The Bedge wrote:Yes, we have continual work that is required to culture and behavior. We aren't naïve to it, or turning a blind eye. As a club we are constantly trying to improve, do the right things but most of all educate and make our members understand. It's actually not easy.
This year we have experienced incredible growth, and obviously on field success - success that frankly is foreign to a lot of people.. but with winning comes greater attention, scrutiny and often antagonising from opposition. No one gave two shits when we were easy beats, now we are winning. We have members who struggle with that, members who come from low socio-economic backgrounds, members who come from dysfunctional broken families and members who are "old school"... members who struggle to regulate their emotions or feel they need to display some "staunch" persona.
That's not to make excuses for peoples behaviour, drunken carry on, or on / off field incidents - we don't condone it.. but we are trying., and we will continue to try.. and we will weed out the bad eggs in time, and we will hopefully build something sustainable.
Don't claim to be perfect, don't justify peoples actions or behaviours.. but there are a LOT of good people at Ingle Farm, a lot of passionate, hard working people who want to do the right thing and have the best interests of the club, community and competition at heart.. and we have a lot of good people who want the same but aren't very good at knowing how to deliver that or cant regulate their emotions or struggle with zipping their mouths when drinking.
Personally, I think it's great seeing all the clubs in our area having success, I love seeing Para Hills having a good season (as well as Gepps, Kilburn and then up the road Modbury etc).. having been in the same position (as PH) I'm proud of them getting through some tough seasons finally getting reward, and it's good for competition and it's good for our communities.
No one is perfect, especially us.. but we aren't bad either. Please, don't let minorities dictate your perceptions on the club, give the good folk a chance to fix it. The weight of other peoples **** ups at the club sit heavily on the shoulders of those who care and invest effort, not just people involved in any incidents.
Your second paragraph is just excuses. Good clubs weed those out or facilitate change. Winning culture doesn't automatically change how one acts. Also on field success only matters if you are promoted of win a flag
