The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

[legend]

<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="100%" align=center border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td align=left colspan=3>The Good, The Bad and The Ugly</td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%" colspan=3>Written by:Michael Edgar</td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%" colspan=3>5/4/03</td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%" colspan=3><a target=_top>&lt;&lt;&lt; Go Back</a></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=3></td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="20%"> EMAIL THIS</td> <td align=left width="20%"> PRINT THIS</td> <td align=left width="60%"></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=3></td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%" colspan=3>The good were the Bulldogs in their victory over the Eels, the bad was the Eels performance, while the ugly were the incidents after the match had ended on the trains to Lidcombe and Lidcombe station itself.
A small section of the Bulldogs crowd were hell bent on wreaking havoc last night, using abusive language on trains, intimidating other passengers with mock fights, yelling and screaming obscenities, while at Lidcombe station, a brawl broke out on platform four between at least a dozen Bulldogs fans as commuters looked on. The brawl lasted for several minutes on a packed station with hundreds of other fans subjected to this disgusting display of anti-social behavior.
As a neutral fan returning from Telstra Stadium by public transport I was appalled to see such behavior and total disregard for the well being of others by a small yet vocal section of the Bulldogs crowd.
Some may think I am generalising or pigeon holing the Bulldogs fans but this is most definitely not the case. The only way I could identify these fans was by the jerseys they were wearing, in this case blue and white.
Whether this incident sees the light of day through the mainstream media remains to be seen but as a first hand witness to last night’s events, it would make people think twice about using public transport to travel to and from major sporting events and it does the Bulldogs image no favours with such loutish behavior.
I attended the game with my wife and nephew and there were genuine concerns for their safety as people from other platforms at Lidcombe station were running to get involved in the melee. My wife is an avid Bulldogs fan and she was disgusted with what she saw on many fronts, least of all the generalisations that stick after something as unsavoury as this happens.
As an avid rugby league fan, I have traveled to many venues and never have I seen this type of behavior, especially by fans from the winning team. I have been to see games in Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle and all the metropolitan Sydney grounds and while some are hostile environments for the players, the safety of the general public has never been put at risk.
On the whole, 99% of the Bulldogs fans behavior was beyond reproach and it is unfortunate the actions of the few cruel it for the many.
It is impossible for the Bulldogs as a club to police the actions of their fans after they have left the ground but it is a poor advertisement none the less and something that needs adressing by the NRL, State Rail Authority, The Bulldogs and the NSW Police.</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[imported_Beast]

This sort of conduct is not new to elements of the Bulldogs supporters..it has been going on for a number of years and appears they have no intention of stopping such conduct. I can recall them letting of flares in the stands and generally trying to intimidate other league fans with verbal abuse and assorted filth. Mind you they usually direct this filth toward women and children as the do not have the balls to direct it at a bloke or a number of blokes who look like they could look after themselves. These bulldog supporters operate in groups because individually they are gutless twigs and would run like hell whenever someone brings them to task.
On top of the Bulldogs salary cap rorting, which somehow appears to be continuing there has to be a strong argument to relocate their franchise licence up to the SE Qld region and deny the token thugs the opportunity to harass genuine legue fans.
These bulldog fans would be better of watching soccer where that conduct is the norm in UK or Europe!

 

[Willow]

"..strong argument to relocate their franchise licence up to the SE Qld region "
Why? What has SE Qld done wrong?

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

With all due respect Leg, id estimate that at 80% of games that i attend,i see fights between people. The problem is not unique to dogs fans (although im not denying that there is a violent element).

But its more than a bulldogs problem, its a social problem. Look at the protests, gunfire outside police stations, its a lot more than a footy problem. I was there to, and sat near the main dogs group. Now when you see 500-1000 people (mostly) ofmiddle easternextraction standing there, mostly young and testosterone filled, chanting and being aggressive, what is a group of 5-10 cops/security going to do? I saw exactly the same thing on Friday night (at the ground), and most of these guys are quite solidly built. If the police are serious, they will sit down and plan out something, and get stuck into these guys. As ive said before, for a lot of them,action is the only language they understand. They need to have zero-tolerance, simple as that. Get them for anti-social behaviour, posession of drugs, whatever. But crack down on it - now

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[Willow]

Youre right Moffo, it is wider social problem. As Leg said in the article:
NRL, State Rail Authority, The Bulldogs and the NSW Police

You notice that the responsibilty isnt unique to one area. I might also add community groups, local council and schools into the equation.

But at the end of the day, its the Bulldogs that are being tarred with this brush and they must also take a lion's share of the responsibility. If theCanterbury club does nothing, they will continue to be blamed for the actions of others.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

True mate

When i see crap like protestors wearing dogs jerseys at protests it pisses me off no end. Just stupidity of the highest degree, they can be dickheads all they want, but why do they have to bring the canterbury name into it?

Ive seen the same jersey 2 weeks in a row, complete and utter contempt for the club and what they are trying to achieve

Moffo

 

[Willow]

"When i see crap like protestors wearing dogs jerseys at protests it pisses me off no end. "
Sorry, I didnt quite follow that. Are you saying that the 'Books For Bombs' mob are full of Canterbury supporters?

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

Na mate,its just that ive watched the news of the last 2 protests and i have seen several of the protestors wearing dogs jerseys. I think its not the core books not bombs group, but some of the 'radical element' that have jumped on board and decided that destorying public property and throwing chairs at cops is the way to go

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[legend]

Moffo, so far this year I have attended three matches, Rooster v Eels, Raiders v Tigers and Bulldogs v Eels andI have only seen one "brawl" in all three matches to date. What I am saying is this was more than a fight. There were more than a dozen people involved and people were running from other platforms to get involved.

Willow and I discussed this issue at length before we published itand while not wanting to tarnish the image of the game, incidents like this cannot go unchecked.

And for the record, I don't lay all the blame at the feet of the Bulldogs club. As Willow has pointed out, it is the responsibility of all the organisations already mentionedthat have the power to stop this rubbish but it is a HUGE task.

 

[Willow]

'books for bombs' or is it 'books not bombs'? Anyway mate, they are the so-called radical element. I thought they were being told to piss off by the other protest groups. Apparently the last protest they had was peaceful in comparison but didnt get much coverage.

Still not sure what you mean though. Are you saying that they are deliberating wearing Cantebury jerseys and then destroying property? Or that you dont approve of Canterbury supporters belonging to such groups?

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

Leg, it all depends where u sit i guess. Id say that the violence aspect in the crowds has probably dropped off (overall) in the last 5yrs. I remember the knights/dogs final in 98 when honestly, i counted at least 5 crowd disturbances

To be honest, the sharks/dragons game from last years final seriesis another exception to this. People were constantly being turfed out of the ground on that night, there was a fight right next to me i think i remember telling people at the time

Point is (IMO), is that its a social problem. As you have noted. The club has done its best to stop the anti-social behaviour, but when it gets outside their territory (ie: Lidcombe station), it becomes a hard thing to police. Were the dogs fans fighting with each other or eels fans?

Books not bombs mate. Willow, what im saying is that if there are Canterbury fans out there that are against the war, than fine, i have no problem with it. But they should think twice before wearing club colours to the protests. They should have the brains to realise that people are going to see dogs jerseys at the protest and think...bloody bulldogs supporters again.

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[ozbash]

a fight between the fans is ok- all part of the culture.

urban terrorism is not ok.

 

[legend]

Moffo, they were dogs fans bashing each other so I at least they are performing some type of public service.

 

[Willow]

MFC: "But they should think twice before wearing club colours to the protests. They should have the brains to realise that people are going to see dogs jerseys at the protest and think...bloody bulldogs supporters again."

Well I can't agree with that, Moffo. Why should they dress to according your standards?
They arejust footy supporters who just happen to be members of a protest group.

I suppose it would OK with you to see people wearing Bulldogs jerseys when they farewell the HMAS Sydney off to the war. If someone told you that these people were making Bulldogs supporters look stupid...how would you react?

The problem is that a lot of people would be proud to say that they are Bulldogs supporters... buggered if I know why but they do exist.
Just because they share a different political viewpoint to yours shouldnt be part of the equation.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

No, your missing the point

One of the violent protestors who was identified kicking in doors and throwing chairs had a dogs jersey on. This is what i object to. They wern't protesting, they were being violent and committing criminal acts. And i object to the fact that some of these twits were wearing canterbury clothes. People are dumb enough to make the connection, they see a dogs jersey and automatically think the worst

In regards to your example

Id say that farewelling the HMAS Sydney is far more an 'admirable' activity than trashing public property.

Moffo

 

[Willow]

Ah I see, they were trashing and kicking and making all the smashing sounds... I get it now.
Well what can I say... typical Canterbury supporters. <hr>
"Id say that farewelling the HMAS Sydney is far more an 'admirable' activity than trashing public property. "
Well both the navy and thebooks notbombs mob have a lot in common. Both break things and both think they are fighting for peace.