Why is Collingwood treated differently to other AFL clubs - WCE for example?

Question

The WCE were put under notice & close scrutiny by the AFL mainly due to the behaviour of Ben Cousins. A retired Supreme Court judge conducted a lengthy review whereby nearly every Eagles squad member was interviewed by him.

The Eagles were threatened with all sorts of penalties from fines to loss of draft picks; premiership points etc. They are still subject of these threats & sanctions & the AFL is refusing to lift them - or give advice as to when they may be removed. It is the major contributing factor for the reason the Eagles have gone so bad this year.

Whereas the Magpies can do as they like with misbehaviour by their players. There is not much difference in Cousins' behaviour to that being displayed by numerous Collingwood players.

It smacks of double standards & the AFL are a law unto themselves & are partaking in blatant bias towards Victorian clubs in respect to non-Victorian clubs.

The drop-kicks running the AFL need to be replaced with a new breed - selected from around Australia - not just from Victoria....after all it is the AUSTRALIAN Football League.

Answer 1

WOW! Go Rocky. Don't hold back buddy. I think you make some good points here re the double standards.

Guess it comes down to whether you think that drug abuse is different to alcohol abuse and I guess the abuse of alcohol is tolerated in our society - someone mentioned in another answer that it is the Aussie way!  

Answer 2

There are certainly double standards as far as Collingwood are concerned. Anyone denying this must have their head firmly burried in the sand.

In actual fact it is becoming a bit of a joke when taking into account the preferential treatment meted out to Collingwood by the AFL. Something really needs to be done about - what are the CEOs of other clubs doing? Surely they should be protesting & demanding a level playing field.

Answer 3

NO different. In fact the scrutiny of Collingwood is the most intense and judgmental of all AFL teams for obvious reasons.  Not only interstate bias but intra state bias. Stop being so defensive and be part of the whole comp with pride.  This recent episode is  SHAME to all Aussie Rules lovers, just as the West Coast episode was/is.  The whole competition condemns Heath Shaw & Alan Didak as it does Ben Cousins for his drug dependence.  Get over it or get out of it.  No one wants this game to be brought into disrepute.  It is part of our cultural heritage... unique and precious, whether you are from Victoria, S.A, W.A, Tassie, N.T., Qld or NSW

Answer 4

What more can I say.  You've pretty much nailed it.  We await to see what the AFL do to respond.  But I expect that we'll be waiting a long time.  I expect we'll see a statement like "we understand that this matter will be dealt with within the club".  

Double standards.  Absolutely.

Answer 5

I am not defending the actions of the Collingwood players, but surely the loss of two key players for the rest of the season is punishment enough, especially for the supporters!

I am at the moment quite ashamed of the Collingwood Football Club, and I do not condone what has happened at all.

I am not sure why the club at West Coast was threatened with penalties, it seems wrong, considering that it was an individual player at fault, not the club.

If a player is found guilty of an off field misdemenour, than the player should be punished, not the club, and that is what should happen at WCE and Collingwood.

You have to admit though, Collingwood players do get a lot of media scrutiny for misbehaviour. I mean, Steve Johnson of Geelong was caught drink driving at 100km  over the limit, and there was barely any news covergage about him, it certainly wasn't front page news!

Just to repeat, I am not defending the actions of Shaw and Didak, what they did was just dowright stupid!

Answer 6

Another interesting question.

Regardless of what one-eyed Collingwood supporters may say in denial, the AFL has been very biased in their treatment towards Collingwood - especially in comparison to the West Coast Eagles.

Answer 7

Of course we deserve special treatment, we are afterall the most popular and famous club in the AFL.  Eddie is our President and he is King.

Answer 8

Yes, there is a very interesting article in taday's local newspaper on this subject. Collingwood have definitely received a soft touch approach from the AFL.

Two drunken idiots have made fools of a once mighty AFL club (Collingwood) this week. The AFL should be careful that this club isn't doing the same to them - a little further up the food chain.

Answer 9

Yes, it is certainly different when it is Collingwood.

My view is that the AFL has painted themselves into a corner - & shot themselves in the foot at the same time.

The AFL is now going to have to start treating teams on a more even footing. Can you imagine the whinging & whining that will come from the feral mob at Collingwood if they get brought back to the field a bit!!

Answer 10

SIMPLE, DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL, BOOZE IS NOT. West-Coast deserved everything they got and the Pies boys have been punished as well as the team, now 2 of their best players are out for the season and the Pies chance of even making the finals, let alone winning any finals are shattered.  

Answer 11

2 words Eddie Mcguire