Big Fulla wrote:I agree 'A Mum'. Thankyou. Its a 14 year old kid!!! He has obvious problems and needs support. He's an immature kid who needs help. Footy clubs and leagues have a responsibility also to support kids at a junior level, I'm pretty sure its becoming mandatory. Rather than hanging this kid out to dry and everyone taking pot shots at him a little support might actually make him realise that this behaviour is not acceptable. I dont condone what he has done, but I am also worried about the fact that he is so young, has been a repeat reported player, 4 times I believe, and there hasn't been anything put into place from the club or the league to support this kid in finding ways to manage his anger. Poor effort, ban him for 5 years, make him someone elses problem, poor effort.
Yes it is a tough one as the kid does need help, but when did that sort of thing become the responsibility of amatuer sporting clubs where the officials are just volunteers. From what has been written it seems bays did try:
Quote from the Encounter Bay President in the Times:
"In hindsight it would have been beneficial to all concerned if we had removed (the player) from the club when he first caused trouble as he has been an ongoing problem. However we spent many hours transporting, counselling and generally trying to provide something on which to base his life.
"A player of considerable talent, we were hoping for a positive response from him and it appeared for a time we were succeeding. Obviously that was not the case, but we feel that the obligation we have as a club to help produce responsible adults was one which we could not shirk."
And from Adelaide Now:
Jyrah, who has dropped out of school to work part-time at the Port Elliot Bakery, admitted he had an anger problem.
"I'm going to anger (management) classes now and hopefully I can think before I do silly stuff," he said.
The fact that the kid''s dad thinks he has been hard done by speaks volumes IMO.