A new low in role model stakes

Here at AussieRulesBlog Central, we thought the status of the words role model had been brought just about as low as was possible, but we reckoned without the charm of Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse.

 

Frankly, what Malthouse or assistant coach Paul Licuria may or may not have said to Saint, Steven Milne — and whatever Milne may have said to them — are merely indications of relatively tiny cerebral cortexes. It’s called sledging and we Aussies are supposed to be world champions at it, although the reported exchanges are hardly championship material.

 

For many years, the principle that “what happens on the field stays on the field” has provided a curtain for sledging and all manner of less-savoury actions. Participants in AFL matches in 2010 can not credibly claim ignorance of a multitude of high-resolution cameras examining their every action. What happens on the field is now public property, for good or ill.

 

The simple fact is that Malthouse and Licuria have no place having contact of any sort with an opposition player. The principle is well-established and Malthouse has been around the game long enough to know it.

 

We have an old-school belief that the more senior people in an organisation provide a lead for the rest. The team captain sets a benchmark and we expect the playing group to aspire to meet that benchmark. Similarly, we expect coaches to provide a model for those they are teaching to aspire to, not to mention the thousands of club supporters who might legitimately look to them to provide a model for their behaviour.

 

Malthouse, it appears, has lied. After the game, when it must have been clear to him that he had been caught on camera interacting with Milne, he denied speaking to anyone other than his own players. Come Monday morning, he’s offering apologies.

 

If there was any wonder at the time why Heath Shaw and Alan Didak were economical with the truth after their traffic brouhaha, there can be little now.