How can you not mean a racist jibe? If he'd called Headland a black whatever, of course he'd be offended, because he is aboriginal. That goes against my point of being "obviously not true".

That's a good point, but again if that were the case then it blurs the borders of "obviously not true" and so my point is not covered by that scenario.

I'm assuming he hasn't though as I've not heard any evidence to the contrary.

Semantics - My point is you can say anything you like - it may or may not be obviously true - that doesn't make it any more acceptable.

The footy field was once almost anything goes when it came to sledging. That has changed most significantly with the penalties rightfully bought in for racial abuse. Similarly the AFL is currently working with clubs to raise the level of respect for women in the largely male dominated club culture. Selwood's alleged sledge is obviously offensive and he should be suspended for it if found guilty. Sledging of that nature has absolutely no place in our great game. It is nothing other than cheap and nasty and cowardly. End of story and full stop.

Sure my horse ain't as tall as some of u guys but i personally don't think there's much in it.

Sure what he said was disgraceful but he shouldn't b hanged 4 it.

Like previous posters have said, families - sisters, mothers have been done to death on the field with plenty of ' i () ur wife/sister last night'

If Selwood went into anymore detail, then we would have a problem. A simple i () ur daughter is a throw away comment is not as bad.

So was Selwood "assuming he hasn't" too?

That's not a safe assumption because some people, many people have.

When you meet anyone or speak to anyone for the first time you don't automatically think "gee I better watch what I say, this guy might've been touched as a kid". Of course he would've made that assumption. You're right in that it's not a safe assumption but it would be a human one to make.

Semantics - My point is you can say anything you like - it may or may not be obviously true - that doesn't make it any more acceptable.

I just can't understand why anyone would be offended by the words of a guy who was clearly talking rubbish. That's all.

by the words of a guy who was clearly talking rubbish. That's all.

Unbelievable. You belong to one sick part of society!

Unbelievable. You belong to one sick part of society!

Erm. Why?

Cannot understand how the subject of this sledge is considered within the grounds of acceptability. Comparisons between factual events and intent and the location (sporting arena) are irrelevant in the context of decent behaviour unless we are trying to give comfort to paedophiles?

And to save people asking, yes, I have played competitive sport and I am aware of the depths sledging can reach and far from having a high horse I consider myself as down to earth as any other a**hole on this forum.

Ok, I'm not going to pretend that I think its ok to say something like that about someones family, especially a 6 yo daughter.

But lets look at a few things. Selwood said it to get a reaction and get inside his head, I'm sure that anyone who has played a contact sports has done something simliar (at a far lesser extent)...you hit like a girl, you tackle like a p$ssy whatever.

Headland is a complete moron for going after him on the field. Selwood isnt the first, and he wont be the last to use a vial and wrong sledge, but Des is probably one of the first i can remember dropping the "but he started it by calling me a name". He should have demanded an apology after the game or snotted him then.

How many times do you think people have used sledges like this in the past? Only then it was sorted out properly or the player took his medicine at the tribunal. I would be embarrased to have a quote like that in the paper about any family member, let alone a child.

Erm. Why?

If you need to ask, you'll never know.

or - ignorance is bliss some say. - just a cop out really though, isn't it?

Over and out.

If you need to ask, you'll never know.

Horse crap. If you're going to label me and tell me which part of society I belong to, the very least you can do is offer me an explanation.

Either in this thread or by PM.

there is a significant difference between..

you kick like a girl... or I had your mum...which whilst low, might be in the realms of reality ( its a weird world )

to

I F***ED YOUR DAUGHTER ( inferred as was referring to the image, and was identified as his ( DH ) 6 yo daughter )

The issue here is NOT whether Headland's reaction was stupid, of course it was!

He is a headcase and it's easy to put him off his game, which is a problem for Freo.

The issue here is whether or not Selwood stepped over the line when he used a sledge that involved sexually explicit remarks about a 6 year old.

The action and the reaction are two separate issues.

Nobody doubts that the reaction was stupid, the question is, was the action itself appropriate when you consider that 'anything goes on the footy field', or are there certain boundaries which players must not cross?

How would you feel if an opposition player went up to one of our boys and said "your dead mate Broady is having a better game than you"... is that appropriate?

Erm. Why?

I don't post often.

Mainly because a lot of threads turn abusive and negative (to players, coaches, other posters, even the club).

And frankly that stuff only makes me angry.

However I do drop in for a read most days. (After all, if it's not posted here it didn't happen).

So I know that Nasher is a rational and sensible user of this forum.

Perhaps we can agree to disagree on this issue.

belzebub59:

And how would that be different to:

"I ****ed your dog"?

The issue here is NOT whether Headland's reaction was stupid, of course it was!

He is a headcase and it's easy to put him off his game, which is a problem for Freo.

The issue here is whether or not Selwood stepped over the line when he used a sledge that involved sexually explicit remarks about a 6 year old.

Agree, but believe they should have settled it themselves not dragged it through as a public issue. Its an embarrasement for both of them.

belzebub59:

And how would that be different to:

"I ****ed your dog"?

So you are comparing a 6 yo girl to a dog?

How would you feel if an opposition player went up to one of our boys and said "your dead mate Broady is having a better game than you"... is that appropriate?

Because their mate Broady is dead. Selwood has obviously not done anything to Headland's daughter.

belzebub59:

And how would that be different to:

"I ****ed your dog"?

If i honestly have to explain then nothing I or anyone here could say would clarify it for you.

So I know that Nasher is a rational and sensible user of this forum.

Perhaps we can agree to disagree on this issue.

Thank you, I'll agree to disagree also.

This is a fairly heated topic and I'm glad most people can disagree without resorting to immature snipes and putting stupid, unfair and untrue labels on people.

So you are comparing a 6 yo girl to a dog?

What's the difference? He obviously wouldn't have touched either, would he?

How is it more, or less wrong?

If i honestly have to explain then nothing I or anyone here could say would clarify it for you.

You can't explain it, can you?

Because their mate Broady is dead. Selwood has obviously not done anything to Headland's daughter.

Which comes back to Nasher's original point, that the sledge is not offensive, but rather stupid, because it's not true.

I don't see it that way. It's offensive regardless, and is inappropriate.

Let me put it another way. Say somebody accused you of being a 'so and so Jew', and you weren't Jewish, is that offensive?

The issue here is whether or not Selwood stepped over the line when he used a sledge that involved sexually explicit remarks about a 6 year old.

That's fine to debate Jaded, in context of social standards and whether you'd invite such a person to dinner.

How would you feel if an opposition player went up to one of our boys and said "your dead mate Broady is having a better game than you"... is that appropriate?

a. is it appropriate? - probably not.

b. Is it punishable? - reprimand at the very most. This issue may force the AFL to develop a set of codes about sledging, but to fine or suspend Selwood on the ground of "it might have stepped over the line" won't and shouldn't hold ground.

c. Should Selwood apologise? - probably yes.

d) Should we all move on? - absolutely.

Let me put it another way. Say somebody accused you of being a 'so and so Jew', and you weren't Jewish, is that offensive?

Not to me, because I'm not a Jew. Why would I be offended? I'd laugh that their attempt at sledging me was so poor.

Let me put it another way. Say somebody accused you of being a 'so and so Jew', and you weren't Jewish, is that offensive?

No, why would it be? That'd be even less offensive than the Selwood comment, because not only was I not Jewish (so filed under my definition of untrue sledge), I would realise that there is nothing wrong with being Jewish anyway even if I was.

If someone said that to me on a footy field I'd probably pat him on the black and ruffle his hair a bit.