Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Why do the AFL media insist on calling every player a star?

Pickett2Jackson
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

I am a star.  You are a star.  Everyone is a star.  Hell even Zak Jones and Luke Dalhaus are stars.    

 

 

 

uB1iQwh.png

BsbBvlD.png

Edited by Pickett2Jackson

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 2
     

    Spot on.  
     

    The other hyperbolic favourite is “this player is elite” at whatever performance measurement the gushing commentators can grasp at, often a measurement that’s not terribly relevant to a players ability to get ball/dispose of ball effectively. Particularly overdone in AFLW, where it seems every player is elite at something. 

  • Quote
    • Like 3
     

    Whoever isn't a star is either a legend or a champion. Many of our game's commentators have small vocabularies unfortunately and think hyperbole can fill in the gaps. I'm sure I can actually feel my brain cells dying just listening to some of them. 

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    Well I reckon what word should we use?

    Port are in the hunt for Nong free agent

    Port are in the hunt for anonymous free agent

    Don't have a good ring to it.

    And future star - well that is hot gas (hydrogen and helium) and the hot gas I know is

    Pies to unleash future fart....

    Anyway the good news is that I have decided to celebrate each win with a bottle of sherry and the bad? news is I have got ahead of  myself, currently drinking bottle Nos 9.

     

  • Quote
    • Haha 1
     

    I totally agree that the use of the word star is way overused by the AFL media. I think it's for a couple of reasons:

    Firstly as pointed out by others the vocabulary available to a lot for the personalities is not very big, and star is a very easy word to remember and use. It also adds a little bit of meat to the story, instead of the pies giving a first year player a debut they're "unleashing future star". It's basically to create clickbait.

    The other reason I think is because these people are put up in front of the spotlight the are entertainers, and when pushing a product are you going to pump the product up or keep it real. Naturally they're going to pump them up.

    Ideally the use of the word "star" would be for those in the elite category.

  • Quote

    Same reason tabloid headlines love to use the words "fury", "mum" "tots" ... it's practically in the journalistic code of ethics to overcook things.

    "AFL STAR FURY"

    "MUM FURY IN AFL HORROR"

    "AFL FATCAT IN TOT TRAGEDY"

    "AFL TOT FURY AT MUM"

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    taking a leaf from Vince McMahons book where wrestlers aren’t wrestlers they are “superstars”

  • Quote

    I did laugh when @binman called Luke Jackson a star in this weeks podcast. He will be but not quite yet.

  • Quote
    42 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

    I did laugh when @binman called Luke Jackson a star in this weeks podcast. He will be but not quite yet.

    Luke Jackson is a star because he allows Gawn to be even more of a star.

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    What I find even more offensive is the use of the word “hero” especially on ANZAC Day.   
    Likening cushioned safe-at-home footballers, (sure, many are great athletes and show courage on the field),  to even the lowliest of our serving military facing artillery, bayonets, gunshot and years of deprivation in the trenches or POW camps is just so disrespectful and lacking in any perspective.   

  • Quote
    • Like 8
    • Love 1

    23 minutes ago, monoccular said:

    What I find even more offensive is the use of the word “hero” especially on ANZAC Day.   
    Likening cushioned safe-at-home footballers, (sure, many are great athletes and show courage on the field),  to even the lowliest of our serving military facing artillery, bayonets, gunshot and years of deprivation in the trenches or POW camps is just so disrespectful and lacking in any perspective.   

    To clarify, I assume when you say "especially on ANZAC Day" you are referring to the footballers who play on that day, not our servicemen and women. I agree that no sports person (star, superstar, or future star) should be called a hero for what they do on any sporting field. 

  • Quote
    14 hours ago, daisycutter said:

    because everyone in afl media is w___er

    You have 100%  correct DC. I might add that most of them are not that bright. 

  • Quote

    Luke Darcy is one that is shocking at this. He will call any player a star. It is a over used word. 

    I think a few weeks ago someone came out and said stop calling everyone a  star or champion. Dustin Martin is the one player you could really call a champion. 

  • Quote
    • Author
    14 hours ago, Jontee said:

    Well I reckon what word should we use?

     

     

    It wasnt so much the use of the word star I have issue with, its calling players like Dalhaus, Cuynnington,  Rowan M arshall, Zak Jones etc etc a star.

    But seeing the word star in 95% of headlines is also absurd.

     

  • Quote

    In general discourse there is inflation in hyperbole.

    Labelling an opponent as "worse than Hitler" or saying a policy is "like Nazi Germany" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-39266863

    ...has become commonplace.

    Things cant be just better they are a "game changer".

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    24 minutes ago, dino rover said:

    In general discourse there is inflation in hyperbole.

    Labelling an opponent as "worse than Hitler" or saying a policy is "like Nazi Germany" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-39266863

    ...has become commonplace.

    Things cant be just better they are a "game changer".

    "Inflation in hyperbole" sounds like the title of a terrible song from the late 1970s.

    Or maybe I'm just thinking of Skyhooks'  "Jukebox in Siberia"

  • Quote
    20 minutes ago, dino rover said:

    In general discourse there is inflation in hyperbole.

    Labelling an opponent as "worse than Hitler" or saying a policy is "like Nazi Germany" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-39266863

    ...has become commonplace.

    Things cant be just better they are a "game changer".

    Three things Orwell most hated in language were cliches, hyperbole and obfuscation.  So imagine how enraged his ghost must be that his own name has been turned into a wildly exaggerated cliche designed to distract people from serious thought.

    Hyperbole inflation is a definite pattern, with the power behind it being the terrifying rationalisation that is coming from all sides; "I feel strongly about this therefore it is offensive to disagree with me."

  • Quote
    •  

    Because too many humans have to have somehing to look up to. A star is something they can look up to and is short enough for a filth supporter to understand.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • AFLW: 2025 Season Preview

      Ten seasons. Eighteen teams. With the young talent pathway finally fully connected, Women’s Australian Rules football is building momentum and Season 2025 promises to be the best yet. In advance of Season 10, the AFL leadership has engaged in candid discussions with all clubs regarding strategies to boost attendance and expand fan bases. Concerningly, average attendances in 2024 were 2,660 fans per match, with the women’s game incurring an annual loss of approximately $50 million.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Western Bulldogs

      The next coach of the Melbourne Football Club faces the challenge of teaching his players how to win games against all comers. At times during this tumultuous season, that task has seemed daunting, made more so in light of the surprise news last week of the sacking of premiership coach Simon Goodwin. However, there were also some positive signs from yesterday’s match against the Western Bulldogs that the challenge may not be as difficult as one might think. The two sides presented a genuine football spectacle, featuring pulsating competitive play with eight lead changes throughout the afternoon, in a display befitting a finals match.The result could have gone either way and in the end, it came down to which team could produce the most desperate of acts to provide a winning result. It was the Bulldogs who had their season on the line that won out by a six point margin that fitted the game and the effort of both sides.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Brisbane

      The rain had been falling heavily in south east Queensland when the match began at Springfield, west of Brisbane. The teams exchanged early goals and then the Casey Demons proceeded like a house on fire in the penultimate game of the VFL season against a strong opponent in the Brisbane Lions. Sparked by strong play around the ground by seasoned players in Charlie Spargo and Jack Billings, a strong effort from Bailey Laurie and promising work from youngsters in Kynan Brown and  Koltyn Tholstrup, the Demons with multiple goal kickers firing, raced to a 27 point lead late in the opening stanza. A highlight was a wonderful goal from Laurie who brilliantly sidestepped two opponents and kicked beautifully from 45 metres out.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Hawthorn

      The Demons return to the MCG this time as the visiting team where they get another opportunity to put a dent into a team's top 8 placing when they take on the Hawks on Saturday afternoon. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Like
      • 84 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Western Bulldogs

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 11th August @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to the Western Bulldogs.
      Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
      Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • 46 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Western Bulldogs

      The Demons lacked some polish but showed a lot of heart and took it right up to the Bulldogs in an attempt to spoil their finals hopes ultimately going down by a goal at the MCG.

        • Like
      • 337 replies
      Demonland
    View All

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.