Caroline Wilson

[InkerSaint]

MM it seems your memory fails you. The reason that story was a story in the first place is because how the girl claimed they met and that is why it was a story. it would never had been a story otherwise unless we have stories in the paper everyday on which AFL rooted which girl.

Very selective there with your "facts". Why did it continue to have legs after the players were cleared within days of the story breaking?

What it adds up to is the media inferring the police had done a whitewash.

Out of all the "facts" available, elements in the media have repeatedly selected the ones most likely to stir scandal. It's a practice that's popular with the smaller-format newspapers, maybe you've heard of it - tabloid journalism.

[SainterK]

Oh come on everyone, pluggers is an extreme view, but I absolutely agree that if any other club had a shocking couple of months off field (in or outside of their control) they would be copping it as much right now.

No they wouldn't.

I think the very fact that you call it a 'shocking couple of months' says it all.

says what?

As an intelligent human being, you are of the view that the club has had a shocking couple of months.

If guys on a footy trip taking photos of themselves, and 3 fringe players breaking curfew and internal team rules equates to a shocking couple of months, then I'm surprised.


My point is, no other club would cop so much media attention for 2 such trivial things to the extent that an intelligent woman would believe they've has a shocking couple of months.

The rest of the stuff that most likely has led you to believe this, is all absolute nonsense from the press.

And no other club would have copped it like us.

The fact you only list the photo element of that entire scandal, and the three guys breaking curfew...

As an intelligent human being, you are of the view that the club has not had a shocking couple of months?

[InkerSaint]

Sainter K's right - there's something missing from that list.

The elephant in the room is that the media have been on a gutter journo feeding frenzy.

[plugger66]

Sainter K's right - there's something missing from that list.

The elephant in the room is that the media have been on a gutter journo feeding frenzy.

So they are picking on us. It seems all forms of media are picking on us not just just tabloids. We must just be unlucky. We actually havent done anything wrong to deserve this.

[SainterK]

Sainter K's right - there's something missing from that list.

The elephant in the room is that the media have been on a gutter journo feeding frenzy.

Inker, I am beginning to understand why Roo's speech resonated with Saints fans after reading that

[Johnny Member]

Oh come on everyone, pluggers is an extreme view, but I absolutely agree that if any other club had a shocking couple of months off field (in or outside of their control) they would be copping it as much right now.

No they wouldn't.

I think the very fact that you call it a 'shocking couple of months' says it all.

says what?

As an intelligent human being, you are of the view that the club has had a shocking couple of months.

If guys on a footy trip taking photos of themselves, and 3 fringe players breaking curfew and internal team rules equates to a shocking couple of months, then I'm surprised.


My point is, no other club would cop so much media attention for 2 such trivial things to the extent that an intelligent woman would believe they've has a shocking couple of months.

The rest of the stuff that most likely has led you to believe this, is all absolute nonsense from the press.

And no other club would have copped it like us.

The fact you only list the photo element of that entire scandal, and the three guys breaking curfew...

As an intelligent human being, you are of the view that the club has not had a shocking couple of months?

But this is my point, what other elements of the photo thing are there?

There was nothing else to the story, and this was made clear within a day or the 'story' breaking.

As for the curfew thing, that's why they were banned from the club. It wasn't becuase of them taking sleeping tablets.


Even if the sleeping tablets tihng is considered horrific to some people, I still fail to see how it's been a shocking couple of months. But that is exactly what the media has portrayed.

And the more people that buy it and jump on the board, the more they try to find and try to push.

[SainterK]

I shouldn't have to list it all again, and by few months, I pretty much mean the last 12....

[InkerSaint]

Sainter K's right - there's something missing from that list.

The elephant in the room is that the media have been on a gutter journo feeding frenzy.

So they are picking on us. It seems all forms of media are picking on us not just just tabloids. We must just be unlucky. We actually havent done anything wrong to deserve this.

I know you're being facetious, so what actually have they done wrong to deserve the attention?

Come on plugger, play the game.

Select the other claim from the two that are available in each case, and suddenly it's not worth wasting column inches on.

[SainterK]

It doesn't bother people that the Saints have denied wrongdoing regarding the other NZ incident for days, even to the point of mentioning it at the AGM, radio.

Yet now days later, have launched an internal investigation into it?

The admin just go about things back the front, and it hurts the external image, might not bother Saints fans....you've already been won over for your Saints life.

This kind of backflip hurts the brand, and is well in the clubs control.

[Dr Spaceman]

Even if one was to take the plugger view on this, that it is all the club's fault and that the media is simply reporting it, a reasonable person, IMO, would at least have to accept it's overkill.

These stories are out there, and unless you've been living on the moon, you would know every minute detail of the allegations.

Surely there is no need for a dozen new articles, from a dozen different "journos" every single day. We don't need to get the views of everyone from Barack Obama to Barry the butcher. Without blindly supporting everything the club has or hasn't done in recent times, this IS overkill.

On the otherhand the Hinch stuff is pure crap and I simply cannot justify his commentary as anything else. He has got it in for us ever since he took up the crusade for KD. This week he called the bloke in NZ and without knowing anything about him, immediately took the view that he was telling the truth and that the grubby Saints were covering it up.

He then took calls from people with the same agenda and basically attacked the club's sponsors and those who may seek to become sponsors. He even had a direct dig at Linen House, their support of Nick and that advertising campaign of "sleep like a Saint".

What really p..sed me off was he then said that our sponsor is now known around the traps as "Dirty Linen House" and started snickering. Now maybe I have been on the moon myself but I have not heard this to be the case. The bloke is just a dirty piece of s..t who will not stop until we sack our Board, our coach, half our players and lose all our sponsors!

A dirty piece of s..t

[Enrico_Misso]

Even if one was to take the plugger view on this, that it is all the club's fault and that the media is simply reporting it, a reasonable person, IMO, would at least have to accept it's overkill.

These stories are out there, and unless you've been living on the moon, you would know every minute detail of the allegations.

Surely there is no need for a dozen new articles, from a dozen different "journos" every single day. We don't need to get the views of everyone from Barack Obama to Barry the butcher. Without blindly supporting everything the club has or hasn't done in recent times, this IS overkill.

On the otherhand the Hinch stuff is pure crap and I simply cannot justify his commentary as anything else. He has got it in for us ever since he took up the crusade for KD. This week he called the bloke in NZ and without knowing anything about him, immediately took the view that he was telling the truth and that the grubby Saints were covering it up.

He then took calls from people with the same agenda and basically attacked the club's sponsors and those who may seek to become sponsors. He even had a direct dig at Linen House, their support of Nick and that advertising campaign of "sleep like a Saint".

What really p..sed me off was he then said that our sponsor is now known around the traps as "Dirty Linen House" and started snickering. Now maybe I have been on the moon myself but I have not heard this to be the case. The bloke is just a dirty piece of s..t who will not stop until we sack our Board, our coach, half our players and lose all our sponsors!

A dirty piece of s..t

Let's hope his medical prognosis ISN'T overstated

[Johnny Member]

It doesn't bother people that the Saints have denied wrongdoing regarding the other NZ incident for days, even to the point of mentioning it at the AGM, radio.

Yet now days later, have launched an internal investigation into it?

The admin just go about things back the front, and it hurts the external image, might not bother Saints fans....you've already been won over for your Saints life.

This kind of backflip hurts the brand, and is well in the clubs control.

But see I don't barrack for the admin or this so-called brand. And I don't see how, how the media and public choose to perceive the actions of the admin is going to stop us from winning games.

[SainterK]

It doesn't bother people that the Saints have denied wrongdoing regarding the other NZ incident for days, even to the point of mentioning it at the AGM, radio.

Yet now days later, have launched an internal investigation into it?

The admin just go about things back the front, and it hurts the external image, might not bother Saints fans....you've already been won over for your Saints life.

This kind of backflip hurts the brand, and is well in the clubs control.

But see I don't barrack for the admin or this so-called brand. And I don't see how, how the media and public choose to perceive the actions of the admin is going to stop us from winning games.

So your saying the lines between off-field and on-field never blur, one never impacts the other?

[SaintPav]

Couldn't agree more BackfromUSA.

I actually laughed while reading this article - the complete and utter belief of everything 'that woman' has said was hiliarious. I am still waiting to see any proof that she was pregnant at all - at the very least they are 'claims' without any proof, surely? 'That woman" has been proven to be a liar again and again...so anything she says should be taken with a grain of salt.

For an experienced journalist like Wilson to write such a slanted article like that is very surprising - and to me, proves that what Rooey said was exactly on the mark and hit a nerve. Yes, the players involved have to take reposnsibility for their actions - no doubt about that, and I believe they have done so. At the very least, the club has made them accountable after the fact.

Would be nice for the media to take some accountability too. Haha, funny one.

(Good to see the petulant, agitating child jump in there with a negative response too - that gave me even more of a laugh!)

Yep much better to think we are getting picked on. Now if that isnt childish what is? I take it you are a young teenager so I shouldnt have a go at you but you need some common sense but like they say it isnt that common. Also didnt realise being positive is thinking everyone is against us. I would have thought that is really negative.

There's an element of trth to what you are saying but not everyting in the media has been reported accuratley and it has been sensationalised to the point where it does not reflect reality.

[SaintPav]

Couldn't agree more BackfromUSA.

I actually laughed while reading this article - the complete and utter belief of everything 'that woman' has said was hiliarious. I am still waiting to see any proof that she was pregnant at all - at the very least they are 'claims' without any proof, surely? 'That woman" has been proven to be a liar again and again...so anything she says should be taken with a grain of salt.

For an experienced journalist like Wilson to write such a slanted article like that is very surprising - and to me, proves that what Rooey said was exactly on the mark and hit a nerve. Yes, the players involved have to take reposnsibility for their actions - no doubt about that, and I believe they have done so. At the very least, the club has made them accountable after the fact.

Would be nice for the media to take some accountability too. Haha, funny one.

(Good to see the petulant, agitating child jump in there with a negative response too - that gave me even more of a laugh!)

Yep much better to think we are getting picked on. Now if that isnt childish what is? I take it you are a young teenager so I shouldnt have a go at you but you need some common sense but like they say it isnt that common. Also didnt realise being positive is thinking everyone is against us. I would have thought that is really negative.

The comments from posters reflect the club's stance as well. Who has ever come and and praised Carro for writing a fair and accurate piece?

While there's an element of truth to what you are saying, not everyting in the media has been reported accuratley and it has been sensationalised to the point where it does not reflect reality.

[BallBanger]

Funny that 90% of the media are against us at the moment afterall we have done nothing wrong. The other thing that is funny is I have been told only the Herald Sun hate us. I reckon it is about time some of us here got those chips off our shoulders and realise if the club hadnt stuffed up there would be nothing to write about.

Maybe if we stop looking for excuses and blaming others we would walk straighter instead of going around in circles because of the chip.

What if our boys are correct...Gilbert and co did not know her from school, thought she was a 19yr old model and she was impregnated by another man or worse she was not pregnant....

Where's our voice plugger as you appear to be negating all things positive st kilda

Walk straighter?? you mean walk straighter when copping it up the rrrs
Something you never do....always responding to critizism of yourself hypocrit

[plugger66]

Couldn't agree more BackfromUSA.

I actually laughed while reading this article - the complete and utter belief of everything 'that woman' has said was hiliarious. I am still waiting to see any proof that she was pregnant at all - at the very least they are 'claims' without any proof, surely? 'That woman" has been proven to be a liar again and again...so anything she says should be taken with a grain of salt.

For an experienced journalist like Wilson to write such a slanted article like that is very surprising - and to me, proves that what Rooey said was exactly on the mark and hit a nerve. Yes, the players involved have to take reposnsibility for their actions - no doubt about that, and I believe they have done so. At the very least, the club has made them accountable after the fact.

Would be nice for the media to take some accountability too. Haha, funny one.

(Good to see the petulant, agitating child jump in there with a negative response too - that gave me even more of a laugh!)

Yep much better to think we are getting picked on. Now if that isnt childish what is? I take it you are a young teenager so I shouldnt have a go at you but you need some common sense but like they say it isnt that common. Also didnt realise being positive is thinking everyone is against us. I would have thought that is really negative.

There's an element of trth to what you are saying but not everyting in the media has been reported accuratley and it has been sensationalised to the point where it does not reflect reality.

Of course not everything is reported truthfully. Matter some of the things written about our club I know as fact are either lies or wrong but that probably would go with every club not just us.

[Scottish Saint]

Caroline Wilson reckons we're paranoid and then demonstrates why by mentioning that Gilbert and Armitage had sex with The Teenager but forgets anout Dayne Beams.

This week a Richmond player tested positive for a performance enhancing drug - surely far worse than anything the Fab Four did in NZ. Imagine if that had been a St Kilda player. Drunk Richmond players were fighting each other in a Sydney hotel last year. Where are the stories about Richmond's cultural problems?

[saint66au]

Funny that 90% of the media are against us at the moment afterall we have done nothing wrong. The other thing that is funny is I have been told only the Herald Sun hate us. I reckon it is about time some of us here got those chips off our shoulders and realise if the club hadnt stuffed up there would be nothing to write about.

Maybe if we stop looking for excuses and blaming others we would walk straighter instead of going around in circles because of the chip.

ohh shut up
other sides have the same amount on controversy
its not reported on

Crap. As a Saints supporter we look more closely at our articles. It makes no sense that we get picked on more than other clubs and only people unbalanced by the chip could honestly think that way. Why cant people be positive and think that we are treated like other clubs. Keep out of trouble and there is no news.

By the way why do you think we get picked on more than other clubs.

Unfortuantely this time youre not right. Its well known in football circles that another Melbourne-based club went to NZ before us and got into a load more strife..but the media didnt pick up on it and the club concerned kept it in house

I reckon Im pretty unblinkered about footy but right now its fact that the media are treating St KIlda differently to most other clubs..

[plugger66]

Caroline Wilson reckons we're paranoid and then demonstrates why by mentioning that Gilbert and Armitage had sex with The Teenager but forgets anout Dayne Beams.

This week a Richmond player tested positive for a performance enhancing drug - surely far worse than anything the Fab Four did in NZ. Imagine if that had been a St Kilda player. Drunk Richmond players were fighting each other in a Sydney hotel last year. Where are the stories about Richmond's cultural problems?

There is where fact becomes fiction. A player trying to make the Richmond squad tested positive whilst playing in a different competition.

[markp]

By the way why do you think we get picked on more than other clubs.

They know which stories get clicked on the most.

Positive filth articles first, negative Saints one second. Guaranteed.

We were the second most 'watched' team last year.

It's all about eyeballs on product.

As for Caro... bird's gotta sing, Caro's gotts dig.

Dont like it, dont read it.

[philtee]

Had to laugh at this line - "Riewoldt perpetuated the myth of a club under seige."
Er, actually Caroline, the Club IS under seige, from all corners of the media, including yourself, who have pounced on any perceived "slip-up" by the Club. YOU'RE the one at the gates lobbing grenades over the wall. Why else do we have you on page 5 going on and on and on ?

And, if you do know of any rift at board level, don't hide behind innuendo - name names, make some calls, find out some more facts, otherwise you're just printing the rumour.

[SainterK]

Had to laugh at this line - "Riewoldt perpetuated the myth of a club under seige."
Er, actually Caroline, the Club IS under seige, from all corners of the media, including yourself, who have pounced on any perceived "slip-up" by the Club. YOU'RE the one at the gates lobbing grenades over the wall. Why else do we have you on page 5 going on and on and on ?

And, if you do know of any rift at board level, don't hide behind innuendo - name names, make some calls, find out some more facts, otherwise you're just printing the rumour.

What she is pointing out, is not whether the club is under seige or not, but how far removed this message was from both Greg and Rossy's speeches at the AGM.

[Waltzing St Kilda]

On the otherhand the Hinch stuff is pure crap and I simply cannot justify his commentary as anything else. He has got it in for us ever since he took up the crusade for KD. This week he called the bloke in NZ and without knowing anything about him, immediately took the view that he was telling the truth and that the grubby Saints were covering it up.

Never forget this about Derryn Hinch: in one of his innumerable autobiographies (has anyone tried to mythologise himself as much as this gasbag mediocrity?) he admitting to wanking so often as teenager that his wizzer bled.

Methinks he's still hard at it.

[Thinline]

Funny that 90% of the media are against us at the moment afterall we have done nothing wrong. The other thing that is funny is I have been told only the Herald Sun hate us. I reckon it is about time some of us here got those chips off our shoulders and realise if the club hadnt stuffed up there would be nothing to write about.

Maybe if we stop looking for excuses and blaming others we would walk straighter instead of going around in circles because of the chip.

You keep barking the same tune Plugger but the reality is far different to the idealistic black and white world you inhabit.

St Kilda is achieving a million online news hits because unsubstantiated gossip is being dressed as hard news.

The only true news of recent times post Lovett (who hardly deserves being labelled a Saint to be frank) has been the behaviour of the four players now suspended.

Kim Duthie was given airtime because of the kink factor (dressed as 'moral concern for a girl in need'). The way her story was reported was heavily weighed in favour of her being an aggrieved, naive child when IN FACT the opposite was true. That she was lying compulsively was glossed over under headlines of NUDE SCANDAL when the same stories could have existed under headlines along the lines of TROUBLEMAKER'S ACCOUNT AT BEST DUBIOUS. The schoolgirl 'scandal' broke prematurely. The NZ fight story was reported as news when it was gossip. The Baker/Hayes incident was reported as 'a rift in the ranks' when it was two blokes out in their own time off season being harrassed by a bouncer.

Lets not even go into the fact that Beams and McCarthy's dubious behaviour is now 'dead' news. If there were Saints at that party you can bet your bottom dollar the media scrum would be a mile deep and deepening.

There are 16 other clubs, for christ's sake.

You can't tell me they're not hotbeds of their own gossip laden scandals-in-waiting. Even here on the Goldie there's talk of a one of the new players being in dangerous gambling debt before he's set foot on the AFL: playing field. News? Should be if the same standards apply.

No club is perfect.

But the uneven coverage is, frankly, a laughable farce.

Today is a true case in point.

Wilson is speculating and making it sound like she is a fly on the wall. To say Levin was out of line for wanting to pursue Duthie legally pointed to the seriousness of the privacy breach, not to some petty fear mongering on the club's part.

The latter however sits much better in a footy world where PR/brand/ profile is much easier to comment on than the sport itself.

Wilson is a fly, sure enough. There is, however, no wall that would in its right mind have her.

As someone said above...St K neg stories rate. They do. Fact.

That doesn't make their publication suitable or correct.