with extreme prejudice on TV, radio and print advocating a harsh penalty based on the assumption that their divine right vigilante opinion was reflecting the collective social conscience.
Whether the accused player’s actions were right or wrong, it is the responsibility of an independent panel to adjudicate without the ‘indirect’ influence of the media or the AFL.
It may be more prudent if the footy experts found the courage to speak up about modifying the AFL rules to improve the standard of umpiring which has lately become confused, inconsistent and open to all forms of interpretation. It would serve justice best if ageing ex-footballers keep their opinions to themselves before any tribunal hearing and then only exercise the opportunity to air their thoughts after a sentence has been delivered.
If media representatives perceive that a ‘role model’ player’s action constitutes a bad example to children, then their interfering criticism about an alleged offence and ‘appropriate’ punishment before a judgement is also detrimental to young people, as it wrongly teaches them to assume guilt before due justice.
Too late now, the damage has been done, the AFL’s silence, has without reprimand allowed the media to get away with being judge, jury and executioner!