Players agents should butt out of media Mike Sheahan
Herald Sun
April 08, 2010 THE blatant conflict for AFL player agents who moonlight in the media first became evident when Ricky Nixon worked weekends for Triple M as an around-the-grounds man.
Given he managed the cream of the player group back then, one or two of whom had a propensity to create headlines, and given Triple M had a rich best-player award, Ray Charles could have spotted his conflict of interest.
Nixon lived with the cynicism for a while before walking away and saving himself the trouble.
We have learned to live with agent conflict in recent years, but Ricky Olarenshaw's extraordinary boot-in-mouth performance on radio on Tuesday has put the issue back on the agenda.
What on earth was he thinking when he told Gold FM and its tens of thousands of listeners that Ben Cousins "may have lost his way again"?
Given Cousins' history, that implied only one thing - that a self-confessed drug addict had suffered a relapse.
Yes, Olarenshaw was on Gold in his role as a quasi-media man but, primarily, he is an accredited player manager.
One of his clients happens to be Cousins' Richmond teammate Daniel Jackson, a member of the team's leadership group.
Given Jackson is Olarenshaw's only known link to Richmond, isn't it natural to assume the intelligence came from Jackson?
I don't believe it did, for Jackson is an intelligent young man with a strong sense of team and loyalty.
"I'm not one for gossip and rumours," Olarenshaw said, followed by the inevitable: "But ..."
He then proceeded to suggest Richmond left Cousins out of the team to play the Western Bulldogs last Sunday for reasons other than the declared knee soreness.
Then he warmed to his task. "There have been a lot of sightings of him out and about, with his behaviour a little bit erratic. He's been out with his shirt off and this sort of thing, and it's sad."
Surely Cousins wasn't the only one who got caught up in the spirit of the AC/DC concerts.
Olarenshaw's priorities in this case were Jackson's best interests (wearing his manager's hat) and fairness to Cousins (wearing his commentator's hat).
He had a non-negotiable obligation to check with Richmond before going to air, with any one of coach Damien Hardwick, a former teammate at Essendon; general manager of football Craig Cameron; football operations manager Ross Monaghan; or communications manager Jude Donnelly.
He is extremely fortunate Cousins (a) seems to ignore whatever the media says of him, and (b) doesn't have a manager like Paul Connors or Craig Kelly or ... Nixon.
The truth is no defence in this case. Even if Olarenshaw was on the money, allegations of such a serious nature demand he offer the right of reply to the subject or a representative of his club.
Given the AFL Players' Association licenses player agents and is charged with looking after the best interests of players, it would seem to have no alternative other than to call on Olarenshaw to explain.
The agents can say what they like, but they are conflicted when they work in the media.
Gary Ablett's manager Liam Pickering, who has radio and television commitments, gets his lines blurred.
When Geelong coach Mark Thompson was seen recently to prod Ablett on his intentions post-2010, Pickering publicly and clearly expressed his reservations.
Yet, he said Ablett had no problem with Thompson's words.
Doesn't it end there?
If his player isn't aggrieved, why should he be?
I enjoy the Pickering banter on Off the Bench on SEN 1116 on Saturday mornings, but I don't learn one thing about any of his clients, unless they are under attack.
Certainly don't hear anything about the plans (or thoughts) of the most talked about man in football, one G. Ablett.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/players-agents-should-butt-out-of-media/story-e6frf9ox-1225851125101
