A country football league has distanced itself from “insensitive” and “unacceptable” comments made at a recent awards event at which the master of ceremonies joked about the Sydney Swans scandal.
But the league also said that, “in his defence”, the man was attempting “to show how certain events can galvanise a team’s resolve”.
In video posted online, the MC at the Whyalla Football League’s event made light-hearted reference to the Swans scandal, citing it in the context of local club South Whyalla’s upcoming match.
The man, Jock Sleep, suggested the local club draw inspiration from Sydney’s win over Brisbane in Saturday’s AFL qualifying final, linking that performance to the scandal engulfing the Swans.
“My advice to the Souths’ coach … [is] maybe we can manufacture a good old-fashioned scandal just to get that team going,” the MC said.
“It worked for the Sydney Swans. I’m just talking a scandal — not a real big one.”
Last week, Victoria Police detectives spoke with four Sydney Swans players as part of their sexual assault investigation linked to the club.
A still from the video shared online. (Facebook)
The man’s remarks at the Whyalla awards night were strongly condemned by Australian Femicide Watch’s Sherele Moody, who shared video on her social media pages and described the comments as “terrible”.
“The crowd at the awards night laughed along with him. There was no attempt to shut down the conversation by the organisers,” she wrote.
In a statement, Whyalla Football League president Keith Sichler said Mr Sleep was a “well-known local identity” and local football historian.
“His comments and joke were clearly insensitive and not indicative of current attitudes. In his defence, it was merely an attempt to show how certain events can galvanise a team’s resolve with the intent of improving their performance. Nothing more,” Mr Sichler said.
“Nonetheless, references of this nature are unacceptable and inconsistent with the inclusive and respectful environment we expect across our League.
“The WFL has spoken with him, and he understands the impact of his remarks and has expressed regret for any harm caused.”
The ABC has reached out directly to Mr Sleep for comment.
Last week, the Swans said five players would remain stood down for the remainder of the season for breaching the club’s behavioural standards in a post-AFL match hotel party in August, regardless of how an ongoing police investigation unfolded.
Victoria Police has interviewed four Sydney men as part of an investigation into sexual assault allegations during a post-AFL match party at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel.
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