Talking Footy

Rival codes wouldn't be so tolerant with Carney
Adrian Proszenko
August 14, 2011.


Code red ... Todd Carney would have already been axed if he played in other codes. Photo: Simon Alekna

TODD CARNEY would have been sacked long ago if he was a player in at least two of Australia's three other football codes. The Roosters face an agonising decision over whether to axe Carney over his latest indiscretion or to continue to work with the troubled playmaker amid speculation South Sydney and Penrith are ready to pounce should he be cut.

Carney and Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala were issued with breach notices after breaking a team alcohol ban last week.

The Sun-Herald has spoken to officials in the A-League, AFL and the Australian Rugby Union to ascertain how the rival football codes would deal with Carney. Privately, the consensus is his contract would have been terminated several indiscretions ago. ''He'd be gone,'' said an official of one code. ''You would have to go through due process to make sure things are done right … but you can't have someone like him continually tarnishing your brand.'' Another offered: ''He wouldn't last at our club.''

Recently appointed Sydney FC chief executive Dirk Melton has an appreciation of the league landscape, having worked for several seasons at Canterbury. Along with Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg, he was instrumental in turning around the image of the club after a series of scandals.

Following a pre-season match against second-tier NSW state league side St George at Jubilee Oval, Sky Blues captain Terry McFlynn asked how Melton would deal with Carney if he was a player in the A-League. We asked the same question. ''I'm not aware of all the facts and inner workings of what the club has done,'' Melton said. ''I can only concern myself with what happens at my club. We need to ensure we have appropriate people management processes that could suitably account for situations that may not be acceptable. In any industry, most people-management processes have a 'three strikes and you're out' policy. You would want to do that within the realms of the appropriate employment laws.''

An ARU spokesman said it did not comment on other codes in relation to disciplinary matters. However, the ARU has taken a hardline stance on serial offenders. Former Western Force halfback Matt Henjak was sacked in 2008 after a string of off-field misdemeanours, following an incident involving teammate Haig Sare.

An ARU disciplinary committee found Henjak ''savagely punched'' Sare at a bar. The Force had sent Henjak on a tour of South Africa despite the allegation hanging over his head, but ARU chief executive John O'Neill demanded the franchise resolve the matter immediately and he was sent home.

The Sydney Swans have long maintained an unofficial ''no-dickheads policy'' and it is unlikely Carney would have survived at most AFL clubs. When contacted by The Sun-Herald, an AFL spokesman would not comment on Carney's situation but said the AFL had dealt with some serious issues regarding player behaviour in recent years, and dealt with each issue ''on a case-by-case basis''.

The FFA's head of national teams and football development, John Boultbee, said any Socceroo with Carney's rap sheet would face the prospect of being kicked off the team. ''Many of those incidents would warrant a code of conduct consideration. The consequences could include removal from the team and being declared ineligible for future teams.'' A Roosters insider labelled the actions of Myles, a member of the leadership group, as ''disgraceful''.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z1UzxhRkPH

Truthsayer wrote:

That would not matter, Mr Cooee.

Truthsayer wrote:

If this was true they would have been delisted.

Truthsayer wrote:

No it is the case that Mr Cooee is lying. He never saw any such incident. Anyone behaving in a manner similar to that of Mr Carney would have been delisted. The issue of publicity would not have been considered.

Raiderdave wrote:

Truthsayer wrote:

No it is the case that Mr Cooee is lying. He never saw any such incident. Anyone behaving in a manner similar to that of Mr Carney would have been delisted. The issue of publicity would not have been considered.

did anyone de-list that cheat from Collingwood who bet on a game he played in ?
No ?

Beaussie wrote:

Raiderdave wrote:

Truthsayer wrote:

No it is the case that Mr Cooee is lying. He never saw any such incident. Anyone behaving in a manner similar to that of Mr Carney would have been delisted. The issue of publicity would not have been considered.

did anyone de-list that cheat from Collingwood who bet on a game he played in ?
No ?

Unlike your cheating lot with underworld connecetions, no one in the AFL has ever been found to be placing bets on the actual results. Face facts, there is an ongoing police investigation in your game for reason. Rotten to the core comes to mind. How anyone can have faith in the results of the NRL is beyond belief.

Truthsayer wrote:

What Mr Tandy did was far worse because he not only placed money on the option, he created the option on the field of play even if the Cowboys did not take it. Mr Shaw did nothing of the sort. Further, Mr Tandy lied during an investigation carried out by New South Wales police as such direct action was a criminal code violation. Mr Shaw was openly truthful immediately and the police were never needed because no law was broken.

Mr Tandy is still a Bulldogs player. Please provide evidence that he has been banned for life.