Is there a cancer that has eroded our once great club? Or was the selfish footballer who played for himself first always going to become more prevalent as we moved into the age of the professional footballer? This is the question I have been pondering lately.
I have been thinking about this and wondering whether we, as supporters of the RFC expect too much from players in this day and age?
I won’t go into the history of the Richmond Footy club, or try to pretend that I have any great insights into what went wrong specifically for our club. What I will do is recount a story I was told last weekend. This story is about the culture of one particular Rugby League Club. I won’t name the club or players involved for privacy reasons but I wonder if this is typical of the way “club culture” is going at AFL clubs.
My sister has recently started dating a “junior” player at a Rugby League club, and along with a few other people, we spent the long weekend down the coast. Over a few beers and a number of ciggies (I was surprised to learn he has a pack a day smoker) he opened up and let us know what some of his thoughts on the matter were.
I asked him about the whole issue of “club culture” and how exciting it must be to play for a club with tradition. His response took me by surprise, but I wonder if it is reflective of how many AFL players also feel. He said that from what he could see tradition was dead. He felt more pride playing for his local junior football team.
The story he recounted for me was from a mid week training session last season, when the team had a session with an expert in building relationships/Team bonding etc.
In a frank an open discussion, this is apparently what a two of the players said when asked a question along the lines of why they play the game and what motivates them.
Player 1: I play the game because I love it. I don’t care who I play for, I just love playing the game (senior player who has represented New Zealand).
Player 2: It’s a business, I know I am lucky to have this as a job, however I treat it like I would any other job. I will be loyal to my employer and team mates while I am here, but if a better opportunity comes up i.e. more money, I will leave. This player signed with another club at seasons end (Senior Player who has played Origin Football and for Australia).
What these and other players said, left my friend and his young team mates under no illusions that in professional sport these days (at this club anyway), you have to treat it like a business and look after number one.
So what’s the answer? Is it really just a business for most players these days? Is it unreasonable for us to expect players to bleed for the club? Are we surprised that there are stories of players “playing for themselves” and ignoring team instructions?
As a supporter I would bleed for my club.
If I was a footballer however, a bloke trying to earn a living and support his family would I put my head over the ball and risk serious injury? Or would I play outside mid, loose man in defence etc and try to pick up some cheap stats. Of course I want to win a premiership. But is my desire to try and keep my spot on the list for next season thwarting this goal?
Maybe the answer is that our football needs to start running the club more like a business if we are going to reach premership glory again.
I have been thinking about this and wondering whether we, as supporters of the RFC expect too much from players in this day and age?
I won’t go into the history of the Richmond Footy club, or try to pretend that I have any great insights into what went wrong specifically for our club. What I will do is recount a story I was told last weekend. This story is about the culture of one particular Rugby League Club. I won’t name the club or players involved for privacy reasons but I wonder if this is typical of the way “club culture” is going at AFL clubs.
My sister has recently started dating a “junior” player at a Rugby League club, and along with a few other people, we spent the long weekend down the coast. Over a few beers and a number of ciggies (I was surprised to learn he has a pack a day smoker) he opened up and let us know what some of his thoughts on the matter were.
I asked him about the whole issue of “club culture” and how exciting it must be to play for a club with tradition. His response took me by surprise, but I wonder if it is reflective of how many AFL players also feel. He said that from what he could see tradition was dead. He felt more pride playing for his local junior football team.
The story he recounted for me was from a mid week training session last season, when the team had a session with an expert in building relationships/Team bonding etc.
In a frank an open discussion, this is apparently what a two of the players said when asked a question along the lines of why they play the game and what motivates them.
Player 1: I play the game because I love it. I don’t care who I play for, I just love playing the game (senior player who has represented New Zealand).
Player 2: It’s a business, I know I am lucky to have this as a job, however I treat it like I would any other job. I will be loyal to my employer and team mates while I am here, but if a better opportunity comes up i.e. more money, I will leave. This player signed with another club at seasons end (Senior Player who has played Origin Football and for Australia).
What these and other players said, left my friend and his young team mates under no illusions that in professional sport these days (at this club anyway), you have to treat it like a business and look after number one.
So what’s the answer? Is it really just a business for most players these days? Is it unreasonable for us to expect players to bleed for the club? Are we surprised that there are stories of players “playing for themselves” and ignoring team instructions?
As a supporter I would bleed for my club.
If I was a footballer however, a bloke trying to earn a living and support his family would I put my head over the ball and risk serious injury? Or would I play outside mid, loose man in defence etc and try to pick up some cheap stats. Of course I want to win a premiership. But is my desire to try and keep my spot on the list for next season thwarting this goal?
Maybe the answer is that our football needs to start running the club more like a business if we are going to reach premership glory again.
