TOPIC:

Interesting piece in the Worst today which will elicit a range of responses that will perhaps polarise the Oz footy community.

O'Donoghue has put forward the argument that if guilty of domestic violence or maybe just violence against women then that is it no career at the highest or second tier.

A crime is a crime no matter what it is but this suggests that this issue is one that carries an attached penalty. Is that fair, is it just and will it have an impact on the football community not just players.

For me I agree with him unreservedly. If you are found guilty of an act of violence against a woman, that is it go and find a sport that tolerates thus type of behaviour. The community standards and expectations for all of us has changed and if you cannot meet that standard then bye bye.

Firstly, I do not condone violence of any sort.
Most of all violence against women or any abuse against women physical or otherwise.
Having said that, and living that my whole life, everybody deserves help.
I cannot speak about Riddick as I don't know much about the man or his circumstances.
At PFC we have a young man who has done the wrong thing and has lost everything he worked hard for.
I believe his best chance of rehabilitation is through sport.
He appears to be genuinely remorseful and committed to changing his life around.
I believe there is more at stake here than just the kid's footy career.
PFC have some very good people who I believe can have a vital influence on his life.
Not providing him with a pathway would be like throwing him literally on the scrap heap.
It is easy for a so called responsible journalist to come out with a damning piece of journalism but it is irresponsible.
Again, I do not condone his actions but the kid needs help.
As human beings shouldn't we give it?

It all depends on what team you support and whether that particular player plays for your club or not Grump....and if they are half decent as well.....always easy to forgive and talk about 2nd chances when the player plays for the team you support.....I wonder if folk would give forgiveness or a second chance to a lost youngster if they had belted one of their own family members.....

Freezin wrote: It all depends on what team you support and whether that particular player plays for your club or not Grump....and if they are half decent as well.....always easy to forgive and talk about 2nd chances when the player plays for the team you support.....I wonder if folk would give forgiveness or a second chance to a lost youngster if they had belted one of their own family members.....

It has nothing to do with the Club I support.
What a typical comment.

Freezin wrote: It all depends on what team you support and whether that particular player plays for your club or not Grump....and if they are half decent as well.....always easy to forgive and talk about 2nd chances when the player plays for the team you support.....I wonder if folk would give forgiveness or a second chance to a lost youngster if they had belted one of their own family members.....

Folk will always defend a player from their club and I expected that to be the most common response which in many ways is sad.

To use the rehabilitation response is also an expected one but how often is that the outcome.

Sadly perhaps due to my own experiences of growing up in somewhat violent house I don't accept that it is acceptable in any shape or form.

Also the fact that journalist raises it as an opinion piece seems to me to be honourable and good journalism rather than points scoring.

Like DF I do not condone violence in any shape or form and especially against women and children.
Yet I will be criticised for what I am about to say.
Any person who commits violence should be punished by the law as this player has been. Yes, his sentence was surprisingly light but none the less that was not his doing but the Judges' decision rightly or wrongly. He was very lucky not to get a jail sentence.
I believe every person is entitled to redemption and that is what he is seeking, but to attain that he needs a lot of support going forward from here. He has been getting that through his club. He knows that he only has one chance and he has committed himself to getting his life back into order.
Football is his lifeline to redemption, perhaps one of few that he may have. At the football club he has that support to add to those outside the club who are there for him.
It is all in his hands. He has one great talent and I hope that he does not waste it given the opportunity he has received.

Well said DF. Firstly I was disgusted with what Taylor did but he is 19 years old, probably 18 at the time. Luckily for him he got a spent conviction but next time he knows he’s spending a long time in the slammer if he commits a similar type of offence.

While I’m not condoning it there is always a back story and from what I gather this former girlfriend probably contributed to his downfall. Last year was a highly unusual year due to Covid. Two young lovers with hormones running wild made a stupid decision to slip through the net and have a bit of jiggy jig. Both immature, they thought it was harmless

That had dire consequences for Taylor I think he was suspended by the club for 10 matches which would have been devastating for him. Then if I recall correctly some time, maybe few months later the first incident of violence took place and the girl posted something on social media perhaps including photos but she didn’t complain to the cops.

Then it seems they had broken up but somehow met up in Northbridge either by chance or design and she agrees to go to a hotel room with him which culminates in the second act of violence that ultimately led to the charges. And I believe this girl tried to withdraw her complaint at the last minute but the court wasn’t having any of it.

The Rudy Riddoch case is a bit different for a few reasons IMO. One he was a more mature age, possibly around 24/25, was married or engaged I think and had I think 2 kids to his partner and assaulted her in the car she was driving with their kids in the car. He’d obviously had drinks as it was after the end of season F&B awards I think. And it was not his first time he had inflicted violence against her. He didn’t get a spent conviction. And I believe this guy pleaded not guilty the whole time.

Now it’s all good and well for people here and a journo to get on their soap box and score brownie points with the women in their lives and the wider community but do you want to see this kid become another Shane Yarran who commuted suicide or Chris Yarran who turned to meth and crime and is now behind bars?

Elijah I believe deserves a chance and he pleaded guilty and expressed remorse and quite frankly I’ve had enough of this irresponsible AFL meat factory seducing young kids building up their hopes of stardom when they are immature and have no real life skills or experience. This has to stop and the draft age needs to be raised at least one year, maybe two and it will make better men and footballers in the long run.

Stand the Test wrote: Good enough for Wayne Carey good enough for WAFL blokes.

I’m glad you put a lot of thought into that post STD. Great contribution.

And to the journo Craig O’Donoghue who wrote that opinion piece, have the balls to write to your employer Mr Kerry Stokes and ask him to lobby the AFL to raise the minimum draft age if you are serious about violence against women and the devastating impact on the lives of young men. Kerry writes the cheque so I’m sure Dill McLachlan will listen.

I guess you've got to ask if we ban players with DV convictions what about others with equally as serious strikes against them like assault for instance? If you apply it to those types of felonies as well, then the likes of Andrew Krakouer, the late Shane Yarran, Marley Williams and the list goes on would have been delisted as well. DV is a particularly disgraceful act but where do you draw the line? I don't think Taylor should be stopped from playing footy but I'd be asking a more salient question, does PFC really want someone like him at the club with his long list of indiscretions? Clearly he has a discipline problem.

Demons Forever wrote:

Freezin wrote: It all depends on what team you support and whether that particular player plays for your club or not Grump....and if they are half decent as well.....always easy to forgive and talk about 2nd chances when the player plays for the team you support.....I wonder if folk would give forgiveness or a second chance to a lost youngster if they had belted one of their own family members.....

It has nothing to do with the Club I support.
What a typical comment.

Just stating the obvious DF......of course forgiving and rehab are the right paths to take....interested that PFC sponsors are ok with Taylor representing the club they publicly give money too....could easily be perceived as indirectly supporting domestic violence by some sections of todays society...interesting Sydney put the kid into the too hard basket...was that sponsor related I wonder....Anyway good luck to Perth and their endeavours to get the young fella back on track.....