What strategies do AFL footballers use...?

Question

How do high profile players avoid becoming victims of the fame game. ?

Answer 1

How do they avoid it?

I think most seek it.

There are so many AFL footballers out there that one hears nothing of their private lives. They go out to pubs, restaurants & other venues without coming under notice or being placed under undue scrutiny.

It is the behaviour of the individual that decides the outcome.

Take Adam Gilchrist as an example in relation to a different sport. There are not many people in Australia who don't know who he is & he says that he never has a problem with the public or over exposure of the 'fame game'. He is a naturally nice guy & is therefore treated as one by the public. Most fans will respect a persons privacy - if that person deserves it.

It's not as though the fans in question are the type that follow Britney Spears about!

Answer 2

Team work with the team and staying out of trouble is a way to avoid being like certain footballers

Answer 3

Don't associate with other football players outside of the game.

I recall one Canberra Raider who used to come to the bar that I was working in with all his friends.  Not fellow players, just his normal friends.  The same friends he has had for years.

The only time we would read about him is when he scored a try, got selected for State of Origin or bad news like an injury.

No fuss, no controversy, just a normal guy.  And a very nice guy too.

Take a bow, Kenny Nagas.  

Goes to prove that they aren't all as immature as Ben Cousins or Willie Mason

Answer 4

AFL footballers who dodge the glare of the fame game are those that use common sense.

Look at the ones who get noticed the most; Kerr, Tarrant, Johnson, Cousins, Didak, Fevola, Gehrig, Farmer, & suchlke - they get noticed & come under attention in pubs, nightclubs, strip joints & similar.

You don't hear much of the likes of Harvey, Worsfold, Neitz, Glass, Hird etc & their private behaviour.

I think many bring it on themselves. Of course a well known footballer will be noticed - but I've associated with quite a few & the public, after their initial reaction, mostly let those players alone. It's really only the ones who want & seek the attention that is a problem.

Answer 5

My two cousins play in the afl, one at collingwood and one at port Adelaide, not saying they are high profile but the one at the magpies has played in two grannys and the other finals footy for hawks as well, these two boys have never been in any trouble outside footy.

they have been taught respect by their mother and late father, by their grandparents aswell, these two fellas are genuinely nice blokes, very family orientated and all this type of up bringing has helped them stay level headed and respectful to their fellow man and the their selves.

our family is very proud of these two young men. one has recently become a proud dad, he is presently training in sth africa b4 heading to Dubai, he was saying yesterday that his body and health is the best its been for a long time, good news, for all concerned after a horror 2007 with oestiopubis (spelling?)

Answer 6

I think all "High Profile" players are caught up in it. The media just spins a lot of c**p and makes  small issues into something so "BIG",... that in return makes player feels so important.These players are pressured to behave like "men with "NO" normal  living standards, they are pressured to be role models", so if one player gets into trouble, everyone thinks,....... its because the fame has got to their heads.

To answer your question.......They can't avoid the fame game....unless they stay home, during all non football related times.

Answer 7

Jemmima, I possibly think that it's like any other job where people get to the top of the tree, there is always others out there ready to look for any imperfections to bring the famous back to a grounded level.

I watched Pat Rafter receiving an award on the Tennis the other day for his humanitarian efforts.

Look at that guys' background, family man, and no wild woman  or booze.

But that alone doesn't do the trick.

To get to your answer, I would say that if a famous person has a good moral grounding, they are virtually untouchable

Answer 8

its very hard to stay out of it...if your a big star, you will get seperate sponsorship deals...that happens naturally and some are worth 100's of 1000's of dollars.

Thats when the big stars need to be careful. If they blow it once to often, they lose sponsorship, fan support, team-mate support, morale drops (both player and team) and then the club board are under pressure to do something about it even though the player may have blown the bag .001 over the limit

The younger and rookie players who are not big stars also have to be careful....look at that Collingwood player who lost the magpies $500 000 sponsorship with the TAC.

It wasnt him alone who lost the club that sponsor (it was several players over several years) but he was the final straw for the sponsor...thats why AFL players and any player of a major sporting club/league have to be very careful of what they do on the road, at a Saturday night party, night club and casino...and keeping away from the cops at the same time while still focusing on training and there career.

very hard to be famous in the AFL and not come under scrutiny because of one night out...thats what the fame game does to them