Role models

[novice chook]

Don't all the Toyota Cup players have to either study or work for a certain number of hours per week to qualify to play? I thought that was one of the main criteria they had to meet.

I know I read recently that Tom Symonds is studying at uni.


NC

[Guest]

Yes, its to prepare them for life post footy. I'd be interested to know whether or not they have to continue these studies or jobs during their FG career-I would tend to think not. Which begs the question really-whats the point? I guess there are a large proportion of U20s that don't cut it in FG, perhaps thats the only purpose-to help them?

[novice chook]

You'd hope MDNF that blokes who start their uni studies are encouraged to continue with them, even in an abbreviated form (less subjects per semester), when they are promoted to the NRL squad. It certainly appears that Symonds is continuing with his.


NC

[Guest]

Don't all the Toyota Cup players have to either study or work for a certain number of hours per week to qualify to play? I thought that was one of the main criteria they had to meet.

I know I read recently that Tom Symonds is studying at uni.


NC

I know young Robbie Williams is an aprentice mechanic...and looking forward to finishing his apprentiship......

[Guest]

You'd hope MDNF that blokes who start their uni studies are encouraged to continue with them, even in an abbreviated form (less subjects per semester), when they are promoted to the NRL squad. It certainly appears that Symonds is continuing with his.


NC

I do think Tom may be an exception rather than the rule.....

He seems very grounded and to have a good head on his shoulders....

He is very family orientated, and unlike some of the younger fellows, has his family right by his side....right down to the fact that he wasn't even playing in Melbourne, yet he turns up, arm in a sling, and so does his dad........

[Guest]

Yes, its to prepare them for life post footy. I'd be interested to know whether or not they have to continue these studies or jobs during their FG career-I would tend to think not. Which begs the question really-whats the point? I guess there are a large proportion of U20s that don't cut it in FG, perhaps thats the only purpose-to help them?

Chris Lawrence is currently studying Exercise and Sports Science at Sydney University and i know of other players either studying or working that play 1st grade i.e Nick Kenny (physiotherapist).

[stsae]

I do think Tom may be an exception rather than the rule.....

He seems very grounded and to have a good head on his shoulders....

He is very family orientated, and unlike some of the younger fellows, has his family right by his side....right down to the fact that he wasn't even playing in Melbourne, yet he turns up, arm in a sling, and so does his dad........

Thats what I like to hear Phantom, it comes down to Family first. Who would think a good Bondi Boy, I knew there were still some of us left.

Thats why we are in the situation we currently find this game and society in general.

Role Models should start at home, not TV personalities and Sportspeople.

And on Sa, from what I know Easts did the right thing and got his family over to support the bloke??? And he still shits in his own backyard.

[Guest]

Chris Lawrence is currently studying Exercise and Sports Science at Sydney University and i know of other players either studying or working that play ist grade i.e Nick Kenny (physiotherapist).

certainly in the minority i'd imagine
i'm more interested as i say in the u20s guys and whether they are encouraged to continue their studies into FG

[Guest]

I love these blokes, but one thing that can be said about Footballers.....they are none too bright........

You'd be surprised...
Back in my uni days I studied with a bunch of them... ordinary blokes... yes... dumb... no. Most had a lot of acquired knowledge from their training, which often put them ahead of the field.

Not sure if u've been to university lately (ever) but the majority of students aren't young Einstein's... hey even I graduated!

Gridiron and basketball players from the ghetto's can handle college degrees... so can NRL players.

[Cockadoodledoo]

I have been thinking this for a while

And I think the club needs A NO DICKHEADS POLICY much like the Sydney Swans have. They don't seem to have any player behavioural issues.

So if it means getting rid of

Sa
Myles
Mason
Friend
Earl
Cherrington

and possibly Pearce

so be it

There are plenty of talented players out there that behave and won't drag our name through the mud and cost us sponsors

lol.. Michael O'Laughlin and another former swan were amongst players who paid off a woman $200K to drop gang rape allegations...

[Guest]

Yes damn right he's a good example!
I was always taught that flight was better than fight...
At school if you punch people it's not going to stop you getting bullied. People are just going to egg you on more because they reckon you're a psycho.

at school i always found the best way to see off a bully was to be able take their punches and not go down. if you could stand up to them and not fall over all without retaliating I think they just got bored.

although once i did start laughing at one after he hit me (i think i laughed from surprise more than anything else) and he left me alone after that because i thought i was some sort of psychopath (maybe a worse one than him). ;-)

Anasta did the right thing by a country mile, but the media don't care because i think they are the bullies - the really shit ones that only run in and lay on the last kick when it's obvious who won.

As for Sa, the club should boot him asap.

[Guest]

Over-reacting won't help prevent bad behaviour; education will

http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/o...72.html?page=2

Good article I thought...

''If a player is not working or pursuing an education, there is a big chance he is doing something unacceptable to society,'' Coyne says. ''There is definitely a correlation between the investment clubs are making in education and welfare and what is happening off the field.

''We did a review of the bad headlines of players in trouble with off-field behaviour and found 80 per cent of them had no formal education or employment background.''

I reckon if all you've done in life is be a footy star then you're detached from reality. Blokes who've done a uni degree or an apprenticeship or something have more real life experiences where they've had to use their head (and maybe not been the king pin who gets everything he wants.) I think they learn how to be more patient and reasonable as well... I know for example that I can't be belligerent towards people at work, or impatient. Even if it's an assistant teacher or student, I've gotta show respect otherwise I'll be thrown out the door.

Assault some guy outside work... if I'm charged then I'm not allowed to work with kids anymore. The same rules apply to both normal workers and footy players... just normal workers don't generally have the prestige to think they can do anything.

[Guest]

[QUOTE=sirgamble;24081
Assault some guy outside work... if I'm charged then I'm not allowed to work with kids anymore. The same rules apply to both normal workers and footy players... just normal workers don't generally have the prestige to think they can do anything.[/QUOTE]

If I assault someone outside of work I doubt my employer would sack me. There are a number of normal workers that think they can do anything with a few beers under their belt.

There needs to be a distinction between someone having the perception that because they are a sports star they can behave a certain way and a dickhead. Now the 2 can cross over of course.

[stsae]

I reckon if all you've done in life is be a footy star then you're detached from reality. Blokes who've done a uni degree or an apprenticeship or something have more real life experiences where they've had to use their head (and maybe not been the king pin who gets everything he wants.) I think they learn how to be more patient and reasonable as well...

Finally I agree with JohnnyBoy. I feel dirty.

Id add the dropping of all 3 grades especially reserve grade (and the Cap) is a problem also. Kids who hit 1st grade havent been thru the system where hard heads mentored them in the way things are done, a bit of respect for the older generation.

Too often kids move away from families at younger ages to play footy and dont get a solid grounding in values, life lessons.

IMO the problems will only worsen cos now mentors at clubs are players whove come thru the same system, they havent had to do it tough. Sure theyre all physical specimins but their minds are weak, hence the drastic form reversals we see at most clubs these days.

Look at Freddo. How can he teach kids what lifes really about. By his own admission he "was born with a golden egg up his arse". He never had to struggle for a wage, he played 1st grade at school, won comps, played rep footy and slipped into coaching. This is his 1st sacking, the 1st time hes actually realised theres something hes shit at.