Continuing with the sporting theme from last week and women’s issues in sport, I was saddened to see the foolish and possibly criminal behaviour of several Sydney Swans AFL players after an allegedly grog- and cocaine-fuelled evening out following a game in Melbourne.
The club management and senior player group acted decisively in suspending five of them from playing, thus seeing the second-placed Swans’ chances of winning the Grand Final dive from 6 to 1 to 25 to 1.
The club and coach decided that the good reputation of the club was more important than a possible premiership. They took strong, firm action for the good name of the club and the good of the game. That’s leadership. It’s a pity our PM and his cronies can’t do the same with such issues as the farcical Melongate saga or their attitude to the dreadful treatment meted out by the ABC to Gina Rinehart. Well done to the Swans, and I was delighted to see a huge crowd turn up to support their women’s team and also to stand by the men’s team, whose innocent players have been let down badly by their erstwhile teammates.
Mind you, I would not be surprised to see the Swans still do well in the semis, as in times of adversity like these, the other players lift.
At a local level, I had a very pleasant day out at Viking Park and had a few drinks with one of the first players I coached in the Hawks Under-12s, in 1973 to be exact – the effervescent Peter Hartas, who now helps coach Vikings thirds after stints in the UK and elsewhere. Peter played juniors with such greats as dual international and local Canberra boy Michael O’Connor.
Congrats to Tuggers (Vikings) for getting all their senior men’s and women’s sides into the grand final – a great effort by a great club, which most other local clubs love to hate, but which has done so much for local rugby, from funding the Kookaburras and Vikings in the Australian competition to helping bail out less well-off local clubs.
Vikings are great corporate citizens, and their licensed clubs in the Valley support over 50 local sporting and community groups.
Tuggers will play a good Royals side in firsts, who convincingly beat Queanbeyan last week; Uni-Norths (the Owls) in seconds, who won a tight game against the Queanbeyan Whites as well; and, in third grade, an experienced Wests third-grade side. In fourths, they’re up against Royals, and in colts, the Gungahlin Eagles. In the women’s, the ‘Viqueens’ play the very strong, undefeated Gungahlin Eagles side.
The weather forecast is for a fine day. I will not attempt to pick who wins, as anything can happen on grand final day, nor will I say who I want to win, as I’ve had, over the last 60 years, associations with most of the clubs concerned, either personally or through my children.
As they say in the classics, “rugby will be the winner on the day”! Good luck to all involved, and thanks to all officials and non-playing club staff for their often unsung efforts off the field.