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Soul-searching amid tarnished codes

Last year the AFL Footy Show was forced to assess the way it treated women, this year its NRL counterpart is now dealing with its own demons.

pgLast night’s NRL Footy Show spent the first 40 minutes of its show taking stock of the events of the week.

Host Paul Vautin read a written statement in which he expressed his support for former co-host Matthew Johns, and empathy for the woman at the centre of the now-infamous 2002 incident. He also explained his ‘pat on the back’ last week, which he attributed as ‘nothing more, nothing less’ than support of a mate.

More significantly, the show analysed and dissected problems in the NRL code brought to light by the Four Corners story and ingrained disrespect for women.

An articulate Phil Gould described the incident as a “sledghammer” to the sport. He became emotional as he described elements of Johns’ week, including his day on Wednesday when he had to face Tracy Grimshaw for an interview on A Current Affair.

“It’s what we needed. And what comes out of this now should be a message to all players, not only to all young players to all young girls, that there are no winners in any of this. And that the behaviour thing has to be addressed,” he said.

“What you think is a bit of fun is going to turn to tears eventually.”

Johns and his wife Trish spent all day at Channel Nine while Grimshaw travelled to Sydney. Gould said Grimshaw begged Trish not to participate in the interview, but that Trish was determined to support her husband. Both had been physically sick throughout the day.

According to Gould, Johns had hinted that there was more to the story but convinced him now was not the time to tell it.

Discussion of his continuation on the NRL Footy Show with Nine management lasted for “thirty seconds.” CEO David Gyngell and Johns, he said, knew what had to be done.

Throughout a panel discussion the show was agreed the incident of 2002 was unacceptable. Gould went as far as to say a “green light” didn’t always mean one was in the right.

The show also spoke to an NRL Welfare Officer, to team CEOs and vox pops by members of the public. Many expressed a loss of faith in NRL players.

The news story continued to dominate media yesterday, with the Prime Minister even weighing into the debate.

snMeanwhile, on the AFL Footy Show Sam Newman gave a brief statement on the incident.

“There’s a woman in New Zealand doing it tough at the minute. And we wish her and her family well,” he said. “We don’t know her name and we don’t want to.  And we don’t know if she lost her job as a result of an incident that happened seven years ago. But what we do know is a friend of ours -and friends are unconditional, that’s what friendship is- a friend of ours is doing it tough as well. We do know his name it’s Matthew Johns. And we do know he lost all his jobs.

“And we don’t condone in any way, obviously, what happened. And we do wish him and his family well, and we don’t necessarily disagree with what this station did as far as suspending him. But I personally, and I know these two boys who are good friends of Matthew Johns, hope that he’s back on Channel Nine sooner rather than later on the Logie winning Sydney Footy Show. And we wish him and his family well.”

The statements by the AFL Footy Show follow a series of incidents in 2008 in which it was found to have ridiculed a female journalist on the grounds of gender.

It spent part of the year soul-searching and educating its audience that it was unacceptable to degrade women, and indeed, to be seen to be degrading women.

As many call upon the other players involved in the incident to come forward, 2009 is shaping up as the year NRL has been forced to do its own soul-searching.

25 Responses

  1. Watching Mathew Johns perform as his alter-ego “Reg Reagan”, and taking such pride in it, I formed the opinion a long time ago, that he is is just a crass yobbo. I love Footy and take a keen interest in it, I have 4 Sons who play both Rugby League and Aussie Rules, But I never watch those Footy Shows, I think the supposed “Stars” of those shows are revolting.

  2. Its not just footballers. Some men are just like that. Only difference is, that if you are in the public spotlight, you will hear about it.

    When will any of them learn that there is responsibility attached to being in public spot light and until such time that all anti social behaviour results in instant dismissal (like it would in most jobs) these things will continue to happen. It should be spelt out in their contracts.

  3. If people feel that many footballers (and the like) behave badly and don’t treat women they are with well why are they so keen/desperate to be seen/sleep with them? I wouldn’t want a jerk on my arm let alone want to sleep with them.

    While many women keep rewarding bad behaviour they shouldn’t be surprised when some men continue the culture. Pretty simple stuff really. Respect yourself first if you want others to follow.

  4. Until they change the idea of “what happens on the footy trip stays on the footy trip” it will not be the last time we hear of this.

  5. Matthew Johns behaved like an idiot, no question. However, what Dane Tilse of the Knights allegedly did was a thousand times worse. He is still playing Rugby League. He was suspended for a year, but has justice been served?

    As for the A-League player, that allegation is extremely disturbing. The thing is, he was charged back in August, it was only last month when Football bosses found out.

  6. Wow reading some of the opinions of people who actually feel sympathy for these meat heads is disturbing. The woman said sex was consensual with two guys, how did she consent to having the rest of them come in and being overpowered and treated like s***?

    The most disturbing thing about this whole event is that a group of so-called men would get sexual pleasure out of watching another person be violated. Say what you want about everything else but that is seriously f***** up.

  7. An extract from another late breaking news story. When will these people learn:-

    ‘A-League player stood down over sex charge’

    May 15, 2009 – 3:04PM

    Sydney FC and Australian under 20s player Sebastian Ryall has been stood down by Football Federation Australia after being charged with engaging in a sexual act with a 13-year-old girl.

    The charge arises out of an incident that took place in January 2008, when Ryall was aged 18.

    Ryall, who was scheduled to leave on Saturday with the Australian under-20 team for a camp in the Netherlands, recently transferred to Sydney from Melbourne Victory.

    He has been suspended from participation in football matches in Australia, including the A-League, until September 3 and is also ineligible to participate in national team competition until the criminal case has been determined, or September 2009, whichever is the later.”

  8. I lived in Melbourne and dated an AFL player for about 2 years. The behaviour that I witnessed was shocking, both from players and from women/girls that flock around them. I am in no way defending the players involved in this incident, the culture of seeing certain women as ‘entertainment’ has gone on for many years, and hopefully this incident will serve as a catalyst to change this kind of behaviour.
    I ended my relationship because I couldn’t stand to be treated so badly by other women. They would proposition my boyfriend while I stood right next to him, one even followed him into a mens urinal and offered herself to him right then and there, I was often told to my face that I was too ugly for him or that he could do a lot better. I also faced endless comments from strangers insinuating that they had had sex with my boyfriend, I trusted him, but the constant doubt eats away at you, and eventually I just had enough.
    Yes these men have to learn to respect all women, but women need to learn to respect themselves also.

  9. I am a 39yr old mother of four and am becoming very disturbed and embarrassed about some of the young women in our society. Everyone is very quick to crucify Matty Johns and the NRL, but when are these women going to take responsibility for their own actions. 60 minutes ran a story not that long ago about young women behaving badly…behaving just like some men do…but I think some women are even more dangerous. They can cry sexual assualt and even if it’s not true …mud sticks. Women have been tempting men since Adam met Eve ….and look what happened there!!
    Women cry out for respect but they still need to earn it. I feel sorry for our NRL players …they are good looking, physically fit and have great bodies….and they are also celebrities…and some women want a piece of that in whatever way they can get it….and a lot of them will put self-respect aside for a night so that they can have their “touch” of fame. At no stage has this been referred to as a “rape”…why?..because it was consential….and that may be hard for some people to digest morally that a woman out there would want to do that…but I’m afraid it’s becoming more commonplace and now that that girl’s workmate has stepped forward and told another side of the story ,will we hear more about this in the media..or will they drop it because nobody wants to hear the truth….they just want to bag the NRL and all the heterosexual males in it!!!!!!

  10. you hear lots of stories about footy players and women who knows the truth? you see them in the pubs off their heads on booze. its all coming to head i guess but really no one knows what goes on but the people involved.

  11. But then again when you think about it people could easily lie about being raped by high profile players as well to make money out of it. you just don’t know its a case of whose telling the truth it gets so comlicated its like what on earth have we all become? I dont understand people putting themselves in these positions. I’m sick of the whole thing now its everywhere you go.

  12. Gus please no more tears!!! That was pathetic and over the top. I was embarrassed watching. Save the tears Gus for when they are really needed. Last night’s whole show it an all time low. (I have been an avid viewer for years). I think that has done it for me. When will people learn there are conseqenses for their actions, both Matty & this girl.

  13. why do afl personalities feel the need to say anything? it just sounded like he (sam)was having a go at the woman. Its not on to be treating women as if they are nothing.

    I know a girl whose best friend was raped by high profile rugby league players many years ago it traumtised her but she would not go public cause of fear she would be the one blamed. She was lucky another very high profile player(who was not invovled) steped in and put the others in their place and helped her out of the situation. All these players are well known in the public today. ITs no lie but there is no way I would name them cause i for one don’t want the crap that comes with it or would i put that poor girl through it or the families of the league players its too much pain. To me they are a protected group, sportsman. These footy players need to grow up, check the egos and become responsible, decent human beings. And other footy media personalities should cut the crap of sticking up for your mate code. Wrong is wrong there is no buts. Matty is paying the price for not taking charge of the situation and doing the right thing. Even if she was consenting he being married as well should have said this is not a good situation for you girl go home instead of getting a cheap lay.

    Yes it may seem a witch hunt but its like gould said Matty is copping the brunt for many years of this behavior and trust me there are plenty of women out there who have been victims of it and yes a lot of the women do go looking for the footy player but not all ask for it. I think at the end of the day everyone must take more responsibility for their own actions women and footy players.

    I just hope that some good comes out of it and everyone wakes up to themselves and starts to realise there are always repecussions for your actions.

  14. David the ratings for The Footy Show are diving every year aren’t they?

    I always thought they were. There was actually a time about 3 years ago I could enjoy watching it but it’s soo unentertaining these days.

    I’d love to see this canned for good.

  15. Ryano, you think AFL has no problems yet 4 Corners did a show called “Fair Game” on two alleged rapes involving AFL players. You also have two current players on charges with violence against women. Albert Proud and Nathan Bock.

  16. It’s clearly obvious now, after a string of incidents involving players that the NRL board has had to deal with, that this one is the straw that broke the camel’s back. They no longer wanted to be perceived as turning a blind eye and administering weak disciplinary measures whenever their players screwed up.

    So they came down on Matthew Johns…..hard. Unfortunately it was for an incident which was personal and had no right being thrust into the public arena. It had been dealt with years ago with his family, and time had moved on.

    It’s good to see an equal amount of people defending Matthew Johns. It gives me hope that at least some other people are seeing through the media-hyped BS and seeing the situation for what it really is – a good old fashioned witch hunt.

  17. Phils comments to other players and girls were perfect,but have no concern for Matthew Johns he knew what he was doing wrong at that time 7 yrs ago.He is just upset that everyone has now found out.

  18. channel 9 have been going on about changing the way women are treated by footy players, yet their number 1 rating show is all about using women.

  19. Great article David, except what Sam Newman did on the AFL Footy Show last year had nothing to do with any problem culture within the AFL itself and is in no way comparable to the events in 2002 and the last few days.

    The Matthew John’s 2002 incident is directly linked to the NRL, as it occurred when he was a player.
    Professional Rugby League in Australia has a cultural problem in regards to respect for women, please don’t link Australian football into this just because of one buffoon still living in the 1950’s called Sam Newman.

    There are more than half a dozen other NRL players involved in the Johns incident who have yet to be named and there are countless other incidents involving rugby league players and negative actions against women. Scandals of a similar nature involving NRL superstars Greg Bird and Brett Steward are just two examples in the last 6-8 months alone.

    This is an NRL problem, a very serious problem indeed. The sport of rugby league has little future on Australian soil if these incidents continue.

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