No Barry Hall, that’s not how you get another chance

FROM his turn on 60 Minutes, it seems Barry Hall still hasn’t seen the error in his ways. If he wants to show he’s really changed, there’s a simple remedy, writes Megan Hustwaite.

BARRY Hall just doesn’t get it.

And it’s fair to say he never has.

Eyeballs rolled and brows were raised last night as the former AFL premiership player played the victim card on 60 Minutes as part of an outrage/PC gone crazy/what happened to free speech story which also featured Aussie “comedian” Kevin Bloody Wilson. If you don’t know his schtick Google it. Or maybe don’t. Enough said.

The take away from Hall’s cameo, in veteran journalist Charles Wooley’s story, was that he is unemployed and can’t get a job after his vulgar comment on Triple M’s football pre-match show eight weeks ago which related to co-caller Leigh Montagna’s pregnant wife and a birth-related procedure. Well, that’s what you could make out under the audible sound of Channel 9’s violins anyway.

Boo hoo.

First all of, Hall was merely filling in for dual Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd on that last Friday night in June when he made that grotesque remark. He was not an employed member of the commentary team working across AFL broadcasts every weekend. That in itself made it easier for the station to sack him on the spot, but it’s simply untrue that it made up a regular bread and butter gig for Hall.

Hall was a fill in member of the Triple M team when he was sacked for making offensive comments. (Pic: Jerad Williams)

But when he now claims that he can’t find employment, I’m not surprised.

Although he admitted his wrongdoing in last night’s story, the narrative quickly turned to the outrage brigade, the Twitter trolls, and free speech campaigners and all of a sudden Hall was the victim alongside his partner Lauren Brant and young son Miller, who he says have been the subject of vile and offensive threats. It seemed a bit strange that no examples were shown nor was Brant asked for comment.

Trolling and cyber abuse are absolutely and totally out of bounds, which goes without saying. But what did Hall expect to happen after the event? He apparently thought an apology would fly and the forgiving sporting world would give him a second chance because he’s a good bloke. But for Hall this is not a second chance, it’s more like the twenty-second chance.

Throughout his AFL career with St Kilda, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs he was a regular at the tribunal for thuggish on-field acts and is best known for knocking out West Coast Eagle Brent Staker in a sickening 2008 incident which saw him suspended for seven matches and left Staker unconscious and concussed.

Hall says he and his partner Lauren Brant have been the victims of online trolling. (Pic: Nigel Hallett)

You could say the Bulldogs gave him a second chance and a career lifeline which revived his career briefly before he retired in 2011.

Last year, at age 40 and then a new father, Hall was at it again while playing in the QAFL Grand Final, seen on vision striking an opponent in the face with a swinging left arm. After being confronted by the opponent, Hall clobbered him again.

Of course, Hall is entitled to redeem himself from his on-air disgrace, and nobody is suggesting he should never work or leave the house again but he’s not a hothead 20-something-year-old footy player with an axe to grind anymore. He is in his early 40s and a father.

A father who I’m sure would be sickened to see his son floored on the sporting field or hear his daughter spoken about in the same manner he discussed Erinn Montagna on national radio.

Hall most likely won’t work in the media again, not just because of his gaffe, but he just isn’t very good at it. He’s not a polished performer, nor is he researched or articulate.

For Hall this is not a second chance, it’s more like the twenty-second chance. (Pic: Richard Gosling)

He would be best placed to do what you, the next door neighbour, or I would do if we were out of work — and that’s look for a job. In the paper, online, on notice boards, by asking around.

The sporting fraternity is exceptionally forgiving, and Australia as a nation is generous with second chances and giving its own another go, sometimes for the best and sometimes for the worst.

Many former sporting heroes have grasped that opportunity with both hands, acknowledged their stuff up, righted their wrongs and carved out a new chapter for themselves and their families. Others, however, still haven’t learned their lesson.

I still don’t think Hall completely understands why what he did was disgusting, inappropriate and offensive. In fact, he seems a bit perplexed by what’s come his way since.

The best thing he can do now is put his head down, bum up, away from the spotlight, earn an honest living and work on being a respectful and decent person and the best partner and father he can be.

Hall stood up on the football field as a key forward who booted 746 goals; it’s now time he steps up off it.

Megan Hustwaite is an award-winning freelance sports journalist.

@meganhustwaite