THE WILSON FILE - the arrogance at the heart of the innuendo

[Slartibartfast 18,009]

Another sensational article by Wilson. Interestingly Gary Pert said on the Mike Sheehan interview last night that Collingwood supporters thought Wilson had a vendetta against them.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-continues-to-duck-for-cover-20140707-zsz9w.html

Flanagan writes fantastic feel good articles, Wilson is in a class of her own with this sort of stuff.

[Whispering_Jack 31,144]

I'll bite.

The article she wrote expresses most of the sports world's feelings but there's nothing new or original in what she says in it and people like Michaelangelo Rucci and Patrick Smith (and numerous internet pundits) have beaten her to the punch. Her editor has finally been honest enough to succumb to the notion that wnen she writes opinion articles, it should correctly be labelled "comment".

I made the point in a post above that because she might happen to be right on this issue it doesn't validate the large body of critical assessment of her writing that is covered by this thread. Moreover, she attacks Essendon for doing what every organisation has a right to do (and in the case of Hird - every person) - to defend itself in a court of law if it feels aggrieved. I believe that Essendon has been advised it has a valid case which requires the support of properly presented evidence. I happen to disagree that the case has merit but Wilson doesn't address this at all.

I don't accept that her article is either sensational, original or in a class or her own in the context of "fantastic" articles because others beat her to the punch in writing probably the easiest story that can confront a journalist.

[rpfc 28,913]

I feel you are so enamoured with her for the shock value you get on here when you illustrate how enamoured you are...

[nutbean 8,838]

I'll bite.

The article she wrote expresses most of the sports world's feelings but there's nothing new or original in what she says in it and people like Michaelangelo Rucci and Patrick Smith (and numerous internet pundits) have beaten her to the punch. Her editor has finally been honest enough to succumb to the notion that wnen she writes opinion articles, it should correctly be labelled "comment".

I made the point in a post above that because she might happen to be right on this issue it doesn't validate the large body of critical assessment of her writing that is covered by this thread. Moreover, she attacks Essendon for doing what every organisation has a right to do (and in the case of Hird - every person) - to defend itself in a court of law if it feels aggrieved. I believe that Essendon has been advised it has a valid case which requires the support of properly presented evidence. I happen to disagree that the case has merit but Wilson doesn't address this at all.

I don't accept that her article is either sensational, original or in a class or her own in the context of "fantastic" articles because others beat her to the punch in writing probably the easiest story that can confront a journalist.

I was in the car yesterday and heard a bit of Patrick Smith - it amused me that he doesn't like Greg Denham any more than we do - he gave him a right decent serve.

[Machsy 2,858]

I feel you are so enamoured with her for the shock value you get on here when you illustrate how enamoured you are...

To be fair, that's been bleedingly obvious for some time now...

[Jara 1,153]

Hey WJ

I take your point, but I still thought it was a very good piece. It's strength is in its timeliness. There's a risk that the various sideshows Little and his lawyers are stirring up will distract people from the main game. I reckon she's reduced that risk (still hate her when she's snapping at us, of course; she was bloody one-sided on the tanking thing - for me, that was like the Abbot budget - I could almost handle it if it was evenly distributed, but it wasnt - both budget and tanking debate further entrenched inequality)

I just can't help listening to her, even when she's on 3AW with a panel of morons.

Cheers

[rjay 25,307]

I was in the car yesterday and heard a bit of Patrick Smith - it amused me that he doesn't like Greg Denham any more than we do - he gave him a right decent serve.

Not sure if you are being serious 'nut', but Patrick wasn't. It was a bit of a running joke to do with an article he wrote, goose of the week etc...

[binman 44,533]

Hey WJ

I take your point, but I still thought it was a very good piece. It's strength is in its timeliness. There's a risk that the various sideshows Little and his lawyers are stirring up will distract people from the main game. I reckon she's reduced that risk (still hate her when she's snapping at us, of course; she was bloody one-sided on the tanking thing - for me, that was like the Abbot budget - I could almost handle it if it was evenly distributed, but it wasnt - both budget and tanking debate further entrenched inequality)

I just can't help listening to her, even when she's on 3AW with a panel of morons.

Cheers

I'm with you Jara. A good article. I like that she criticises both the AFL and Essendon as Rohan Connolly did a few days ago. It really is amazing how unbalanced the Hun articles are. It must frustrate Yobbo no end she knocks up getting awards and got a couple for her coverage of the essendon saga last year. One of her strengths on this issue is trying to keep the focus on the failure of duty of care and the health of the players.

I also enjoy her on 3aw.

[Blistering 545]

Another sensational article by Wilson. Interestingly Gary Pert said on the Mike Sheehan interview last night that Collingwood supporters thought Wilson had a vendetta against them.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-continues-to-duck-for-cover-20140707-zsz9w.html

Flanagan writes fantastic feel good articles, Wilson is in a class of her own with this sort of stuff.

Wilson's populist attack isn't as classy as you think. Most of us are entitled to be critical of Essendon for its doping programme but she does tend to conflate governance issues which have already been dealt with by the AFL via the sanctions imposed in August with the issue of the alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. There's a real live issue of denial of player rights to confidentiality which Essendon and Hird maintain they are entitled to protect. We may disagree that there's an issue here but the Bombers are entitled to their day in court.

Wilson was also being premature in whacking Gillon McLachlan for being silent because McLachlan came out swinging today -AFL boss Gillon McLachlan backs top medico Peter Harcourt.

People might like to read her views but there's nothing new there, nothing all that clever and a few things that aren't particularly accurate.

[beelzebub 23,390]

A blistering and correct assessment

[binman 44,533]

Wilson's populist attack isn't as classy as you think. Most of us are entitled to be critical of Essendon for its doping programme but she does tend to conflate governance issues which have already been dealt with by the AFL via the sanctions imposed in August with the issue of the alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. There's a real live issue of denial of player rights to confidentiality which Essendon and Hird maintain they are entitled to protect. We may disagree that there's an issue here but the Bombers are entitled to their day in court.

Wilson was also being premature in whacking Gillon McLachlan for being silent because McLachlan came out swinging today -AFL boss Gillon McLachlan backs top medico Peter Harcourt.

People might like to read her views but there's nothing new there, nothing all that clever and a few things that aren't particularly accurate.

not quite sure what you mean caro was premature about the afl not making comment. They were accurate when she made them and perhaps were a factor in gil making the comments in the article you posted a link to. By the by the quotes attributed to gil are slightly innacurate as he said caro about half a dozen times as he was in fact responding directly to her questions. Good journalism Edited July 8, 2014 by binman

[beelzebub 23,390]

not quite sure what you mean caro was premature about the afl not making comment. They were accurate when she made them and perhaps were a factor in gil making the comments in the article you posted a link to. By the by the quotes attributed to gil are slightly innacurate as he said caro about half a dozen times as he was in fact responding directly to her questions. Good journalism

in all fairness Bin...it would have been good journalism to write this about a month ago

seems really shes just riding the coat tails of the bleeding obvious !!

But is better than some of the rubbish shes written for sure

[binman 44,533]

in all fairness Bin...it would have been good journalism to write this about a month ago

seems really shes just riding the coat tails of the bleeding obvious !!

But is better than some of the rubbish shes written for sure

there wasn't a story a month ago. She was wacking gil for not coming out and defending Harcourt not being silent on the ESS/asada court case. Bb where I do agree with you is that as you say she perhaps conflates the governance issue, which as you say they have been pinged for and the prohibited drugs charge. To be honest I find myself doing the same sometimes

[titan_uranus 25,176]

It's an article that's on the money and makes sense.

It's also the same story for the 100th time.

Hird is arrogant. Essendon is delusional. The players' health is in danger. Thompson's a fool. The AFL's got itself to blame.

All she's doing is making good use of her thesaurus.

[Whispering_Jack 31,144]

I understand that the reason McLachlan didn't come out nd speak on this issue earlier is that he was away on holiday.

I've often been critical of things done by AFL CEO's but if this is true, the media (and not just Wilson) owe McLachlan an apology.

[beelzebub 23,390]

there wasn't a story a month ago. She was wacking gil for not coming out and defending Harcourt not being silent on the ESS/asada court case. Bb where I do agree with you is that as you say she perhaps conflates the governance issue, which as you say they have been pinged for and the prohibited drugs charge. To be honest I find myself doing the same sometimes

Well there was a story....its been pretty much the same one all along. Take the Harcourt thing aside though that in itself has also been around for a while too, its just now resurfaced.

Caro gives Essendon a whack essentially for the gall displayed and contempt for their own. She cites their delusion and lack of remorse.

This story, or elements to such has been the constant through out and she now comes along all but Johnny come lately and serves it up. Wonderful in itself as many follow here words slavishly and they too might now adhere more to the side of decency as opposed the flawed rhetoric of those numnuts in Robbo Whately and Co

She could have easily written this much earlier but seems like shes waited for the tide to turn so she can surf it.

Thats not good journalism thats opportunism

[nutbean 8,838]

Not sure if you are being serious 'nut', but Patrick wasn't. It was a bit of a running joke to do with an article he wrote, goose of the week etc...

I was only half listening to be honest. It started off as a serve re Goose of the week but he launched into "Denham has nothing of note to say about anything at all".

If he wasn't serious he certainly delivered it dead pan.

I confess to not listening to KB's show because my ears vomit when I hear him - is this a running joke between Smith and Denham to slag off at each other ?

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

Wilson is no different to the majority of AFL media hacks who dish up opinion peices based on unsubstantiated information without either wanting or having the time to do the hard yards a professional journalist would do to seek the truth as they see it. There are a couple of exceptions (cap doffed to Emma Quyale) who I think stand out from the pack.

This effort from Wilson is just more of the same, and while I happen to agree with most of what she states and enjoy seeing Essendon get a flogging in the media it does not advance the story or provide any insights that us mere mortals havent already worked out on our own. While it does balance the opinion in the public media it really is no different from the tat published by the Essendon apparatchik's from Newscorp.

Journalists are a bit like intelligence analysts they are at there best when the can be predictive and not just parrot known information. Its about taking information, corroborating it where possible, rating it and drawing logical inferences that can explain the situation. .

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,022]

If there's anything amusing about this whole Essendon issue it's hearing some media commentators complain that the issue is getting too much media attention...and then talking or writing about it some more.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

Wilson is no different to the majority of AFL media hacks who dish up opinion peices based on unsubstantiated information without either wanting or having the time to do the hard yards a professional journalist would do to seek the truth as they see it. There are a couple of exceptions (cap doffed to Emma Quyale) who I think stand out from the pack.

Wilson has been different, in her unsubstantiated information has been leaked to her directly by the AFL and inparticualr Adrian Anderson.

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

I recon she has a heap of sources but that dosn't alter the fact that her parroting her sources is the same as Robinson parroting his. Only the source of the info is different.

[Sir Why You Little 37,310]

I recon she has a heap of sources but that dosn't alter the fact that her parroting her sources is the same as Robinson parroting his. Only the source of the info is different.

that's what journos do..rely on sources.

Wilson annd Smith are getting the best info. Robinson is hoping. He aint a journos bootlace.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

I admit that while I despise how she treated us I get a fair amount of schadenfreude from her attacks on Essendon.

However that doesn't stop me thinking of her as a vicious gossip columnist, with no real insight on how the game is played, and solely reliant on other viscous and self serving people to feed her information.

And in case anyone missed it: vicious. A pit bull with lipstick.

[beelzebub 23,390]

that's what journos do..rely on sources.

Wilson annd Smith are getting the best info. Robinson is hoping. He aint a journos bootlace.

sources ? What has she recycled that really wasnt in the public domain anyway, well, for anyone with an ounce of investigative fervour that is.

[Sir Why You Little 37,310]

sources ? What has she recycled that really wasnt in the public domain anyway, well, for anyone with an ounce of investigative fervour that is.

Smith is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest. But Wilson is still so far ahead of the Sun's Chief Football Writer.