On 22/08/2025 at 16:39, GawnOfTheDead said:

I think there’s a significant difference between generations. Not suggesting either is better or worse, but they’re different.

IMO it is a lesser evil to dob, and eradicate the greater evil.

My honest view is that there is an unwritten law and it probably could have been dealt with between peers. I also don't have an issue with the punishment. But I am admittedly uneasy about how it all transpired. Honestly I reckon it would have been better for everyone including the LGBTQ community if it was dealt with behind closed doors. I also wonder if Collingwood would have said anything if it was in round 1.

I'm so sick of so much of this. Most people try to just let things slide and bullies know this and know they can get away with a lot because of fear of retaliation . Whether it's having your lunch thrown in the school toilet, copping victim-blaming, being ostracised or portrayed as a troublemaker whose work complaint "suggests" theyre unemployable or on the footy field being lined up for a nasty injury the bullies prosper at every age.

Who was it who complained against the turbocharged racial abuse from Damian Monkhorst a whole game? Winmar? All I know is that was about 30 years ago and Rankine's indiscretion is not the first "dobbed" in. I just know so many people are so hesitant to rock the boat that when they do complain you know it's serious.

I get sick of the macho BS that's still out there. I had people tell me Brayshaw was a wuss for getting knocked out. Back in the noughties when players first revealed their mental health issues I'd hear the same [censored] say players on leave with clinical depression should just harden up and stop being pathetic. Surprise surprise we now have homophobia belittledby so many fans.

Maybe at the edges Collingwood have been a little dodgy. Maybe the punishments meted out for specific indiscretions are comparably out of kilter. Maybe Snoop Dogg's gig is a complete joke. But let's get rid of the homophobia, which eventually will even impact players with gay friends or family. (And of course the elephant in the room is that not one - NOT ONE!- of over 10000 AFL players over 130 years has ever been/revealed they're gay while in 10 odd years of AFLW this has never been a problem.)

I'm glad I didn't read the homophobic stuff and I'm sorry anyone including the gay poster on this thread was made to feel unsafe. A bit of respect and tolerance really shouldn't be that difficult.

1 hour ago, praha said:

My honest view is that there is an unwritten law and it probably could have been dealt with between peers. I also don't have an issue with the punishment. But I am admittedly uneasy about how it all transpired. Honestly I reckon it would have been better for everyone including the LGBTQ community if it was dealt with behind closed doors. I also wonder if Collingwood would have said anything if it was in round 1.

How would that work? The Crows just tell porkies that some unspecified injury will keep ....no, scrap that...that Rankine's out a month for mental health reasons? Then the truth gets out even if just among the 18 clubs and some think this stunt belittles homophobia and /or mental illness. I think a lot of this is problematic. Sure, I'm glad there was some kind of deliberate trial before Rankine's name came out. But after maybe it's best that institutions and people confirm something homophobic happened ....and genuinely show that it's not on!

Edited Saturday at 10:392 days by Go Ds

15 hours ago, Go Ds said:

How would that work? The Crows just tell porkies that some unspecified injury will keep ....no, scrap that...that Rankine's out a month for mental health reasons? Then the truth gets out even if just among the 18 clubs and some think this stunt belittles homophobia and /or mental illness. I think a lot of this is problematic. Sure, I'm glad there was some kind of deliberate trial before Rankine's name came out. But after maybe it's best that institutions and people confirm something homophobic happened ....and genuinely show that it's not on!

Not sure how it would work. I said i agreed with the punishment. I don't think is there is an easy answer. And I don't think there is a way to escape it. I'm not saying to avoid the exposure or public knowledge. Rather deal with it and propose a solution. The AFL has lost all respect for its process with this. Either there is a rule and clear penalty or there isn't. How exactly would any sort of medical condition have justified it?

The best solution here was probably the AFL coming out and investigating, if it's determined he said it, it is a suspension. That's it. You either said it or you didn't. The AFL opens the door to contesting the punishment so it becomes a circus. You can't be subjective with definitive language.

In the NBA it would have been a flat out suspension or fine. That's it. Take it and move on.

2 hours ago, praha said:

Not sure how it would work. I said i agreed with the punishment. I don't think is there is an easy answer. And I don't think there is a way to escape it. I'm not saying to avoid the exposure or public knowledge. Rather deal with it and propose a solution. The AFL has lost all respect for its process with this. Either there is a rule and clear penalty or there isn't. How exactly would any sort of medical condition have justified it?

The best solution here was probably the AFL coming out and investigating, if it's determined he said it, it is a suspension. That's it. You either said it or you didn't. The AFL opens the door to contesting the punishment so it becomes a circus. You can't be subjective with definitive language.

In the NBA it would have been a flat out suspension or fine. That's it. Take it and move on.

Okay. This was always going to be a nightmare for the AFL. Snoop will always have baggage and would clash with AFLs family image. I'm sure the tribunal always broadcasts player penalties (and I'm glad Rankine's punishment is a warning to others and shows to some extent an intolerance of homophobia, regardless of offender or whether it cripples a club.) Unfortunately word got out early about this misdemeanor and we don't know Rankine's defence.

In a perfect world, after a private trial, on Wednesday an announcement would have come out that Rankine's been penalised for 4 weeks for a homophobic slur and that "the AFL does not tolerate homophobia" and possibly that the penalty would have been higher if Rankine didn't have {insert problem}. But we don't have a perfect world.

The AFL is miles behind on this issue. The very fact no AFL player has turned up with his boyfriend to an event shows how ingrained homophobia is within the industry. There’s many reasons for this and I won’t bore you with my take. The biggest mistake after Rankine’s was how the AFL dealt with the issue. Once again they dropped the ball. It was a 4-5 week penalty on precedent alone. This is not on the Collingwood players who called it out although we can certainly discuss their motives. Our society has many issues and one of the worst is for people to keep defending the use of these words whilst our young kids look on and gay and transgender kids commit suicide at multiples over the average. It doesn’t matter if you’re 70 or 20, compassion, empathy and understanding only make us better.

Edited yesterday at 10:341 day by Roost it far

On 23/08/2025 at 10:21, Ghostwriter said:

Firstly, who they barrack for has nothing to do with it.

They are privileged bigots simply because they are bigots + they are privileged.

They have the privilege of not having to call 000 because their child is in the locked bathroom with a box cutter calmly telling them that they can’t take it anymore, they can’t go on living and to “Please let me go. It’s cruel to make me go on living when I want to die.”

And you know how I know they have that privilege? Because they wouldn’t be spewing forth their enduring ignorance had they experienced such. That’s how.

Sorry to hear your story but surely that is a personal situation that has nothing to do with Rankine calling a non gay person a gay slur. Last week i heard a player tell another he was going to f........ kill him. Where will this all end. How do you think family members of murder victims woukd feel hearing that.

On 22/08/2025 at 16:26, pitmaster said:

It used to be the case that players would not rat on one another at the tribunal and would leave what happened on the ground to be settled on the ground.

Yet it seems no longer to be the case as Collingwood ratted - "dobbed in" if your prefer - on Izak Rankine. Sydney's Blakey had been similarly insulted but said nothing. Collingwood, with Maynard of all people taking the high moral ground, has driven this.

It interests me that no one in the media has remarked on Collingwood's role and the fact that it simultaneously diminishes the prospects of one of its stronger rivals for the premiership.

I understand that folks don't want to diminish the sense of wrong here, but surely Collingwood's role and consequent benefit is worthy of recognition.

What do others think?

I reckon a memo would have been sent to all outlets that this type of narrative or any other can not be allowed to distract away from the core issue.

Collingwood seem to keep finding themselves on the right side of the story of late.

On 23/08/2025 at 10:25, doc roet said:

As a mid 70's y/o man I couldn't agree more.

We were told to toughen up, sticks and stones stuff. I can appreciate the need for change and am made aware of my generational way of thinking daily and am doing my best, however it is still in there and am often bewildered at the astonishment of my children towards me when I speak my mind on particular topics so far as to now I just tend to shut up and listen. It's a different world.

You should still be able to speak your mind, especially with family.

The older generation's thinking might be different but not always tone deaf. Conversations help us all grow.

9 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

....

Collingwood seem to keep finding themselves on the right side of the story of late.

All you have to know 😉

Extremely impressed with the leadership that Nicks has shown over this, particularly the statement about Rankine not being the 'victim' in this. While it's not directly apples and oranges, this is the absolute antithesis of the way Collingwood (especially McGuire) often react in these situations (see - the Goodes racism controversy).

A great write up and read is available here: Izak Rankine 'not the victim', Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks says

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by BLWNBA

Growing up in 90’s and 00’s, this word, along with ‘gay’ as a pejorative were common. So much rap and hip hop music dropped these words so casually - and even shows like South Park. This is the world that young men like Rankine grew up in. Thankfully, it’s changing (although, speaking to my 14 year old nephew, not as much as I expected). Possibly, the AFL environment is too much like an extension of high school.

This is not to excuse Rankine, as he should know better. The AFL, which is in a strong position to influence change - particularly in young men - is right to take a strong stance against this language. However, I do feel this offence is a rung below incidents where a player is specifically targeted because of their race or sexuality - I appreciate others here would not agree.

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by wisedog

I’ve often wondered whether the AFL should introduce a policy where finals sanctions could be commuted to the home and away season. Perhaps usual suspensions would attract a X3 loading so the Crows would need to decide whether it was better to lose Rankine for 4 finals games or 12 home and away games. This could only apply to players who were contracted for the next season - and in extreme cases where suspensions were originally 7+ weeks, it also should not apply.

14 minutes ago, wisedog said:

Growing up in 90’s and 00’s, this word, along with ‘gay’ as a pejorative were common. So much rap and hip hop music dropped these words so casually - and even shows like South Park. This is the world that young men like Rankine grew up in. Thankfully, it’s changing (although, speaking to my 14 year old nephew, not as much as I expected). Possibly, the AFL environment is too much like an extension of high school.

This is not to excuse Rankine, as he should know better. The AFL, which is in a strong position to influence change - particularly in young men - is right to take a strong stance against this language. However, I do feel this offence is a rung below incidents where a player is specifically targeted because of their race or sexuality - I appreciate others here would not agree.

Society changes generationally and is constantly evolving. I'm no saint here, i used to say this word back in the day, I no longer do.

As you said it was commonplace - music and and movies (eg that scene from The Hangover (2009)). You can't really look back at the 90s and 00s with today's eyes.

In the early to mid-2010s, there was a shift. Some dismiss it as ‘PC police’ or ‘wokeness,’ but in reality it really is just society growing and being more aware/understanding

26 minutes ago, wisedog said:

I’ve often wondered whether the AFL should introduce a policy where finals sanctions could be commuted to the home and away season. Perhaps usual suspensions would attract a X3 loading so the Crows would need to decide whether it was better to lose Rankine for 4 finals games or 12 home and away games. This could only apply to players who were contracted for the next season - and in extreme cases where suspensions were originally 7+ weeks, it also should not apply.

And what if it was a veteran player? He's "gifted" 4 weeks, plays so well that forever after the fans know he was an essential cog in their premiership win BUT now he can give the AFL the bird and laugh himself to sleep for years after! Basically he's escaped any punishment, won his flag and retired as he had always planned.

15 minutes ago, roy11 said:

In the early to mid-2010s, there was a shift. Some dismiss it as ‘PC police’ or ‘wokeness,’ but in reality it really is just society growing and being more aware/understanding

Yes. And created a virtuous circle.

Abuse lessened and gay people became more comfortable being themselves in public. That meant people who had once seen gay people as an abstraction - some unknowable entity to which they could apply any monstrous attribute they wanted - were now finding out they were in fact next door neighbours, friends, cousins, aunties, brothers and sisters... people they liked and loved.

The change might have seemed like political correctness inititally. But I dont think you could have got such a resoundingly positive response to the same sex marriage plebiscite if we hadn't got to the point where those who might once have embraced bigotry now realised their former ideas were baseless and silly. That, insofar as another person's sexuality was any of their business, it had absolutely nothing to do with their value as a human.

Its assumed by most the AFL has educated players on this isdue and specifically that using the word or similiar will result in 4-5 weeks suspension. Lets see if there is a journo brave enough to investigate if thats true. We will know the truth when and if the AFL introduces new gay education workshops.

Hope the same applies to education around weak b....... and other slurs.

2 hours ago, wisedog said:

Growing up in 90’s and 00’s, this word, along with ‘gay’ as a pejorative were common. So much rap and hip hop music dropped these words so casually - and even shows like South Park. This is the world that young men like Rankine grew up in.

Rankine didn’t start high school until 2012.

No excuse. None.

I’ve never seen so many falling over themselves to excuse AN OPPOSITION PLAYER WHO VERBALLY ABUSED SOMEONE AT WORK as I have this week on here.

Honestly, it’s starting to get weird. He did a really dumb thing, that is inexcusable. He has nothing to do with our club, so Red and Blue glasses aren’t even an excuse.

Let’s stop trying to excuse the person in the wrong shall we.

6 minutes ago, 48 Year Now said:

Its assumed by most the AFL has educated players on this isdue and specifically that using the word or similiar will result in 4-5 weeks suspension. Lets see if there is a journo brave enough to investigate if thats true. We will know the truth when and if the AFL introduces new gay education workshops.

I’d suggest handing out 6 suspensions in 16 months at an average of 5 games is enough of an education.

Do we need to hold everyone’s hand until they understand? No. This has never been appropriate. Rub them out. Keep doing it until the problem goes away. Thats the education, and the solution.

3 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

I’d suggest handing out 6 suspensions in 16 months at an average of 5 games is enough of an education.

Do we need to hold everyone’s hand until they understand? No. This has never been appropriate. Rub them out. Keep doing it until the problem goes away. Thats the education, and the solution.

And that works. No.

And you miss the point of what i said.

3 minutes ago, 48 Year Now said:

And that works. No.

And you miss the point of what i said.

Was your point that you think we need to have workshops to educate people not to use a slur from the 19th century to denigrate gay people? THEY KNOW.

Stop trying to tie yourself in knots to make this about anything but what it is.

14 hours ago, 48 Year Now said:

Sorry to hear your story but surely that is a personal situation that has nothing to do with Rankine calling a non gay person a gay slur. Last week i heard a player tell another he was going to f........ kill him. Where will this all end. How do you think family members of murder victims woukd feel hearing that.

It has EVERYTHING to do with the Rankine ignorance.

27 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

Was your point that you think we need to have workshops to educate people not to use a slur from the 19th century to denigrate gay people? THEY KNOW.

Stop trying to tie yourself in knots to make this about anything but what it is.

Yes we do need workshops. Wait and see the AFL introduce more next year.

You are living im a parallel universe.

Do people know its wrong to assault, home invade, rape, stab , murder , drive stolen cars and kill people.

Yes, yes to all those.

14 hours ago, 48 Year Now said:

Sorry to hear your story but surely that is a personal situation that has nothing to do with Rankine calling a non gay person a gay slur. Last week i heard a player tell another he was going to f........ kill him. Where will this all end. How do you think family members of murder victims woukd feel hearing that.

Sorry, I’m not one to get involved in controversy on the web with people I don’t know. But, when you question where it will all end, hopefully it ends with getting rid of these homophobic slurs—regardless of who they are being made to. That kind of language and is appalling—particularly because it is historically one of the most derogatory slurs made at gay men in particular. The impact of the word doesn’t just stop because it’s aimed at someone that is heterosexual. It reinforces a culture where LGBTIQ+ people feel demeaned, unsafe, or othered.

Also, consideration to young people (actually all people) that language like that is ok. I highly doubt that there are zero gay players in the AFL—but why would they ever be public with it when this is the culture.

And playing footy is Rankine’s job. If I walked around my workplace making homophobic slurs in “the heat of the moment”, I’d still be in a ton of trouble. I’m not young and remember when this type of language was used regularly and I also remember the impact it had on people. I graduated high school in 1986 and I would have said that I didn’t know a single person who was not heterosexual. Turns out, my best friend from high school—and still to this day, is a Lesbian and she’s married to a woman and have 2 beautiful children. There were plenty of LGBTIQ+ kids I went to school with or hung out with—but admitting that would have made their lives 100x harder.

So, that’s why I feel even just saying things like that need to be addressed. We are better than that. And language is the start. I know you said that after mentioning another player telling someone they’ll kill them is also not acceptable. Families of murder victims won’t want to hear that as you said. But as a person who has family members who are not heterosexual and lots of friends as well, I feel disgusted and worried when I hear language like this being used.