I've been holding my tongue for a while now about this, but the severity of the problem seems to have gone up a bit in the last couple of weeks. Eddie Betts has the brothers mentality entrenched into his mind.
Now, I have no problem with players having friendships with blokes from other clubs. But the last couple of weeks say to me that Eddie has a bit of an attitude problem at the moment. The pat on the head to Aaron Davey at quarter time was not on, and I applaud Robbo for telling him to pull his head in. But on Friday night after the game, Eddie was laughing and joking with Lindsay Thomas, after his club had lost an absolute monty of a chance to go 8-4....
There is no denying Eddie's performance in the game, he booted 5 goals and it was a good contribution from him.
But, where was the hurt? Where was the disappointment?
It certainly didn't seem like it phased him all that much. It reminded me of Fevola in 2008 when laughing and joking with Maxi and the boys after the Saints game. Save the friendships for off the field. Once our boys cross the line onto the arena, I expect them to respect the opposition, but not forget their purpose...to proudly represent the Carlton Football Club, and not give the opposition an inch.

It's probably an overreaction, but the last couple of weeks have exposed this 'brothers mentality'. I'm getting a little concerned about it.

Thoughts?

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

I think it goes beyond racial lines to a more broader issue.

Which players have the required ruthlessness and desperation deep down inside to gain the ultimate footballing respect?

Which players are just going along for the ride with their mates for the lifestyle and the financial security from contract to contract?

Doesn't worry me.

The game when Fev had a laugh and was hugging the Saints players after our narrow loss there was similar noises made...but no reference to Fev's "white card playing" mates (brothers?).

I know why it bothers you.

I think Eddie is probably unhappy with the result, happy with his performance and happy to see his mates. Brother? I don't know about that term. I understand your reference to it though.

For all we know Thomas may have cracked a damn good joke.

What if Thomas said....."Bettsy, don't tell anyone I arsed every one of those goals..apart from one, I was trying to pass it off...just one of those nights where everything went our way".

Then that is followed with "So Bettsy, how tall am I?

Bettsy responds "About 175cm?"

Then Thomas says "I bet you didn't think you could stack shit that high"

You'd have to laugh.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I agree with Bondiblue, I think people are being too judgmental and particular about things like this... did any other Carlton players happen to congratulate the opposition and have a chuckle or two?? Probably wasn't noticed if they did, because it's not Eddie or his 'brothers'? I bet Simmo and Ferritto had a good old chat at some stage ... Would that be a problem? Nope.

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GO BLUE BOYS!!

It's more than that though. Have we seen Simpson be all chummy and friendly with opposition players at the quarter time breaks? Nope. Did we see Eddie do it? Yes. For mine it needs to be stopped. Leave it for off field.

I don't want it to get to a point where we play off in a Grand Final and one of our players has the friendlies with an opposition player at any stage on the day...

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

But the quarter time incident with Eddie is done and dusted... you are bringing it up again only because he was chummy with Thomas at games end on Friday night.

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GO BLUE BOYS!!

I understand where you're coming from, and I even said in my first post it probably is an overreaction. But I'm raising the issue because it hasn't just been a one off. This is two weeks in a row now. One at the quarter time break in the heat of the match, and one after a hurtful loss.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

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"I had to eat"

I honestly don't think we understand the bond between the indigenous players. It is part of their culture and I can't remember any indigenous player at any club not acknowledging the other indigenous players in other teams no matter what the result or status of the game.

It shouldn't make a difference for mine. You play for your club, you represent the legion of fans, and you are out there to win. No friends in the field of battle I'm afraid. Leave the catching up for another time.

I guess if we delve into the whole indigenous culture relationship territory though we could tread on some sensitive issues.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

But Eddie just isn't like that. He's a simple, happy guy.


Yep, that's pretty much what it is in my opinion.

No doubt there are many different motivations for the players.

Some guys probably approach the game as a great way to earn a good living, and don't have the crazed hunger to do everything possible to achieve team success. Contract renewal would be the name of the game for them, and if the money dried up they'd probably think twice before committing themselves to football.

Others would be driven by the sorts of passions that the supporters have, where team success is everything. In our recent history, I reckon Peter Dean embodied this kind of attitude.

Most are probably somewhere in the middle. And the 'brothers' are a whole breed apart, with a special bond that us whities probably can't understand.

i agree with you about the quarter time incident with Davey, shouldnt happen.

But talking to Thomas after the game? no problems with that.

I understand you want Eddie to feel and show some pain of defeat but in these H&A games, you see opposition players chatting after the game all the time...not always joking, but you can see how if you had a good mate or close relative on an opposition team, you'd still talk to them after and maybe share a quick laugh, possibly about something totally unrelated to football, then go back to feeling the pain of defeat again as you walk off the ground and in the changerooms.

Plus, the Kangas had the game sown up for some time already and theres always less emotion when the siren sounds cause everyone knows who will win. I doubt Eddie would be joking with Thomas if we lost by a point in an intense heartbreaker.

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Carlton Premiers '10

No problem with it.

IMO it's a great part of our game that players can harrass and smash each other and then shake hands afterwards. Why not have mates from other clubs, most players played junior footy with players now playing with other AFL clubs.

It's a great example for kids: play hard and fair and direct your aggression at the contest, at the ball not at the individual. The best players take the emotion out of it, their focus is the ball ... come between them and the ball and you will be hurt.

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"It was like calling your ex girlfriend after a night on the booze, just a really bad decision".

Reminds me of a story former New York Knick basketball star John Starks told of Michael Jordan.

The nicest, greatest guy away from the court. The type that would invite you out to a great steak dinner and then pick up the tab and leave a great tip for the waiter. Would have great conversation, cracking jokes, etc, etc. However, the second that you got near the basketball court there wasn't a bigger asshole in the history of the game - he was just that competitive.

I wish more of our players were like that. Hell, I wish more sports people were like that. Nothing wrong with being the nicest guy away from the field of play but when you go near it you should have what we Aussies call white line fever. Not on the dirty side of things but rather firey competitiveness all too often lacking save for the absolute champions (which is what makes them reach that level).

Save it for off the field fellas.

Bett's has show he can be a decent human being and an elite sportsman. Good on him!

It's too easy for whitefellas to read too much into the actions of blackfellas. I think we just saw some aspects of Eddie's personality. Some people show loss by crying, hanging their heads, getting angry, etc. Eddie doesn't seem like that. He probably processes losses (and wins) differently than you or I.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

geez. at the start of the year people had a go at Mclean about not shaking kirks hand and now we have a go at eddie for being to friendly? i think it is no big deal. but i spose without people over reacting to things this website would not be running.

Well the Lindsay Campbell one was a little bit of an overreaction, but if you didn't have a problem with the Aaron Davey one then why? I just don't want to see our boys pat other blokes on the head during the course of a game.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."