Comment: Why Eagles players were out of order with their social media rants

NO matter how justified the Eagles’ players felt in offering an opinion on the 19th man drama in the wake of the SANFL preliminary final, sometimes it is best to bite the tongue.

The agony of preliminary final defeat for the Eagles. Picture: Sarah Reed

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WHO hasn’t picked up the phone in an emotional moment and typed a few words to vent? There is that desperate need to unleash a thought.

Often it is followed by regret, even despite the feeling of justification in the opinion.

Woodville-West Torrens was one very angry football club after the preliminary final loss to North Adelaide. No doubt frustration was on offer at Woodville Oval in bucket loads.

But to vent the way some players did on social media in the hours immediately after the 19th-man drama, probably after a couple of quiet ales, was totally out of order.

Calling the Roosters cheats and claiming rigged umpiring is just not on and the players were justifiably punished by the SANFL.

In fact, they are probably lucky to escape with suspensions and suspended fines. At least one of the comments, later removed, could have had legal ramifications.

If the SANFL wants to be serious it had to punish the players. There are rules against such behaviour.

The Eagles feel they were robbed and they are allowed to think that, rightly or wrongly.

However, rather than direct their anger at the Roosters and SANFL, maybe they should have put social media to one side and ask why they lost two finals and let slip a 47-point lead in the preliminary.

Sometimes, no matter what you think, it is best to bite your tongue — and put the phone away.