Balmain Players Walk Out of Match v Wests - Match Abandoned

[Pekay]

Will be waiting to see what actually transpires. It probably was an extreme decision to do a walk off, but it's piqued everybody's interest, no doubt.

[tara]

Interesting reading

fact sheets

[Pekay]

The beautiful Defence Network firewall has prevented me from accessing the link, what was it about? Can you email me a screen shot?

[tara]

Id rather not other than to say it appears a bit murky.

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Id rather not other than to say it appears a bit murky. Probably leaves more questions that it answers. I wonder who benefits the most from the sale though.

[Steiger]

Virtually every post on this forum about Balmain is about how dysfunctional the club is and the "wacky decisions" that come out of it.

So it's obvious that all of you in the Sydney AFL community can see that something is wrong down in Balmain and has been for a long time.

This group have had enough and are trying to do something about it!

We won't stand idly by and watch a once great club slowly disappear.

The reasons for the walkout are all on the petition that was started and the lack of action from the board regarding the EGM.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/balmainfootyclub.html

PS It's not about Tigers vs Dockers. It's about the survival of the club.

[Tiges]

Well said Steiger!

[boroboy]

Good on everyone that made a stand yesterday. Drastic times call for drastic measures and at the very least, this will focus attention on the core problem.

The Club has lost too many good players and people over the years and there is a constant reason as to why. I wasn't there yesterday but I know that many of those involved have been with the Club for a long time and love it dearly. Good on them for finally making a stand, and hopefully starting to get rid of the problem. Many on this board have taken the opportunity to have a swipe at Balmain over the years-now that there are a group of people brave enough to get rid of the problem, they should be applauded and supported.

[mountainsofpain]

I can't imagine the Sydney AFL people would be too impressed. And it's not fair on Wests - they'd turned up ready to play and got dragged into a dispute that's nothing to do with them.
There's been plenty of controversial moments in my time in Sydney footy. But this is probably the biggest scandal of the lot.

Agree completely.

If you have got internal problems in your club you don't drag another club into it to try to make a point.

A complete lack of respect by the Balmain players towards Western Suburbs. I am sure the Wests players, coaches, support staff and supporters could have found better things to do with their afternoon.

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I'm moving this to a new thread rather than in the rumours because it's not a rumour, it actually happened.

When there was a thread about a petition several weeks ago, I deleted it at the request of the Balmain club. But in light of yesterday's events, it's not something that can be ignored. When half of the senior team walk out on a game, people are going to want to talk about it.

Coastal Boy has suggested that people should put out a statement on the Sydney AFL website or even here. I'm happy to run statements from both sides.
But I will ask that, as I have neither the funds nor the desire to find myself embroiled in any legal action, that you avoid naming individuals in any way that would see me dragged into a defamation suit that would see my meagre worldly goods siphoned into the pockets of lawyers. And please ensure that any comments made are consistent with the Sydney AFL Code of Conduct and Statement on Electronic Communications.

I'd strongly advise otherwise.

You don't want to bring Balmain's @@@@fight and soap opera to these boards.

[Tiges]

Isn't that what this forum is for?

Agreed it is unfortunate that people missed out on an "afternoon", but if you draw reference to something like a wasted afternoon, then perhaps you should consider that possibly these actions were necessary in order to save 110 years worth of afternoons?

Extreme actions for extreme reasons you would think?

[mountainsofpain]

Absolutely no need for Western Suburbs to be dragged into this whatsoever. A complete lack of respect, as I said.

If you have internal problems in your club, sort them out internally. Don't use the deliberate inconveniencing of others (who have nothing to do with the bunfight) as some sort of strategy.

And I'd argue that this forum is not the place for a football club to publicly conduct its civil war. But that's not my call.

[Coastal Boy]

A protest by nature is designed to inconvenience people which is what brings the issue to public notice. Sure, Balmain could have chosen a game which is a dead rubber as the finals go, instead of involving Wests who can still make it.
If members from Balmain feel they had explored all other options then I won't criticise them for their actions. But I hope they have a plan or their actions of the weekend are only a waste of time. I expect the protest was a cry for help to the Sydney AFL. But does the league have any power or persuasion to address the situation?

[Norris Lurker]

Absolutely no need for Western Suburbs to be dragged into this whatsoever. A complete lack of respect, as I said.

If you have internal problems in your club, sort them out internally. Don't use the deliberate inconveniencing of others (who have nothing to do with the bunfight) as some sort of strategy.

And I'd argue that this forum is not the place for a football club to publicly conduct its civil war. But that's not my call.

Initially that was my thoughts. That's why I deleted the original thread a few weeks ago (also because when I had a request from the Balmain club to delete it, I couldn't be bothered arguing against deleting it); and next time it was on the rumour thread said that it was an internal Balmain issue best dealt with in-house.

But things have changed. It's in the public domain now. When a game is called off in this way, it's a bigger issue than an internal in-house squabble; it's something that's affected the entire competition.
No-one at Balmain will win out of this.

[mountainsofpain]

A protest by nature is designed to inconvenience people which is what brings the issue to public notice. Sure, Balmain could have chosen a game which is a dead rubber as the finals go, instead of involving Wests who can still make it.
If members from Balmain feel they had explored all other options then I won't criticise them for their actions. But I hope they have a plan or their actions of the weekend are only a waste of time. I expect the protest was a cry for help to the Sydney AFL. But does the league have any power or persuasion to address the situation?

Are you suggesting that disrupting a match in progress - in the process inconveniencing the opposition club and the umpires - is the only option that the disaffected Balmain players had for bringing this issue to "public notice"?

How can they expect any support or respect from neutrals when they are prepared to treat an opposition club and the competition itself with such contempt?

[Coastal Boy]

Are you suggesting that disrupting a match in progress - in the process inconveniencing the opposition club and the umpires - is the only option that the disaffected Balmain players had for bringing this issue to "public notice"?

How can they expect any support or respect from neutrals when they are prepared to treat an opposition club and the competition itself with such contempt?

IMO only when the facts are all revealed can the actions be judged.
Sure, a game and opposition was disrupted. That's ordinary. But let's not get carried away. Teams have forfeited many games this year in lower divisions and even pulled out completely. Premier div is a little different without a doubt and doing it deliberately is not the same. Whether neutrals are sympathetic comes down to if the actions were justified. Until we know more thats hard to say.

[MrTaxman]

I would like to have some questions answered before forming an opinion if possible:

1. Was the league (ie Matt Graham, David Lawson or Tom Harley) consulted about this intended course of action (being the walk-off) prior to the actual event? If so, what was their advice? I am certain that they "appreciate" the extra work in the build-up to the busiest time of year for the league (I know that GB used to put in 90-100 hours per week at this time of year)

2. Can the club survive to the end of the season til the AGM without having to have an EGM now? That is, how crucial is it that the action had to be taken now that couldn't wait 3 more rounds of footy?

3. What has happened in the last 5 AGM's at the club? I know of many clubs where there have been board upheavals via the AGM. The issues seem to be well-known in AFL Sydney circles for a long-time now, let alone the club & definitely not merely in the last week. In fact, I recall receiving a phone call in July last year (13 months ago) from a dissident player when a few issues surrounding the sports club development arose & there was a big push for Yellow & Black to return ... so even what happened in last year's AGM?

4. Was Western Suburbs notified in advance of the intended course of action?

5. Have the dissidents considered establishing a brand new club with a brand new constitution? I know that it was mentioned in that phone call to me in last July.

6. Are the dissidents aware of recent entrants into AFL Sydney - Gosford & Auburn - that now play under the Tigers banner?

7. How many players will return to the club if there is a change of management? Could we see a breakdown of the quality of the players eg how many premier league? how many 2nd division? etc

8. How many 2013 players are expected to leave the club following all of this upheaval, regardless of the management structure?

9. Have the dissidents tried to work with the current management this season? How many games on average have they attended this year yet alone helped out?

10. Do the dissidents expect to play in Premier League in 2014 & beyond? I recall that they were not in the Premier League equivalent in 1980s & early 1990s.

11. Have the dissidents had conversations subsequent to Sunday afternoon's protest with the current management? Is there a resolution being discussed for the remainder of this season?

12. What are the dissidents planning for the final 3 matches of the season if there is no resolution by this Saturday? Will they walk again?

13. How many of the dissidents are current members of the club? I see 145 signatures on the petition but in locations throughout the world & from other clubs ... I am guessing that there are approx. 10 life members & 10 current fully paid-up members.

14. What does the coach say in all of this? I have played under a lot of strong characters as coaches & can't imagine them to not have an opinion.

15. Are the dissidents the ones that are actually the cancer in the club? Controversial I know but sometimes the truth.

PS I am not affiliated - nor had any conversations in the last 13 months - with any party in this dispute.