Footy Chicks - The Movie

I finally got around to watching the documentary Footy Chicks, which lifts the lid on the sexual gamesmanship between professional footballers and their groupies.

Women love watching football. But some footy chicks have more on their mind than just the game. Off the field their goal is to get up close and personal with the players. The possibility of sex with a football player is a fantasy for many women and a reality for some. Footy Chicks explores the scene off the footy field - a colourful world of players and the women who pursue them.

I found this a profoundly disconcerting yet unsatisfying film, telling some of the stories of a few different footy chicks without really putting it into a wider social or psychological context. In particular, there was no contrast with sexual gamesmanship outside of the football world: What makes this warrant a documentary? Nor was there any examination of the interaction between these two worlds: How does the footballer/groupie scene influence wider society? Still, I guess it's not a scholarly undertaking but an entertaining attempt to give outsiders a view into what goes on and (to a degree) the rationalisation of the men and women involved.


Some of the women from Footy Chicks
Source: SBS

It's worth noting that the film is almost entirely devoted to rugby in its various forms (League and Union). I'd guess AFL-specific content at less than 10%. That said, I'm sure the rugby and Aussie Rules worlds are not so dissimilar that the scenarios aren't comparable.

Initially, the bravado of the women getting ready for a night of hunting down footballers was compelling and engaging. But then it sort of turned sour when we saw where it could - and often does - end up with the stories of group sex, attempted and actual rapes, demeaning and dehumanising behaviour, team bonding and sexual conquest. While some stories recounted suggest empowered and sexually confident women, others paint a picture of debasement, exploitation and self-subjugation that I found staggering. Honestly, can you still be enjoying yourself when having sex with the eleventh man? Or does being a vessel through which the team bonds carry its own special satisfaction? These are questions beyond my ken.

Interestingly, this link between group sex (in all its forms: simultaneously, sequentially and in parallel) and team-bonding was drawn out in some analytic detail. While the Footy Chicks shared some anecdotes, it wasn't clear how they saw it and their role in it. That said, one woman relayed that her girlfriend during one session was upset at being "the pig on a spit". Other women recognise that they're "just pussies" to the men, who don't care at all what they look like yet alone who they are. I'm not sure if this awareness is a good thing or not.

Suprisingly for me, the worst stereotypes are confirmed. The women involved in the active (in many cases exclusive) pursuit of players are young and fairly attractive, but we won't be seeing them on the cover of Ralph or Zoo. Pointedly, the one cheerleader interviewed (who could be in those publications) was wary of footballers as partners on the grounds that they're stuck up and prone to cheating. The Footy Chicks are primarily motivated by the physicality of the footballers, in particular their height. And their social status and, well, achievability.

Certainly, sex is the big driver. One woman had a collection of photos of naked players on her phone as trophies. She also pointed out the footballers she'd had "Ronnie" (her slang for sex) with and rated their competence. Yet in fantasising about players, this same Footy Chick talks about having her hair noticed, being picked up, getting married and making baby footballers. This somewhat infantile remark seemed at odds with the rest of her actions and attitudes. Is that deep down what she really wants or even expects? More realistic motivations (ascribed to others) are limited to bragging rights amongst other groupies and "tickets to the Brownlows". While some of the women some talked of being "elevated" to the realm of girlfriends or even wives, comments from the men indicated that in their minds there is a clear distinction between "girlfriend material" and, well, the others.

This tension - get noticed, get known, but don't get labelled a slut - wasn't really teased out, but would have made for some interesting analysis. In particular, interviews with women who "made it" as players' girlfriends and wives asking how they dealt with that tension and the widespread infidelity would have added emotional depth to the film. Is there a bargain? How is struck? How is it monitored and enforced? Perhaps these are topics for a follow-up documentary.

If you're at all interested in the sexual politics of Australian footy, this is a must-see doco. It's not for the squeamish and, while it didn't drive to the misanthropic despair it seemed to inflict on Speccy regular Ben Wallace, the ugliness and baseness with which people can treat each other certainly left a nasty taste in my mouth.

Trailer on Fairfax

Web Chat on SBS

*** UPDATE ***
Please be advised that this disturbing documentary is re-screening on SBS this Friday, 1st of June, at 10pm. Anyone with a strong stomach and an interest in footballer behaviour should check out this insiders' account of sexploitation and predation.

Word Count: 929

Tags: footy, rape, culture, sleaze

Roundup: Gambling, Newman and Footy Chicks

As a prelude to tomorrow's Grand Final, I thought I'd do a quick round-up of a few outstanding matters. First, I heard back from Victorian Gaming Minister John Pandazopoulos about my proposal for betting on AFL player court appearances. There's also closure for Sam Newman's public indecency and a heads-up on an SBS documentary airing tonight (Friday, 29/9/06).

The Victorian gaming industry has a tireless champion in John "Panda" Pandazopoulos - no-one has done more to advance the interests of gaming shareholders than Mr Pokies. It's quite strange, therefore, that Panda wouldn't get behind my proposal to let people wager on the club that will next see a player appear in court. His stated reasons were:

The integrity of sporting competitions upon which wagers are made is vital for public confidence and is an issue which is taken very seriously by the Victorian Government. A betting competition such as the one suggested by you may be considered contrary to the public interest and may compromise the integrity of sports betting as the outcome is relatively easy to manipulate. (Ministerial Correspondence, 22/9/2006)

NB: My emphasis added. As I read this, Panda's saying that he regards it as too easy to manipulate the AFL players' appearances in court. This is profoundly disturbing for two reasons. Firstly, it suggests that lacks confidence in the integrity of people making decisions about whether or not players appear in court. As I understand it, this is the police sergeants who charge people (for most matters) and the government lawyers at the Department of Public Prosecutions (for very serious matters). What does he know about corruption in these organs of state that the rest of us don't?

Faced with an apparent lack of faith in the people deciding whether to charge AFL players, you'd think he might talk to his Cabinet colleagues about some sort of inquiry. Maybe even referring specific instances to the Office of Police Integrity. But no - and here's my second concern - he's instead worried about how this might impact on the "integrity of sports betting"! Get that? His reaction to the easy "manipulation" of the decision-making processes underpinning our law is to fret about the impact on gamblers. What about the rest of us? If police or prosecutors are easily manipulated in who they present to the courts, surely there are wider issues than a few betting agencies. Jeez, talk about a captured minister ...

---

Elderly footy commentator Sam Newman was slapped with a piece of wet paper by the toothless Australian Communications and Media Authority:

On May 6 on Triple M's Saturday Football program, the 60-year-old responded to criticism by asking an unidentified caller if they were at the game that day. "Yes I was," the caller said, to which Newman responded: "You're a f---wit."

[ACMA] found the program "did not meet contemporary standards of decency". Triple M suspended Newman from the program and has made the former Geelong star undergo retraining ... no further action will be taken. (The Age, 29/9/2006)

Just last year Triple M tried to rein in The Coot - apparently without success. What form does the retraining take, I wonder? Whatever they used last time obviously didn't take. Maybe the AFL has the right idea in lambasting the standards of footy commentary after all.

While the onset of Newman's "grumpy old man disorder" undermines respect for elders, it certainly helps promote early retirement. Not to mention legalised euthanasia.

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Tonight sees the first free-to-air broadcasting of the controversial documentary Footy Chicks. With a limited theatrical release earlier in the year, this will be the first chance for many of us to see this harrowing account of what happens in the bars, toilets and hotel rooms after the match. From the seedy to the depressing, it's sure to be an eye-opener. Set your VCRs (or DVRs) to SBS, 10pm tonight (Friday 29th of September). My write-up to follow shortly.

Word Count: 668

Tags: footy, gambling, media, rape, sleaze

Warning: Elevated Risks From "Mad Monday"

*** WARNING ***
Please be advised that Monday the 4th of September is "Mad Monday". This is an extremely dangerous time to be near footballers, so all Melburnians are advised to take necessary precautions.

Background

"Mad Monday" is the first Monday after the conclusion of regular AFL matches (or the "home and away" season). This means that eight out of the 16 teams are out of the competition and so can finally indulge in all manner of pent up vices. Expect roughly 300 disappointed and angry footballers to be cutting loose on the town from this date, relieving a five month backlog of aggro and excess.

Threats

You can expect hundreds of large, frustrated and psychologically-damaged men to be roaming the streets in groups. Many will be aggressive and drunk. Owing to their reduced alcohol tolerance, you should expect several to be out of control, with some looking to get into fights. Others may well be drug-affected. If you're lucky, they'll just be on ecstasy or marijuana. The worst-case scenario is an encounter with footballers who have taken crystal meth and cocaine. Disturbingly, we've had reports of attempts by footballers to use so-called "date rape" drugs like rohypnol. Do not accept drinks from players, and do not leave your drink unattended.

We've had specific intelligence from former player (and commentator) Dermot Brereton about the nature of "Mad Monday" celebrations:

Brereton, who starred for Hawthorn in the 1980s and still has close contact with players through his commentator duties, said drug-taking was said to be preferred to alcohol in post-season celebrations.

"We heard rumours that somebody turned up to one of those mad Mondays and there wasn't a beer in sight ... (The Australian, 31/3/05, reported in The Speccy)

Please be advised that the salubrious nature of "Mad Monday" can corrupt even upstanding captains of industry, with some easily swept up in the surge of debauchery:



Eddie McGuire Led Astray During "Mad Monday" 2005
Source: After Grog Blog

Mitigation

We've elevated the AFL Footballer Threat Index to Condition Red (the highest threat level). You should avoid venues likely to attract footballers and leave if they appear:

• Football club rooms


• Any pub with football paraphernalia


• Known drug-dealing precincts


• Expensive restaurants (that lack a dress code)


• Year 10 formals (private girls' schools only)

If you see a footballer, secure your own safety and immediately visit the AFL Misbehaviour Market to place your bets on whether or not that player will be appearing next in court. If the player is passed out in the gutter and about to swallow his tongue or drown in his own vomit, do not approach him. Instead, you should consider short-selling his stock.

Lastly, if you have not already done so, you should visit The Speccy Shop, where (subject to your local laws), you can pick up some products that could save your life, including our popular line of stun guns, pepper spray, drink spike detectors and first aid kits. These products - and many others in our extensive catalogue - have been carefully selected to offer you maximum protection against footballer attack. (Or recovery from an attack, in the case of the DNA kits and STD Self-Diagnosis Handbook.)

Please, people, play it safe. If you know of any places where footballers congregate - especially pub, clubs and bars - please provide a tip-off in the comments below to help out your fellow citizens.

Acting together, we can get through this dangerous ordeal without further injuries.

Word Count: 604

Tags: footy, bashing, drugs, rape, sleaze, booze

Speccy Shop: Surviving The Footy Season

Here at The Speccy, we take great pride in providing factual, balanceding and potentially life-saving information to the wider community. Through our regular bulletins and world-first AFL Threat Level Indicator, we're at the forefront of football public safety. But with AFL Season 2006 creeping up on us like a lecherous boss at an office Christmas party, we believe the time has come to empower our readers.

Starting from today, you can couple the first-class analysis and key insights from The AFL Player Spectator with high-quality tools to help you protect you and your loved ones in this time of peril. We've carefully selected a range of essential equipment and knowledge to ensure you can enjoy a night out without the constant worry of attack by a pack of drug-addled predatory footy players with something to prove.

Please Note ...

These items are offered for sale by our retail partner, Amazon.com. Please check whether it is legal to import, purchase and possess these items in your local jurisdiction. The Speccy will receive a modest commission of around 5% on sales. If you'd like to contribute directly, please use the donation button found on the sidebar on the right. This catalogue is subject to change without notice and all product enquiries and transactions are to be directed to Amazon.com. If you have further suggestions for the Speccy Shop, please send 'em in. We'd be happy to help out.

Stun Gun

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Let's not mince words. Sometimes, an upfront and direct approach is required to deal with burly and aggressive footy players. We've searched the market for something that we believe will stop an AFL player in his tracks. From the product description:

Simply touching an attacker with a stun gun for three to five seconds will deliver a high voltage shock causing loss of balance and muscle control, confusion and disorientation, bringing him to his knees and making him incapable of further aggressive activity.

Yep, as a last resort, this should dissuade even the most diehard footballer from further attacks. NB: Check if this product is legal for you to have before ordering!

Pepper Spray

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Stun guns are great, but you may want to disable your assailant before he gets close enough to zap. In this case, you might want to consider pepper spray. On reading the description for this product, it seemed it was almost designed with AFL players in mind:

Because it is an inflammatory, rather than an irritant, OC is effective against all those who feel no pain such as psychotics, drunks and drug abusers. OC has proven itself to be the ABSOLUTE BEST DETERRENT available for attacking dogs and wild animal control.

This will "deter" AFL players alright! (Again, please check legality first to avoid disappointment.)

First-Aid Kit

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Despite the best planning and self-defence measures, sometimes things will go wrong. In which case, you and your friends will need to be ready for a quick patch-up while the ambulance arrives. This first-aid kit includes all the life-sustaining equipment you'll need for a big night out in Footy Town.

The cutting-edge urban bag design and "safety-first" bright orange means it will not be out of place at the rave parties and underground clubs where so many players stalk their prey. You may also wish to undertake a first-aid course and encourage your drinking buddies to do the same. You never know, the life you end up saving could be you own.

Breathalyser

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A simple breathalyser can play an important part of protecting yourself against AFL attack. A recent case in Western Australia involving Ben Cousins shows that footballers will - quite literally - run a mile when confronted with the prospect of being breathalysed.

A secondary use is to monitor the blood-alcohol levels of your friends and family when in public, as footballers can sniff out a heavily-intoxicated female - even from adjacent pubs. Note that this particular model will only measure BAC up to 0.12% - and hence is entirely useless for testing AFL players themselves.

Drug Test Kit

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Consider this list:

Marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, PCP, amphetamines, opiates and methamphetamines

No, that's not the shopping list for an AFL end of season trip. That's the range of drugs detected by this urinalysis kit. At first blush, it seems the chances of getting a footy player to wee into a cup is vanishingly small. Hell, it took months of negotiations and hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money to get them to agree to any testing all! (Not to mention all the strife the results have caused.) But here's the trick: if you're one of the many women who has been urinated on by a footballer in a pub, you can ring out your clothes into a cup for immediate testing - and legal action. Not to mention media sales. Cha-ching! This only needs to happen once and those bastards will stop pissing on pub-goers quicker than you can say "Today Tonight".

Body Armour

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This slim and attractive undergarment will protect you from a range of body blows delivered by footballers. Comfortable, durable and replete with foam padding and Lycra(TM), it is designed for demanding encounters with Rugby players. Which means that the comparatively small and girlie-armed AFL footballers have no chance of getting through this bad boy. Further, the appearance of your beefed-up physique will frighten away all but the most drunken of footballers. You may wish to consider complementing this item with other padding and personal protection wear, given that your lower limbs, head and genitals are now dangerously exposed.

Rape Prevention Book

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Sadly, despite all efforts to the contrary, footballers will continue to rape. In an ideal world, women should not have to bear the burden of stopping these awful attacks. But, due to widespread misogynistic attitudes, women are forced to step up and take control for their own safety. They say that being forewarned is being forearmed. And speaking of being forearmed, that's just one of the techniques you'll learn in this thoughtful guide to rape prevention.

This program demonstrates specific techniques that women of all ages can use to protect themselves from a rapist and to stop a rape if in progress. The techniques have been proven to work.

Drink Spike Testers

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We've seen how some AFL players think it's amusing to spike women's drinks - even the wives of their supposed mates! It's distressing to think that footballers are passing around so-called date rape drugs like Rohypnol in order to rape incapacitated women. Common sense suggests you should never accept a drink from a footballer, or leave it unattended. However, for those occasions when it's impossible to avoid, you should consider these Drink Spike Detectors.

A personal test strip designed to detect the possible presence of illicit "Date Rape" drugs in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

These little strips could save you or a friend from ending up playing a starring role in the bizarre sexual initiation rites of an AFL team.

Night Vision Scope

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It's no secret that most AFL attacks occur after dark. While our city officials do what they can do install safe lighting in our urban areas, there are still plenty of dark alleys, parks and other nooks. With this handy and easy-to-use Night Vision Scope, you'll be able to see them coming:

Its hand-cradle gives you easy, comfortable yet secure one-handed operational use. This monocular is extremely versatile and incorporates a powerful built-in infrared illuminator and a tripod mount into a lightweight and compact body.

STD Self-Diagnosis

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If you have any sexual contact with a footballer - either consensual or forced - you should consider using this book. It's probably worth a look even if you just availed yourself of a toilet in a pub or club frequented by footballers.

From the author's world renown collection of clinical photographs comes this unprecedented collage of full color views of common and uncommon sexually transmitted diseases. An invaluable tool for differential diagnosis of STDs, the atlas features one to two color photograph for each disorder and accompanies those with the salient points of epidemiology, clinical signs, physical exam, diagnosis and management.

Just the ticket for that mysterious post-encounter rash or sticky discharge. Please note: you should always seek medical and legal advice after a sexual encounter with an AFL player.

DNA Testing Kit

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Unfortunately, you can't rely on AFL players to be wearing their numbered guernseys when they bash or rape. Identifying them after the attack can be difficult, especially if it's dark, there's more than one, and alcohol is involved (as is often the case). That's where DNA profiling can be an absolute godsend. The AFL Players' union hates the idea of their members being DNA profiled ... with technology like this, we can understand why! We recommend using this kit to immediately collect any semen, blood or hair the attackers have left behind.

This kit offers a safe, easy-to-use and detailed way to take and store your own DNA sample. Each pack includes a DNA storage kit, DNA profile request pack and detailed instructions. seal it up in the airtight self-sealing pouch to stabilize your DNA and prevent other agents from destroying or corrupting it. Want more detailed information? Take a second swab and send it in for analysis. Your unique DNA code and image will be sent to you within 45 days. Analysis of second swab requires an additional fee.

Again, you should contact police immediately before, during or after an assault has taken police. They have experts who can collect this kind of evidence far better than amateurs. But sadly, we cannot always trust the police to investigate such matters properly and rape evidence has been known to mysteriously disappear while in police hands. Think of this as a backup measure in case of police failure.

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We'll be adding to the catalogue as items become available and are drawn to our attention. Thank you for shopping with The Speccy!

Word Count: 1918

Tags: footy, bashing, rape, booze, sleaze, drugs

Our Police With (AFL) Stars in Their Eyes

As the dust settles on another weekend in Footy Town, we take stock of the footballer rapes and assaults - and the response of those charged with bringing them to justice. Sadly, this weekend has seen yet more allegations surface of AFL player violence against women: a nightclub assault and a gang rape.

Yes, that's right, more raping. When you remember that only around a quarter of rapes are reported, yet scarcely a month goes by without a footy rape or attempted rape allegations coming to light, it's probably fair to say that most weekends see an AFL player raping someone somewhere. (Please, for safety's sake, keep that in mind when you're out on the town.)

What makes this case remarkable is the reaction of the boys in blue. But first, the most serious allegations: it seems that at least two (unnamed) Western Bulldogs "forced themselves" on to a woman "at an apartment" after meeting her at a bar. It's a depressingly familiar account.

As the Herald-Sun reports, the normal course of events when something like this happens is for specialist police to step in and look out for the interests of the victim. But in this case, Sexual Offence and Child Abuse officers claim that the usual protocol was abandoned, they were "bulldozed" by police from the Sexual Assualt squad and "prevented from carrying out their role":

SOCA's role is to care for victims, build up a rapport and eventually take a statement.

In this case they were pressured to speed up the process, sources told the Herald Sun.

"SOCA said she wanted to take some time. There was some reluctance," a police source said.

"But they (the sex crimes squad) said `No, we need something now. Get it now'.

"SOCA was forced to take a handwritten statement in the hospital.

"The done thing is that the victim is looked after first. If she doesn't want to make a statement there and then you don't do it.

"But the sex crimes squad wanted a signed statement straight away. They wanted to get something in black and white, before knocking on doors.

"SOCA are not happy. They certainly have in a formal way expressed their unhappiness in the way it was handled.

"In this matter protocol was not followed. The victim's interests were not looked after, which is paramount." (Herald-Sun, 6/12/05)

The demand from the Sexual Assault squad to get a statement from the victim whilst she was recuperating in hospital has resulted in an official complaint being made against them by members of SOCA. Why on earth would detectives undermine an investigation like this? Apparently, "some members of the sex crimes squad stepped in when they heard footballers were involved."

Okay. I have to be very careful in what I say, but it's clear that:

• The investigation of a very serious crime took a different course than it normally would just because the alleged rapists were AFL players.


• The nature of this intervention has upset at least some sworn police officers.


• Some professional investigators believe that the effect of this intervention was not in the interests of the victim and may undermine or prejudice any subsequent legal action.

If someone were to suggest that heavies from the sex crime squad are spoiling investigations into AFL players - giving them carte blanche to rape - we'd dismiss such nonsense out of hand. Sure, statistically-speaking AFL players probably see more of the rape squad than, say, librarians. And it's natural that a "rapport" would build up from frequent contact. But doesn't it seem like a long bow to draw that some police are hampering the proper investigation of crimes?

The top brass has made statements about trusting cops to investigate AFL players after the shocking scandal of Heath Culpitt's botched rape investigation, when Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland was forced to concede publicly:

that he could not discount the possibility that some officers "wouldn't be intimidated or wouldn't have other reasons for perhaps not pursuing allegations against high-profile people as vigorously as they might". (The Age, 10/02/05)

And let's not forget that our police have established a very cosy relationship with AFL players. For example, who can forget Sav Rocca being chauffer-driven to work by awe-struck police? Not to mention the lenient use of police discretion by small-town cops from Geelong dealing with local footy heroes.

The AFL's attempt at reining in the worst and most public abuses of AFL player privilege by sacking sex offenders merely ups the stakes: the investigating officers will be acutely aware that treating footballers as they would any other citizen could mean they'll be benching their favourite player, or spoiling their team's chances in the big match.

In light of these apalling lapses of judgement, botched investigations, loss of confidence in detectives by senior cops and conflicts of interest, the public has good reason to doubt the ability of police to fairly and impartially investigate complaints against footy players.

So consider the plight of the woman who was allegedly struck by Dancing With The Stars favourite (and Collingwood mid-fielder) Brodie Holland out the front of Billboard nightclub on the weekend: Why should she trust our cops to do their job properly in conducting the assault investigation?

Until police demonstrate that they can be trusted to investigate allegations against AFL players without bias - that they won't ride roughshod over established policing practices, that evidence won't "just disappear", that special favours and a wink-wink culture doesn't prevail - please, please, tell your female friends and relatives: don't pick up footy players. Don't let them buy you drinks. Don't flirt with them.

Just walk away.

Citations: Herald-Sun, 6/12/05; The Age, 10/02/05

Word Count: 963

Tags: footy, bashing, rape, court

AFL Players Raping with Drugs

I was hoping to take a break from logging the sordid underbelly of AFL footy. Sadly, a number of very serious allegations have been made this week that cannot pass without comment.

They both center around the use of drugs by some AFL players to disable (and in one case) rape women. Both incidents allegedly occurred last month, during the finals season. This is a period that automatically gets a "red light" owing to the large numbers of players cutting loose. In this incident, a young woman picked up an AFL player:

She is believed to have claimed she met the player on a night out with friends at an inner-suburban Melbourne bar.

It was there she said she met the Melbourne-based footballer and spent time with him.

She has claimed her drink was spiked during the evening.

...

The woman, in her early 20s, is believed to have claimed the footballer twice had sex without her consent while she was incapacitated by drugs.

She has been receiving counselling over the alleged incident. (The Herald-Sun, 25/10/05)

I'll follow the advice of The Hun's defamation lawyers and not name the player, venue or complainant (and please, comments doing the same will be deleted!).

The second incident allegedly involved Nick Steven's wife at a post-Brownlow boozer at Crown Casino (the site of the infamous Heath Culpitt missing-rape-evidence scandal). She was targeted for drink-spiking by an AFL player:

CARLTON star Nick Stevens's girlfriend is believed to have had her drink spiked at a post-Brownlow Medal party at Crown casino.

Doctors believe the date-rape drug Rohypnol was involved.

The drug was allegedly slipped into her drink as the couple celebrated with other AFL stars at the Crown Promenade Hotel on September 19.

...

Rohypnol causes unconsciousness and memory loss, leaving victims vulnerable to sexual assault.(The Herald-Sun, 26/10/05)

(Personally, I do not like the term "date rape". It seems to suggest a hierarchy of rape. Rape is rape, regardless of the social situation it takes place in: on a date, walking home from work, sitting at home watching telly etc)

While it's possible the drink-spiker could have been an AFL official or coach, this seems doubtful to me. It looks like we have a culture of AFL players spiking young women's drinks - either with Rohypnol or other illegal drugs - in order to rape them. For all the much-vaunted player awareness training, it seems that their internal code of conduct and footballer culture still allows - or even encourages? - individuals to engage in this most despicable behaviour.

There's one thing of which we can be certain: no AFL player is synthesising his own Rohypnol. (That's not covered in year ten science.) They're getting it from somewhere - probably the same place they're getting all their ecstacy. It would be shocking to learn that footy players are passing around amongst themselves "rape-enabling" drugs, in addition to the various other pills and powders. However, this is the kind of behaviour that can emerge when the culture says that women are sex-toys to be used and abused and that their consent is irrelevant.

The psychology of why AFL players seek to rape incapacitates women may be even more disturbing than simply a willingness to disregarding the women's wishes. These are young, fit, famous, wealthy men. I don't imagine any of them face serious difficulties in picking up. Yet this is certainly not the first allegations of rape made against AFL players; not even the first involving raping women disabled through drugs and alcohol - or even while sleeping. It's likely that in some cases the rape wasn't just a means to an end - getting a root - but also an end in itself. In other words, the (unnecessary) use of chemical incapacitation (and/or violence) adds to the sexual arousal and pleasure. Fuckin' sickos. This is not the case for normal men. Something is wrong with them.

To re-iterate: do not pick up AFL footballers. Do not flirt with them. Do not let them buy you drinks. If you feel unwell or unsteady, ask the bouncers to call you a taxi. If you can't manage that, stay in the women's toilets and get help from other women. The AFL player you just met might seem nice enough, but the risk that he is an emotionally-retarded egoist in thrall to his club's tribal customs and carrying a packet of Rohynol is just too great. Don't do it.

Citations: The Herald-Sun, 25/10/05; The Herald-Sun, 26/10/05

Word Count: 758

Tags: footy, rape, drugs

Season 2005 Wrap Up

With the AFL Grand Final finally out of the way, hordes of footy players wreaking havoc on the populace of other places with their end-of-year footy trips, and their pimps and wranglers busily scheming away in (rough) Trade Week, it's time for some quiet reflection.

You see, this blog was motivated by The AFL's annus horribilis in 2004. The investigative journalists at 4 Corners had kicked over the dried turd of professional sport and exposed the writhing worms of drugs, rape and violence that pervades the industry. How has 2005 stacked up?

It's clear that the overpaid and under-educated AFL stars continue to receive "special treatment" at the hands of the police. Even though AFL players get their own free priority taxi service, Sav Rocca got the benefit of a police chauffeur service to spirit him away from the birth of his second son. (Seen one, seen them all, I guess.) Is leaving your wife like that a sign of commitment, or warped values? Dunno - but Nick Stevens would understand, given that he ditched his brother's wedding (where he was meant to be bestman)!

In any case, the police were also clearly pussy-footing around with a very light touch approach to Geelong players in a nightclub brawl. Would anyone else get treated like this? No wonder top cop Simon Overland doubts the ability of his detectives to investigate footy players properly - even over serious allegations like rape, as we saw with the Heath Culpitt "missing evidence" scandal.

What's makes these cosy arrangements with the coppers extremely dangerous is the apparently equally cosy arrangements with the underworld. Whether it's abduction and torture by bikies (Carlton), or emergency legal advice during a gang shoot-out (West Coast) - AFL players are there, right in the thick of it. But what would 22 year-olds making half a million bucks a year want with gangstas and bikies anyway?

Drug-taking was a recurrent theme this year. Ditched player Laurence Angwin came clean about the extent of drug use within the ranks of the AFL. Naturally, officials wanted to bury this, going as far as excluding the AFL from the WADA anti-doping protocol - under pressure from the AFL players' union who wanted to Fight ... for their Right ... to P-a-a-a-r-t-a-y! (Yet they were strangely quiet about the proposal to test player DNA.) The resulting humiliating backdown by the AFL wasn't the only one for the year. After shafting songstress Sylvie Paladino in favour of Delta, the AFL backed down on that one too.

Apart from the Grand Final pre-show entertainment, the other major cultural event in footy land was the Brownlow Medal Count Extravaganza. While the tackiness and desperation were toned down a little on previous years, there was still plenty of shameless pole-climbing on display - not to mention cleavage and fake-tan! Meanwhile, that mainstay of Aussie Rules culture - the massive ego-fest over at The AFL Footy Show - continued to spew its nastiness and poisonous "humour" on the world. When will the suffering end? I guess when seeing Sam Newman drink a bottle of bourbon on stage or expose his willy or dress up in black face paint stops being amusing to AFL fans. Fat chance.

Despite the best efforts of the police, some footy players actually made it into the legal system. The bizarre gang bashing at Fed Square by young thugs Dane Swan, Kade Carey and Aaron Ramsay continues to wend its way through the courts. I believe it's at the County Court now, and look forward to hearing the outcome. I'm sure the family of the beaten guards and intimidated witnesses are too. In another incident, Richmond lost its TAC sponsorship after teenager Shulz hooned through the city at twice the speed limit while pissed as a fart. I guess he couldn't wait for his free priority taxi. And serial pest Karl Norman finally got his come-uppance for trashing his rental property. Karma kicks in eventually.

Despite this criminality, it must be said that the gang rapes appear to be down on last year. This could be due to less reporting of them, increased reluctance by police to investigate, or possibly less rapes going public due to the AFL's deeply offensive rape buy-back policy. (Under this scheme, AFL rapists are given financial penalties and the victim bought off with some cash. We saw how this works previously; perhaps the clubs have perfected it?) Or maybe - just maybe - player education and media scrutiny (like this) has actually resulted in fewer women being raped by AFL players? I think it would be rash to dismiss this possibility entirely.

So even though I've been insulted (someone even called me a journalist!) and threatened with violence I'll continue to publish and update the AFL Player Threat Index, to help people protect themselves against further rapes and bashings. I'll also continue to publish cautionary tales, like that of Gary Ablett, in the hope that people will learn from the past.

Here's hoping that 2006 is a safer season for the rest of us.

Word Count: 891

Tags: footy, spoilt_rotten, rape, bashing, drugs, court

Warning: AFL Player Threat Peaks

Please be advised that we are currently experiencing the peak danger period for AFL violence. Consequently, we are on a RED threat level. Last weekend, almost 200 professional footballers played their final match for the season. Their pre-season training is months away. Their alcohol tolerance is way down. A lot of them are angry and frustrated and looking to blow off steam. While the AFL has reluctantly agreed to extend their drug monitoring throughout the off-season, past experience and statements from players suggests that many will be taking drugs. Now is the time to be at your utmost vigilance.

To add fuel to this fire, over the coming weeks, another 40 pissed off young men are unleashed on the streets each week as their teams fail. Young men steeped in a culture of aggression, violence and domination. Awash with testosterone, booze and drugs. Looking to cut loose and "bond" with their droogs through the ritual subjugation and humiliation of women and men alike.

The threat is real. This blog has documented just some of the numerous bashings and rapes that footy players have committed in recent years. In the event that you become a victim of footy player violence, you cannot rely on anyone else to bring them to justice. The AFL and the clubs may try hush money. Senior police have admitted that investigators' incompetence in these matters can border on corruption. You have to rely on yourself and your sense of judgement.

Please, people, I can't stress this enough: do not engage with AFL players. If they even turn up at the pub or bar where you are drinking, leave immediately. If you don't feel safe, don't risk it: ask the bouncers to escort you into a waiting taxi. It's just not worth spending time in hospital, the court system or therapy because of the selfish actions of a few dickheads.

Word Count: 319

Tags: footy, bashing, rape

Botched Rape Investigation - AFL Player Walks

It seems almost unbelievable. Personally, I can't imagine anything worse than a night out at Melbourne's dodgy Crown Casino. Yet alone "partying" with the Carlton Football Club and sleeping with has-been Brad Pearce. But to wake up to find some disgusting prick raping you ... well it's just horrible beyond compare.

Well, that's what apparently happened to one poor young lady in 1999. Heath "The Culprit" Culpitt decided that, in the world of AFL football, it's one in, all in. One of his mates had picked up, so he reckoned he was in too.

Naturally, she went to the police about this crime. No behind the scenes pay-off from Culpitt's employer or "rape fees" paid from the AFL's coffers (as they propose). But this is where the story takes a breathtaking turn.

The police completely botched the investigation. The Assistant Commissioner (Simon Overland) said "We believe what she's told us but we don't have sufficient evidence to bring a case." Where is the evidence? The detectives assigned to the case ignored her calls for years, neglected to examine the crime scene, didn't interview witnesses for five years, failed to take any DNA samples and - get this - mysteriously "lost" the interview tape.

While Overland describes this as an "almost total systems failure", I would suggest this incompetence is of such a degree that we can't rule out corrupt behaviour. Are these awe-struck detectives so beholden by the bewitching spell of footy fame that they feel AFL players are entitled to a few rapes? Are they Carlton fans, perhaps? Did they ask for autographs? Do they collect stickers and bubble-gum swap cards? Were they just so excited at meeting their (22 year-old) hero that they lost all perspective? This possibility appears to have at least been entertained by the police top brass:

Mr Overland admitted that while most police were not reluctant to investigate famous people, he could not discount the possibility that some officers "wouldn't be intimidated or wouldn't have other reasons for perhaps not pursuing allegations against high-profile people as vigorously as they might". (The Age, 10/02/05)

Now, the boss is making soothing remarks about the detectives' culpability in all this, and asks us to trust the police - who showed no interest in pursuing justice in this poor woman's case - to investigate allegations against their colleagues (The Age, 14/04/05)!

To have been sexually assaulted by an AFL player must be a truly horrible experience. To be then subjected to unsympathetic, unprofessional and incompetent - or possibly even corrupt - investigators is harrowing and can only worsen the impact of the crime.

As bad as that is, we should not lose sight of the central allegation: that Heath Culpitt sexually assaulted a sleeping woman. It's telling that this crime of violence and misogyny (allegedly) happened in a group (tribal) situation just three days after Carlton lost the Grand Final. (This circumstance is an automatic "Red Light" on the AFL Player Threat Index - for this very reason.)

Please, do not pick up any suspected AFL players. Do not flirt with them or let them buy you drinks. Do not hang out with them. Do not even go near them. They are just too dangerous, and too likely to get away Scott free with whatever they want.

*** UPDATE ***The woman at the centre of this harrowing ordeal has identified herself as "Kate" and come forward with her story to the Herald-Sun, in light of the hurtful, painful remarks by chauvinist Jack Elliott:

A WOMAN who claims she was raped by a Carlton footballer has called on John Elliott to help her.

"Kate", who alleges she was raped at a party after Carlton's 1999 Grand Final loss, says the former Blues boss must tell police everything he knows.

...

"Rape is rape and I've been fighting for justice since 1999," Kate said yesterday.

"I hope Victoria Police have taken notice of Mr Elliott's statement and ask some very serious questions.

"If you know something, Mr Elliott, please come forward. If you are talking about me, please help me and do what is right."

But Mr Elliott told the Herald Sun he had no interest in helping her.

"She said what? I have no idea and I'm not interested. The story has got totally out of hand. I'm really not interested at all," he said. (Herald-Sun, 24/7/2009)

She has also written an open letter to Elliott, to which I hope he responds. He needs to man up and account for his behaviour:

Dear Mr Elliott,

I read with much interest the comments you made on Sunday regarding allegations of rape made against players of the Carlton Football Club during the time that you were president.

The Sunday Herald Sun reported that the football club had concerns one woman might be telling the truth and that she had also accepted hush money.

I assume that I am that "one woman" you were referring to, as my case was the only one to have reached the public domain.

First, can I remind you of the fact that no, I never once accepted any so-called "hush money" - and you know that.

You would also know that not once did I ask anyone for any amount of money, nor was I offered any. (Herald-Sun, 24/6/2009)

As you can see from some of the comments, Kate has been attacked by some of the hateful, clueless idiots who post here. She has even been approached by a producer from Nine's 60 Minutes, no doubt eager to sensationalise her story to diffuse their problems with their own star, Matty Johns.

At The Speccy, we're pleased that Kate's found the strength to take this to another level of exposure and wish her the best in fight for justice. It's certainly been far too long coming.

Citations: The Age, 10/02/05; The Age, 14/04/05

Word Count: 568

Tags: footy, rape, scandals

Footy Fans Against Sexual Assault

Props to the Football Fans Against Sexual Assault for their fine work in raising public awareness in this issue. They also provide a comprehensive media log of reportage about rape and other sexual crimes involving both AFL and NRL (ie rugby league) players.

Please note that we have moved to a RED threat level due to this weekend's Wizard Cup grand final. This means we can expect large numbers of drunk and possibly drug-affected footballers (and their hangers-on and wannabees) in public places. With the football season proper still some weeks away, the risks of bashings and rapes reaches its zenith.

Word Count: 104

Tags: footy, rape

Introducing ... The AFL Footballer Threat Level

In the interests of public safety, this blog is now implementing a warning system for risks from AFL players (see right). This move borrows from the US Department of Homeland Security's Advisory System, but is simplified to only three levels.

The idea is to provide people - especially young women - with an indication of the current expected relative risk of being near footballers while out on the town or socialising with friends. Since the frequency of incidents seems to vary throughout the annual football cycle, the risk level is to some degree predictable.

The different levels are explained here.

---

GREEN



Risk of bashings, rapes and other assaults from AFL footballers is lower than usual. Footballers are less likely to be encountered in popular nightspots and are less likely to be affected by drugs or alcohol. However, men and young women are still cautioned about approaching groups of footballers alone.

This condition is met during intensive training periods or when public scrutiny is exceptionally high, such as immediately following a nasty incident going public.

---

ORANGE



Risk of bashings, rapes and other assaults from AFL footballers is elevated relative to the general public. Footballers can be expected in popular nightspots and may be affected by drugs or alcohol. All men and young women are advised to avoid footballers without taking precautions such as having bouncers or guards present, or at least being monitored by fixed security cameras.

This is the typical level of risk associated with AFL players during their playing season.

---

RED



Risk of bashings, rapes and other assaults from AFL footballers is higher than usual even by player standards. Footballers are likely to be present in popular nightspots and most likely will be affected by drugs or alcohol. All men and young women are advised to avoid venues where the presence of footballers is likely and should be prepared to leave immediately any area should they arrive. Under no circumstances should you allow yourself to be alone with one.

This situation arises after teams have been knocked out of competition or when dangerous players have received suspensions or injuries that prevent them from playing. It also applies to AFL teams "on retreat" or end-of-season trips.

---

While careful not to mention the names of individuals, readers are invited to provide intelligence about pending activities to help reflect the true risk level.

Word Count: 404

Tags: footy, rape, drugs, bashing

AFL's Response to Sexual Misconduct

In the face of a barrage of media scrutiny about some of its players' practice of raping women, the AFL has started floating some ideas about how to respond.

Normally, you would think "police" and that would be the end of the matter. If there's a reasonable prospect that a crime has been committed, the police need to investigate. Simple, no? Well, according to The Age:

The AFL could terminate the contract of a footballer convicted of sexual assault as part of a wide-ranging series of initiatives in a bid to confront community violence against women.

Determined to take a leadership role on the issue that has haunted the game over the past year, all 16 clubs have been told to respond today to a discussion document that has also floated the establishment of a sexual misconduct tribunal that could compensate women violated by AFL players. (The Age, Feb 11, 2005)

The idea of members of the public - young women in particular - appealing to the pseudo-judiciary of the AFL for justice is as absurd as it is offensive. Under this system, sexual assault will be rendered "unduly rough play". While money has already been paid out to women who accused AFL players of sex crimes, this will see the practice become institutionalised. The AFL strategy would no doubt buy the silence of some victims, but could provide a lottery for some unscrupulous women.

No, the best solution is to treat AFL players like citizens, not women as AFL players.

Citations: The Age, Feb 11, 2005

Word Count: 260

Tags: footy, rape, spoilt_rotten

Wrap Up of Season 2004

Many would ask "Isn't it just vindictive compiling a list of the bad behaviour of Aussie Rules footballers?", to which I reply: Yes, it is. But I believe it's in the public interest to go some way to balancing the the misconception that because a person is a good kick of the footy, that they should be hailed and feted like superstars.

Wiser heads than mine have argued that, as I'm "actuated by malice", I am exposing myself to defamation action. Fortunately, it's a long-held legal principle that you can't defame a group and the local Anti-Vilification legislation does not yet protect footballers.

So, back to matters at hand, The Age (Melbourne's leading newspaper) has a nice wrap up of last year's season:

The controversy started in March when St Kilda players Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna were accused of rape by two women and interviewed by police.

Both players were eventually cleared - and were not charged - but a flood of allegations from women against other AFL players followed.

It was revealed Port's Peter Burgoyne and ex-player Adam Heuskes had been charged with rape over an alleged incident, but later had the charges dropped.

It was also revealed the pair, along with Swan Michael O'Loughlin, paid the woman hush money to keep quiet.

In another allegation, a group of Hawthorn players were accused of gang-rape on a 1999 end-of-season trip in Hawaii.

For a code heavily reliant on family support, the bad news kept coming.

Hawks Lance Picioane and Danny Jacobs were caught drink-driving, while Carlton players Laurence Angwin and Karl Norman were sacked and sanctioned respectively by their club for arriving at training when they were believed to be under the influence of recreational drugs.

Collingwood players were involved in a mid-season drinking binge in Queensland that even had Magpies president Eddie McGuire criticised for not reporting the news as host of The Footy Show. (The Age, 18/12/2004)

Ahh, Eddie. Football club president and high-profile media commentator. "Conflict of interest" is just an old-fashioned term for "synergy" for you, right?

Citations: The Age, 18/12/2004

Word Count: 357

Tags: footy, rape, drugs, court