Susan Alberti slams ‘disgraceful’ De Goey punishment

A footy pioneer has slammed the “disgraceful” punishment handed to Jordan De Goey but female AFL powerbrokers won’t talk about the issue.

Women’s footy pioneer Susan Alberti has slammed the punishment handed down to Jordan De Goey as “disgraceful”, saying Collingwood should have taken a stronger stand against disrespectful behaviour towards women.

The troubled star player was handed a suspended punishment of $25,000 by the Pies on Tuesday after his Bali nightclub video scandal emerged last week.

It comes as a selection of the most powerful women in the AFL – including club presidents, AFL commissioners and Collingwood board members – refused to comment on the adequacy of De Goey’s penalty when asked by the Herald Sun on Wednesday.

De Goey on Tuesday offered an apology to the club’s fans as part of a statement released by the club.

He said he had “betrayed” the club’s trust and also revealed he was recently diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Collingwood said on Wednesday night De Goey had been granted personal leave by the club and would not play against GWS on Sunday.

Alberti branded the punishment handed down to De Goey “disgraceful”.

“Personally I think it’s disgraceful, what has happened,’’ she said. “I’m sick of it, I’m over it, I’ve had enough of this and it’s about time there was due respect for both sexes, male and female.”

AFL powerbroker Susan Alberti slammed the ‘disgraceful’ punishment handed down by Collingwood.

Former footballer, coach and anti-violence campaigner Phil Cleary, also shared Alberti’s views saying Collingwood should have sent a message to its players, staff and fans by coming down harder on De Goey.

“There is a problem at the club and in the AFL in that they don’t have the right ­people talking about the question of women’s rights and what respect actually looks like,’’ he said.

He offered to speak face-to-face with De Goey and anyone at Collingwood about “the real connection between disrespect towards women and the violence that is pandemic in our society”. “If the football club doesn’t understand the connection then they are failing us,’’ he said.

Mr Cleary, whose sister was murdered in 1987, said “stronger messages” needed to be rolled out by football clubs. “And I’m frustrated by the fact that football clubs do not understand … we’ve got to exude strong values that indicate respect for women.”

Jordan De Goey was handed a suspended $25,000 penalty for his actions.

Ms Alberti said Collingwood had “absolutely” missed an opportunity to show it was serious about respect towards women by not hitting its star with a tougher sanction.

“They could be leaders, they could be really showing the way,’’ she said.

“They could say ‘This is not on at our club, this is not the culture at our club, we are going to show the rest of the world or the rest of the AFL, this is something that is just not on and it won’t be allowed’.’’

Ms Alberti said the fact De Goey had only been handed a suspended $25,000 penalty for his actions was “like a good behaviour bond”.

“Where if you’re a good boy, you won’t have to pay for it,” she said. “But how many more times is he going to continue to do this?

“Enough is enough.’’

Female presidents Peggy O'Neal, Kate Roffey, Kylie Watson-Wheeler and Dr Sonja Hood all declined to comment on De Goey’s sanctions. Picture: Alex Coppel.

She said clubs and the AFL had to take a tougher stand.

“Good culture comes from the top and no matter what amount of money, I don’t believe it will make any difference, particularly as it’s not hitting his hip pocket.”

Eleven of the AFL’s most powerful female leaders refused to comment on De Goey’s penalty when asked by the Herald Sun.

Monash University sport and Australian studies lecturer Tom Heenan said players involved in recent social media indiscretions appeared to lack insight and maturity and should not be excused as “boys will be boys”.