PerthNorg

I’d hazard a guess that the report into the Eagles’ transgressions has just been released.  Just sayin’.

The Dockers make news because they clamp down on discipline, the Weagles make it because they don’t have any….

Craig’s line, “The Dockers were clearly the worst behaved team in the AFL” is laughable journalism on two counts.

It forgets the fact that most commentators think Johnsons 4 week suspension was a joke. It forgets the fact that Cousins was still on the WCE list when he got a 12 month suspension.

It neglects the fact that the Eagles have been making news for all the wrong reasons all year. They are now the yardstick of bad behaviour, if a Rugby League misbehaves, they are now compared to the Eagles.

 Skribe alludes to something very pertinent. Next week the real report is being released on the Eagles, and the Eagles spin machine, which is a well oiled and professional machine, is in overdrive getting ready for it.

If you asked someone on the street who had a passing interest in football who was the worst behaved sporting team in Australia, who do you think they might say?

By the way, I think the comments section is the place for opinion.

I agree this is the place for opinion.  I’m saying that your opinion and comments are not objective i.e. not formed taking the facts into account.

The facts are - In 2007 Fremantle Dockers were the most reported team in AFL by > 50%.  26 players reported, 24 guilty.  The record speaks for itself.  As does the 2006 record.

As far as people on the street with a passing interest in football; who cares about the opinions of the ignorant?  And for that matter what commentators think about the severity of a penalty.

I agree my opinion is subjective, but most peoples are, thats what make it an opinion, not a fact, now let me go and trawl for the sort of articles you normally post about the Eagles…

Perhaps we could all learn a little about objectivity when preparing stories by being: fair, disinterested, factual, and nonpartisan.

It might be tough though.

Subjectivity does not make an opinion - opinions based on facts and not influenced by personal biases are objective.

Since when has any news service not been subjective? You can be cold and clinical and simply state numbers, however, someone with a different point of view will always be able to complain that your numbers are insufficient, or in too much detail.

Its true to say that based on numbers of reports, on the field, the Dockers are the most unruly team. It is also true to state that the Eagles, are the most unruly mob in the game when you take into account both on and off field transgressions.

You are entitled to spin it either way, but both conclusions states their foundation; just on field or both on and off field; and the facts are indisputable on both counts.

To argue that either one  or the other of these two statements is more important is declaring an interest and being partisan.

I would also argue that “the opinions of the ignorant” are very important. If you want the game to rise in popularity, then those with a passing interest need to be cajoled into joining in the fun of the game. I enjoy a good game of footy, but on field incidents make the game boring, and off field ones bring the game into disrepute.

Based on these facts I think that both Dockers and Eagles fans should hang their head in shame and give their respective clubs a swift kick up the Khyber.

Good to hear that at least one coach is taking action.