Demons probe sponsor Ben Polis's racist rants

[warren dean 193]

Good strategy - bully the club when it's clearly in all manner of poo through no (or little) fault of its own. Cut the self-important [censored] - your $1000 means [censored] all in the context of a $2m sponsorship anyway.

It's not about self importance, it's about principle. My son bought a new jumper last Saturday with Energy Watch all over it. He's 10 and disgusted by Polis' comments. Our Club can't afford to be associated with this sort of bs. $2m at what price?

[olisik 4,060]

Honestly, I think loose the sponsor. Chances are there would be alot of other potential sponsors out there watching this closely to see how MFC react.

And if MFC do the right thing here, there could be other sponsors who will jump in, partially as a charity sponsor and to also have there logo on a club which has shown its integrity.

Long term investment ditching energy watch. Keep them on boards and watch how bad our future sponsorships look once this one expires. Club would be tainted.

[hardtack 10,537]

I'd settle for an apology, we need the dollars, let's get on with palying footy, the guy is a [censored] but probably reflects a number of CEO's, don't stop supporting Melbourne because of this guy.

I would rather a club that is prepared to take a stand against these sorts of neanderthals. If we do what is morally right, that will only enhance our chances of gaining a new sponsor as it will benefit their brand to be associated with an organisation that has sound principles.

[Born to Run 204]

We need to make a stand and cancel the sponsorship.

Perversely I believe a stand like this will attract another major sponsor very quickly. The sponsor who comes in after this rubbish and after the Melbourne FC have made a public stand against racism and innappropriate behaviour will get a million miles of publicity as well as be associated with a club which has strong family values.

I also think that while we might burn a little bit of the $2m per season, we would get a second major sponsor as well. The sum of both of these might be slightly less than the sum of EW and a FoJ sponsor, but its a small concession when you are trying once and for all to show the football world and the wider community that we actually stand for something. We stand for what Jim worked so hard for. We stand for giving everyobne a go, and striving to fulfill everyones potential.

SACK ENERGY WATCH NOW.

[Born to Run 204]

We need to make a stand and cancel the sponsorship.

Perversely I believe a stand like this will attract another major sponsor very quickly. The sponsor who comes in after this rubbish and after the Melbourne FC have made a public stand against racism and innappropriate behaviour will get a million miles of publicity as well as be associated with a club which has strong family values.

I also think that while we might burn a little bit of the $2m per season, we would get a second major sponsor as well. The sum of both of these might be slightly less than the sum of EW and a FoJ sponsor, but its a small concession when you are trying once and for all to show the football world and the wider community that we actually stand for something. We stand for what Jim worked so hard for. We stand for giving everyobne a go, and striving to fulfill everyones potential.

SACK ENERGY WATCH NOW.

[rpfc 28,430]

I think we have to let EW go.

The guy will remain toxic and Polis is EW.

This isn't the end of the world and unless he was mentioning these views in meetings with Schwab - I hardly think it would be defensible for us to reject $2m because a bloke 'seemed' odd.

We have to move on and search for some new best friends...

[Geddy Lee 582]

I fail to see what the MFC has done wrong this week. An afl employee spreads untrue rumours, is shown to be wrong and somehow we cop the flak. Then the CEO of our sponsor makes racist comments on his own Facebook, and we are the racist ones. WE ARE THE VICTIMS HERE. we have done no wrong. We will flick our major sponsor. We have to. I expect the victory and the rebels to do the same. But to turn around and say its all the clubs fault? No way. I'm not copping that.

Spot on.

I suggest everyone gets gets off Demonland and BigFooty, stops reading the sport section, and spends some quality time with the fam this weekend. All this hysteria over the MFC can be easily avoided.

http://keepmeout.com/en/

[Forest Demon 4,681]

And where were all of the critics here last year when EnergyWatch were brought on board as a sponsor? I don't recall any of these issues being brought up on here at that time... hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Actually, not that I was one of them, but I have heard numerous people talk about Energy Watch being a bit dodgey.

[olisik 4,060]

Cant the media focus on footy? I am sure almost the whole footy community from all clubs far and wide dont want to be reading this type of crap in the media. They want to be reading player reviews, stats, analysis, tactics and predictions for the weekend.

Next thing you know it will be grand final week and the media will be crapping on about an ex players brothers cousins uncles wife having an abortion.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

While Pollis certainly made some woeful remarks, when the dust settles on this one, can we transfer our energy on club sponsors to issues around particular sponsors that are actually important? A quick scan of the 18 club websites showed me, and this is just the ones I know about, that: * Five clubs (with three different companies) wear apparel provided by companies that currently or recently manufacture goods in sweatshops. * At least six clubs are sponsored by companies that provide life-destroying goods or services (alcohol and gambling) * Three clubs are sponsored by companies with a proven track record of human rights abuse * One club has a sponsor whose CEO made absolutely disgraceful marks regarding the homeless and charity that made news within the last 3 1/2 years * One club is sponsored by a company that has been involved in dodgy practices regarding player payment I find it frustrating that we can muster up such a frenzy over an issue like this, but can we turn a blind eye to blatant injustice around us that ruins lives. I'm not putting a position forward on where Melbourne goes to from here, but merely pointing out that as sponsors go, Energy Watch is hardly at the top of the nasty tree. Unfortunately, the timing couldn't have been worse.

Fair points. Except the bold bit.

Are you suggesting Polis' remarks are, in the context of things, unimportant? Because the are not. He has made racist, sexist, abusive and denigrating remarks about multiple people and multiple groups.

Our relationship with him and his company must now be viewed as untenable. We cannot be seen to be affiliated in any way with this.

You are right to point out the other similarly worrying issues wrt sponsors. But let's start by dealing with us first.

[Born to Run 204]

Good strategy - bully the club when it's clearly in all manner of poo through no (or little) fault of its own. Cut the self-important [censored] - your $1000 means [censored] all in the context of a $2m sponsorship anyway.

Its the $1,000's, the $100's and the $10's that make us who we are. Lose them and we are nothing.

[Tricky 341]

It's not about self importance, it's about principle. My son bought a new jumper last Saturday with Energy Watch all over it. He's 10 and disgusted by Polis' comments. Our Club can't afford to be associated with this sort of bs. $2m at what price?

I agree EW must go, but give the club a chance.

[Sir Why You Little 37,038]

I would love the club to dump Energy Watch straight away and sue Ben Polis if we could? This man should not be allowed anywhere near the Footy Club. I would glady contribute to remove Energy Watch from our jumpers. My Daughter has a new jumper and I can guarantee she wont be wearing it.

This company needs to be pulled apart in a courtroom.

Who would deal with them. & who is going to deal with the MFC now?

Does this club never check on peoples CHARACTER? ever??

Players & sponsors. I am really [censored] off. I just bought a new jumper with that disgusting logo. Thanks Demons.

I am seeing Fitzroy in the 90's here....

[olisik 4,060]

Keep EW and he'll do it again.

Club has no choice here.

[BarrassHarrass 25]

I don't usually get caught up with the 'sky is falling' mentality that goes on round here, but dead set fellas, I reckon we are f@$%ed. I cannot see how we are going to survive this year financially without a bloody sponsor, if we dump this mob. We will be lucky to win a game, we will fold in 3 years at this rate. I don't fee this is an exaggeration. The fickle Dees supporters, of which there are plenty, have jumped off the wagon for 2012 already. This has happned too many fkn times to us. It's happening again. I cannot believe it. CS better get his finger out of his arse and nail a sponsor quick. Swallow ya pride and ego Cam and get the job done.

[monoccular 17,428]

Now I understand perfectly why Scully left this club.

Are you $eriou$?

[ucanchoose 1,816]

Spot on.

I suggest everyone gets gets off Demonland and BigFooty, stops reading the sport section, and spends some quality time with the fam this weekend. All this hysteria over the MFC can be easily avoided.

http://keepmeout.com/en/

Good advice, there is more to life than footy

[Nasher 33,616]

It's not about self importance, it's about principle. My son bought a new jumper last Saturday with Energy Watch all over it. He's 10 and disgusted by Polis' comments. Our Club can't afford to be associated with this sort of bs. $2m at what price?

But that cuts both ways - what's the cost of losing the $2m/year? I fully agree that in principle the club should be backing away as fast as possible, but that must be decided by someone capable of weighing the options up properly - even if it means putting some members off side. It might be a necessary evil to keep the club viable - how could we as mug supporters possibly know?

All you've done is threaten the club, and wasted 30 seconds of someone who had to listen to your message. I can't see that as being particularly helpful. Like I said, your $1k is the least of their problems right now.

[Pates 9,660]

With the AFL being on their high-horse about racism lately I reckon they should be offering to assist us financially so we can drop EW. These comments are disgusting, I'd admit to saying a few things in my which are not PC when it comes to racism, but what kind of an idiot repeatedly puts that kind of garbage on their FB page. Especially someone in charge of a major company.

FOJ sponsor just became massive again.

Edited April 4, 2012 by Pates

[7-UP 107]

Good advice, there is more to life than footy

Is this sarcasm?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

It's not about self importance, it's about principle. My son bought a new jumper last Saturday with Energy Watch all over it. He's 10 and disgusted by Polis' comments. Our Club can't afford to be associated with this sort of bs. $2m at what price?

Then contact EnergyWatch about it and tell them how you feel, don't blame the club.

[Tricky 341]

This company needs to be pulled apart in a courtroom.

Who would deal with them. & who is going to deal with the MFC now?

Does this club never check on peoples CHARACTER? ever??

Players & sponsors. I am really [censored] off. I just bought a new jumper with that disgusting logo. Thanks Demons.

I am seeing Fitzroy in the 90's here....

All this talk of due diligence - that applies to the company's position, not the personal facebook account of the CEO FFS.

You have a right to be [censored] off, but it would be misguided to direct it at the club on this.

Edited April 4, 2012 by Tricky

[simma02 53]

This is a nightmare.......

[Lordweaver 235]

Warren, if your son is disgusted by the comments I'd suggest he must be home schooled..plenty of people use this type of dialogue for banter...unfortunately this guy Polis is a CEO of a major sponsor, not condoning it at all but not too surprised either, I live in the real world. Polis should make a public apology.

[ucanchoose 1,816]

Is this sarcasm?

Not at all, it's a long weekend, school holidays and to be honest I've just about had enough and it's week 2. Watching the game, but golf and board games with the boys is where it's at.....

No doubt I'll be quizzed on it when I get to work, just shake my head and walk back to my desk

Edited April 4, 2012 by ucanchoose