Article by Cameron Spink

 

Peter Costello has created a huge storm with his comments that:

 

"Footballers are not chosen for their moral principles. They do not go into a national draft for budding philanthropists.... What are the clubs thinking when they send them to schools to give guidance on life skills? Any right-thinking parent would quake with fear to hear that footballers were coming to their daughter's school to give a little bit of inspiration."

 

His interpretation of the situation has come under fire by many players from different teams. Here are some of the responses from the players:

 

"Save yourself some time today and don't read Costello's rubbish is the paper! He's got no idea!" Joel Selwood

 

"Love to see the community work Costello has done in his lifetime. Made an absolute fool of himself!" Nick Maxwell

 

"Peter Costello you seem so out of touch with this generation." Harry O'Brien

 

"On my way 2 traralgon 4 community camp,probably run into Peter Costello coz he'll also be doing something to better the community no doubt!" Dale Thomas

 

"Its pretty easy to paint 1 group of people because of a few mistakes or incidents, especially footballers..." James Kelly

 

The list of twitters goes on. In this debate there are really two positions expressed. Costello believes that footballers should not be "giv[ing] guidance on life skills" and most footballers would respond that their football clinics are making a difference in the community.

 

Peter Costello raises the issue of footballer's indiscretions and, in particular, the incident where a girl claimed that she became pregnant to a St Kilda player after the club sent some players to a clinic to give motivational talks. Of course, what ensued was the Nick Riewoldt naked picture scandal that is still dogging the club. However, this is not the only incident to suggest that footballers can be bad role-models. Take for instance Ben Cousins drug scandal that brought the West Coast Eagles into disrepute or the allegations of rape charges against some St Kilda players. Or the turkey-slapping incident involving the North Melbourne leadership group. Even the other week video footage of Western Bulldogs players being very immature to the point of stupidity was revealed on Youtube.

 

All in all, there are many incidents in only the past few years that paint footballers in a very dim light. The counter argument to this is brought up by James Kelly. Just because a few footballers act stupidly doesn't mean that's how they all act. After all, there are over 650 footballers on the lists this year and we usually only get a handful of outrageous incidents. Unfortunately, that number is too high and there have been consistent incidents which could have probably brought the game into disrepute.

 

Neil Balme brings up a further argument against Costello's statement in regards to AFL footballer's track-record (even if he comes off sounding like a juvenile child). "Would rather hear a footballer speak at my daughter's school rather than a politician," he said. In some ways this is true. One only needs to look at the battling NSW Labor government to get an idea of the scandals that consistently rock the political world as well. However, just because politicians have a track-record to be sneered at, this doesn't change the validity of one politician's opinion. In the end it is only his opinion, right or wrong.

 

Costello's strongest argument is that footballers should not be giving advice on anything that is in regards to life skills. I believe he is alluding to the danger to children of making football players role-models. While footballers do face situations as quasi-celebrities that everyday people will likely not face there is a limit to what advice they should give children. I recall an ex-footballer (who will remain unnamed) who gave a motivational speech at the university I was attending just before exams. Despite the fact that I enjoyed what he had to say about his glory days playing football with Tony Lockett he gave a lot of advice that was, frankly, bad advice.

 

Footballers excel out on the footy field. Their community-based clinics and camps should only incorporate their knowledge of our great game. Granted there are some who have a lifestyle that are worth promoting but for the most part their lifestyles are not conducive to being good role-models. Most of them are happy not to be seen as trendsetters. Unfortunately, they are. More than politicians and nearly any other profession they have adoring young kids who want to be like them when they are adults. This means that footballers have a burden requiring them to behave. Even if they don't want to be role-models the sad fact is that they are.

 

The remark of Peter Costello that generated the most footballer feedback was in regards to the clubs or the league using community clinics to work on their "brand". Footballers from all clubs were very offended that Costello insinuated these clinics were all about spinning good public relations. Now for most footballers they would not consider the clinics to have anything to do with spin. However, this does not discount the fact that clubs do these things with the central aim to look like they are contributing to society. After all, they are self-interested businesses who just-so-happen to rely upon community and supporter perceptions. Perhaps this is why they shout down anyone who would challenge them or bring bad PR to the club. Footballers may argue that this isn't the way that the clubs work but one only needs to look at the way Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs reacted to Aker to understand that perception is what the clubs are about.

 

Footballers do have charities that are not visible to the public's eye. Judging from players responses to Costello, however, you'd think that they were the only ones who understood what charity is about. Real charity is exemplified in Jesus and His actions for us. He is the ultimate team-player, the captain who leads, who encourages and who sacrifices. He is a role-model worth looking up to. After all, our contributions mean nothing if we are not donating because of Him.