I agree. Its the implication and the fact that it is designed to terminally damage the bids credibility with not only the readers of the paper but also add fire to our rivals. You would not see this from many countries fighting for a WC, as they know what damage it would cause.

it does seem that every time the AFL (think about milne case being revisted , or players pissed off with MRP )
or the NRL (think racial issues last week,rumours of TITANS also being over salary cap) has issues in the media ,out trots the journo's with Football related pieces designed to deflect attention away from the above issues. Just thinkin out aloud....: )

Great point. I would love to see some transparency in the reporting of stories and the strategies used by media outlets to influence the way stories are presented and the damage limitation afterwards. The use of deflectionary tactics is clear in this case, as is the AFL's consistent ambush marketing style when other events are on. Announcements on key days of other sports and the media uptake to take away the spotlight from anything else really do seem 'un-Australian':) If the words can be used to go against Football, then a mirror would illustrate just how hypocryitical they really are in their stances taken.

I think somebody, anybody needs to put a stop to this kind of thing. It's obvious to anyone who wants to see it that the AFL/NRL have too much influence on the media and it isn't just effecting Football but other sports which are left out in the cold in order to give more limelight to these bloated, overemphasised sports full of overgrown children. These kinds of articles are written by stupid white men (yes, I count Ms. Wilson as one too) who I'm sure would have a lovely time talking to Pauline Hanson.

Edited by thatguybayne: 2/7/2010 03:54:29 PM

I had to laugh most when the AOC (Australian Olympic Commitee) asked or its additional funding, James Heard's (or however it is spelt)consultancy business put in a submission that stated sports like the AFL should get the money instead. The media ran with it too, trying to say it was a smarter idea than wasting cash on sports no one cares about. How the logic of that can be justified, I would have no idea. The AOC were even willing to go to court to get the full contents of that submission, yet the media at the time did not give anywhere near a fair and equitable say for the AOC.

The fact that the AFL is swimming in money now and wastes it to the extent it will, with GWS for instance just for prestige, really goes to show how rediculous sports planning and the power of a few are in this country. Its like an exclusive club :) Everyone else must wait as the guestlist only includes the powerful.

I would like us take football more seriously as a country, but with crap like this on an ongoing basis, I see it staying as a niche professional sport, fighting for the scraps. Its the sad reality it seems. Real change needs to occur before the balance of power shifts.





Edited by Heart_fan: 2/7/2010 05:02:05 PM

   
   

How would you propose that to be done in a democracy with press freedom as it's backbone? Have the FFA and FIFA run our legislature?

We have liable laws for those that think they're wronged by the press. I'd like to be as certain of winning lotto as I am that Fairfax would run everything they print past their in house legal department.

My mistake, News Limited.

Edited by skeptic: 2/7/2010 05:57:26 PM

This part of the article is just amazing, extremely one eyed. The keepers arent bagging the defence there trying to get them into shape and motivate them.

And that last line 'Bagging your mates is, and always has been, un-Australian'. WHAT THE FUCK? What planet is this guy on, its not even football related but what hes saying is unbelievable. Just amongst my group of friends we bag each other to no end whether someone is a gook, wog, jew,arab or gay, its just all shits a giggles. you can ask a foreigner and it seems its 'Australian' to hang shit on people ( or thats the general consensus i get from my mates who are from overseas). That statement alone shows how out of touch Mitchell is.

Prior to this there were at least two "humorous" digs at football in The Age within two days, one by Danny Katz. Many football fans commented their objections at the blatant attempts to undermine the game, thinly veiled as "humor". Odcourse the bogans were there with their "diving prima-donna, weak, unAustrlaina comments.

I commented on the above article in The Age. I pointed out that this just sensationalist journalism designed to disrupt the WC bid, and that this was not surprising as a lot of people at The Age depend on reporting on AFL events to earn a living. You only need to look at the ginormous billboard at Etihad proclaiming The Age: Real Footy. that The Age has a vested interest in undermining the game. .My comment never got published. Plenty of bogans comments did.

What surprises me is that I expected this from the Herald Sun. But I suppose the fact that even The Age has gotten in on the football bashing tells me just how much they fear football

BTW type in Ben Buckley in The Age search and out will spout about one dozen articles in the past 2-3 days all with a negative tone

Expect the negativity to increase in the lead up to the hosting announcement in December. Next we will see attacks on FIFA and key FIFA officials, continued attacks on FFA officials, A-League clubs and God help us if there is any type of trouble at an A-League or State League match.

Can you imagine the reaction of this Bogan country should we by some slim chance actually be successful with our bid

The reaction across the country will be UN Australian

so if i prefer to eat fried rice , or spaghetti bolognese instead of a meat pie am i un-australian ?
F**K off Mitchell and Wilson and any one else who wants to tell me whats Australian and what isn't

mate that type of attitude is Un Australian.

Edited by joffa: 2/7/2010 11:46:44 PM

\:d/

:-" :-" :-" :-"

It's funny you use the words freedom and democracy when you've got the press telling us what sports are and aren't acceptable to please thier NRL/AFL masters.