I feel for the guy but I can't cop the unfair scrutiny angle.
The difference between being a 800k per season footballer for Collingwood and a 50k suburban footballer is mostly about the increase in public interest.
Media scrutiny of all aspects of your life, public recognition and interest in you and an expectation of a higher standard of behaviour and influence are the price you pay for that money.
If you invite pubic scrutiny by exhibiting yourself on social media, or allowing those close to you to do so, then you can't really complain when it comes.
Yep.
For this particular incident it seems a bit of overkill. However, they (the players) are schooled in this - lectured - instructed - call it what you like that as an AFL player you will be under constant scrutiny. In his case he is also very well paid, well enough paid to afford the very best legal defence on offer in the old US of A only months ago. His problem is he is a recidivist. He has multiple times transgressed in different ways. Be it riding a motor bike with no licence and helmet (rules don’t apply) to throwing Buckley under the bus with the dog bit my hand excuse when he had punched someone in a pub.
He came out all guns blazing in his first response. He then said it was all about his ADHD that was only diagnosed late last year. This may have been news to the Club. May not. I dunno. A lot of ADHD adults have come out not happy that they have been tarred with the DeGoey brush.
Then he doesn’t make it to training with the rest of his team. It was all a bit vague why he wasn’t there. Then we have the carefully scripted statement that was quite a bit different to his first salvo. Whately was interesting in his comments that Jordy has removed the people that challenge him - I.e tell him no or to pull his head in. He flicked his Manager who may have been the person to do that and replaced him with a family member.
Was Ben Simmons always an a class ahole? Or did he become one by being constantly feted as a big name basketballer in a Country that over celebrates celebrity. Maybe DeGoey has fallen into that trap. Overall he has been a problem child for Collingwood for a long time and there have been plenty of “I’ll get better”and “I am a work in progress” and “i am remorseful” already. Bit of cry wolf there cos nothing seems to be changing.
Then he doesn’t front today to the Club. Now has taken indefinite personal leave?
One way or the other, this should be a massive lesson for current and future players.
On his money, if he was employed in business, he would be in a senior position and probably a prominent role. Big companies turf employees for various unacceptable behaviours from low levels up to CEO. I think he would be vulnerable if he worked there on his behaviours to date.
Collingwood have withdrawn the 4 year deal offer and it’s probably a bargaining chip to drop his pay. It’s not as if he has been terminated.At the moment he has withdrawn from fulfilling his end of the salary bargain for his reasons.
Be interesting to see how this plays out. He may end up at another Club. He might still be at the pies in 5 years time.