Sydney Stack’s high five with Eddie Betts makes people outraged for the sake of being outraged
No doubt Sydney Stack’s high five with Eddie Betts grabbed attention because we want our footballers to be dour, robotic creatures. Can we save the outrage for the truly outrageous, asks Jon Ralph.
Richmond
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Can we save the outrage for the truly outrageous?
As usual there has been the usual froth and bubble over Sydney’s Stack’s high five with Eddie Betts for one reason.
Because it was different.
No doubt it grabbed the attention because we want our footballers to be dour, robotic creatures who frown when they are sad and smile when they are happy.
But footballers - and the current generation - just aren’t built like that.
Sydney Stack certainly isn’t.
Just as Essendon’s Dyson Heppell smiled for a brief second when he comforted David Myers after his missed shot, Sydney did what Sydney does.
Which was high-five a football idol after a lead-up that gave context to exactly what it happened.
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As Betts himself said, “Stack is a great young player but he keeps pushing you.
“Sydney kept saying all night, no special goals tonight brother.
“When I got it I said to him, told ya brother”.
The game was over as a contest and this brilliant young stud of a player had been schooled by the old veteran.
Stack flew for the contest, Betts stayed down and conjured yet another goal in a highlights reel as scintillating as anything Buddy Franklin or Adam Goodes have conjured.
The interaction was organic, immediate and brilliant.
If anyone thinks Stack isn’t a baller, or doesn’t give 100 per cent every single contest, they haven’t seen a second of his play this year.
When it comes time to go he goes like a raging bull, ironing out Jack Viney in one of this season’s iconic moments.
He should be every bit the Rising Star favourite alongside Carlton’s Sam Walsh.
A generation ago a throwback senior coach might asked Richmond players why they went over to Josh Jenkins to see if he was all right after his knee buckled behind him.
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Why show any sympathy when you can instead put the foot to the throat?
Footy has changed.
So much so that Rory Sloane praised the Richmond players post-match for their care for a fallen player.
Players interact on social media, they become friends on International Rules tours and indigenous pre-season camps.
And above all at Richmond, they try to have fun while also play ruthless winning football.