Elijah Taylor banned for rest of season!

[Aaron]

I think the Swans are a thoughtful and fair club, but the standards are high and they're not too forgiving. We'll just have to see how this one plays out.

Michael Talia

[cherub]

Young people, particularly men, are more likely to exhibit bad judgement. It's why car insurance premiums for the under 25s are much more. Part of that bad judgement is the inability to consider or understand possible consequences. It is, in part biological. It doesn't mean it should be excused. I don't think that Elijah's actions are worse than Lachie Hunter's. Both of them are fortunate nobody died as a result of their actions. But how is society, or footy, best served by a more extreme punishment? Ideally, they make the best of their lives and give back to society.
If you didn't make a mistake in your teams you are risk-averse, socially well-supported and very lucky. (I didn't either but I'm female, and very risk-averse).

[Mauzza]

Tom Harley spoke with ABC Grandstand this afternoon where he talks the whole issue through on what happened, how the penalty was decided, Elijah's welfare and the future of Elijah in 2021

"We absolutely don't let Elijah off the hook but also make sure the support mechanism is there for him" - ABC Grandstand - ABC Radio

[Blood Fever]

Yes. Can’t say I broke a law or put the operation of a whole organisation at risk.

Come to think of it, I don’t actually know any of my mates who did either.

I was studying my arse off at uni and trying to make the most of a fantastic opportunity with a professional services organisation. Wouldn’t have dreamt of doing anything stupid to risk losing that.

Standard excuse for poor behaviour. Just young and “doesn’t everyone do it”

- - - Updated - - -



Implied in 2nd paragraph of the original post in this thread.

Free pass not mentioned or implied as far as I can see.

[Mark26]

Tom Harley spoke with ABC Grandstand this afternoon where he talks the whole issue through on what happened, how the penalty was decided, Elijah's welfare and the future of Elijah in 2021

"We absolutely don't let Elijah off the hook but also make sure the support mechanism is there for him" - ABC Grandstand - ABC Radio

Many thanks for the link Mauzza. Harley is an intelligent and articulate chap isn't he? I rate how transparent the club has been in this difficult position they've found themselves in. They haven't shirked away from how stupid Elijah was, nor the support they will provide.

I don't think Elijah is going to be cut as some have suggested. Harley emphasised that he had a big future at our club.

[stevoswan]

I certainly don’t condone ETaylor’s behaviour. However, given the immense public exposure he is receiving, I am genuine concerned for Elijah’s mental health. It’s not an excuse. But I expect that he would be very fragile at the moment and would be feeling considerable pressure. Many people who are in quarantine in hotels (less than 5 star ones) have failed to comply. They might have their face on the TV and perhaps been named. But they are soon forgotten (although likely sanctioned). Elijah is very publicly reported on and scrutinised. And will remain on public record for a long time. When google searched, his name will for a very long time be synonymous with this incident. This is a lasting stigma to burden a young man with. Don’t get me wrong, Elijah did the wrong thing. He has been punished. But the young man still needs support. And I hope the Club, Swans supporters and the broader AFL community give it to him. This sort of situation can turn dire for an emotionally fragile individual with potentially severe consequences ... ending far more than a career ...

Hear, hear! Well said.

[barracuda]

I don't imagine that Elijah's suspension relieves him of any of the non-playing responsibilities he has as a contracted player. He must still have to go to meetings, training sessions, etc.. I would think that he travels to Cairns with the team and finishes out the season like every other player, except that he's not going to playing games. I'm not sure if the suspension applies to scratch matches.

I agree that there are mental health concerns and he needs to be supported. I'm all for giving him every chance to redeem himself for his error in judgment, and I hope he can navigate his way through this difficult period. The off season is not going to be easy either. Maybe even more difficult than the present.

I think the Swans are a thoughtful and fair club, but the standards are high and they're not too forgiving. We'll just have to see how this one plays out.

If what Elijah has done is a breach of contract which can constitute dismissal for cause, his future could be in serious doubt if there are the foreshadowed list size reductions. I think his name goes to the top of list if cuts have to be made.

I think he is staying in wa with his family

[Markwebbos]

Really ?? and you’d be so accomodating to a player at another club doing the same thing?? why should one of our players be exempt from scrutiny for doing something that had the potential to put the season in jeopardy? It might sound dramatic but that’s why they are doing the hub/ bubble scenario - Its there for a reason. The previous indiscretions Of other players & coaches at other clubs clearly Wasn’t a deterrent - so the AFL came down hard. Sadly it’s always the Swans that cop these things.

Steele Sidebottom breached the rules at least 3 different ways and was found by police wandering around semi-naked. He’s a vice captain of his club, so a “leader”. He got rubbed out for 4 games and kept his vice captaincy. No one suggested the stuff that is being suggested on here about his career being over.

I think if a member of the Swans leadership group had done something similar we wouldn’t be talking about it being their last game for the club.

It was a very stupid thing to do, but he’s not alone in his stupidity. And he’s 19.

[Odysseus]

Tom Harley spoke with ABC Grandstand this afternoon where he talks the whole issue through on what happened, how the penalty was decided, Elijah's welfare and the future of Elijah in 2021

"We absolutely don't let Elijah off the hook but also make sure the support mechanism is there for him" - ABC Grandstand - ABC Radio

Another thanks for this link, Mauzza.

I think he is staying in wa with his family

In Harley's interview, he says (~ 6m25s) "ET can stay in the hub". I suppose that is different from "is staying", but that seemed implied.

At a tangent to the main discussion which has been about ET, I recall in earlier days that some were critical of Harley or wondering if he was the right man for the job. I reckon he's a person of absolute quality and we're very fortunate to have him.

Back to ET, as Mark26 noted above, it didn't sound from what Harley said that the club is thinking of cutting him.

And finally, in regard to the size of the penalty, Harley made it clear that the AFL had warned clubs some weeks ago that they could expect higher penalties to be given for future breaches.

[barry]

Homesick kid, no chance of finals, in WA. The rest of season ban is a good outcome for him and the swans. He can stay in WA until the start of 2021 season.

[aardvark]

He can stay in WA until the start of 2021 season.

Or he could spend the time in Sydney working his arse off to prove he's not a spoiled idiot and start winning back the trust and respect he has lost at the club.

[MattW]

Another thanks for this link, Mauzza.



In Harley's interview, he says (~ 6m25s) "ET can stay in the hub". I suppose that is different from "is staying", but that seemed implied.

At a tangent to the main discussion which has been about ET, I recall in earlier days that some were critical of Harley or wondering if he was the right man for the job. I reckon he's a person of absolute quality and we're very fortunate to have him.

Back to ET, as Mark26 noted above, it didn't sound from what Harley said that the club is thinking of cutting him.

And finally, in regard to the size of the penalty, Harley made it clear that the AFL had warned clubs some weeks ago that they could expect higher penalties to be given for future breaches.

Yeah, recommended listen. Agree, Harley was impressive.

[Wardy]

Steele Sidebottom breached the rules at least 3 different ways and was found by police wandering around semi-naked. He’s a vice captain of his club, so a “leader”. He got rubbed out for 4 games and kept his vice captaincy. No one suggested the stuff that is being suggested on here about his career being over.

I think if a member of the Swans leadership group had done something similar we wouldn’t be talking about it being their last game for the club.

It was a very stupid thing to do, but he’s not alone in his stupidity. And he’s 19.

I never said the club should let him go. And the club will certainly support him and on their strict terms. But we have to stop looking at our players through rose coloured glasses - what he did could have detailed the season. - he’s 19 doesn’t wash- sorry old enough to drink, vote, drive, sign a contract - he & his GF did this without a thought for the ramifications or the impact it would have on the club & the season. And financially that’s $50k The club has lost all because of their selfishness. I didn’t donate my 2 membership funds to pay fines for stupidly.

[Ludwig]

Steele Sidebottom breached the rules at least 3 different ways and was found by police wandering around semi-naked. He’s a vice captain of his club, so a “leader”. He got rubbed out for 4 games and kept his vice captaincy. No one suggested the stuff that is being suggested on here about his career being over.

But this is normal behaviour for Collingwood. The Swans live by a different standard. Just look at how their president behaves. How Eddie remains a person in good standing with the AFL is harder to understand than the Holding the Ball rule.

This incident aside, ET has a lot of work to do on his game. It's not a time for him to go on vacation. Not much has changed for ET regarding him being a footballer. He's not injured. He probably wasn't going to play again this year anyway. So what makes him any different than another player not in our best 22, e.g. Sam Gray. I don't think Sam is going home. He's staying with the club and working on improving his game.

On top of that, I'm pretty annoyed with ET, because we got him with the pick from trading out Zak Jones. With ET's talent on display, the loss of Jones wasn't looking quite so bad. I'm happy with Harley's position on this. I'm all for giving ET every chance to build an AFL career with the Swans. I hope he can just get on with it and begin making up for his error by committing to becoming the best football player he can be. He's wearing the #37, the number of arguably the most professional footballer to ever play for the Swans. ET should follow in his footsteps.

[Markwebbos]

But this is normal behaviour for Collingwood. The Swans live by a different standard.

The penalty applied to ET was by the AFL, not the club.

I completely agree, now is not the time to send him home, he should be working on his development. I'm assuming that's the case.