AFL, Richmond need to act against player who circulated topless photoSusie O’Brien,
Herald Sun
11 October 2017A PHOTO of a naked woman should not be a symbol of victory passed around for the enjoyment of mates.
It’s not a bit of fun, as some are claiming. It’s the sort of thing that has the power to end careers, ruin relationships and even lead to suicide.
It is disgraceful that a photo of a topless woman wearing a Richmond premiership medal has been circulating in AFL circles for days now.
Some people are suggesting the woman was asking for trouble by posing for the photo in the first place.
I strongly disagree. A woman — or man — should be able to pose for an intimate picture without expecting it to do the rounds on social media.
It is understood the woman agreed to the photo being taken, but the player told her he’d deleted it from his phone. Instead it was forwarded on many, many times.
The circulation of the image on social media could be illegal because the woman in question didn’t give permission.
The player could be charged under new laws which prohibit adults from sending intimate images without consent.
The Victorian offence of distributing an image “contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct” carries a maximum penalty of up to two years in jail. Nationally, the penalty is three years for using a carriage service to harass or cause offence.
It’s concerning that many males commenting on social media are playing this issue down, with one noting that “showing pics of topless women to your mates is perfectly normal and has nothing to do with ‘revenge’ lol”.
Yes, things like this happen, but it doesn’t make it “normal”. It’s profoundly disturbing.
In Victoria, 30 per cent of those charged under sexting laws are aged 10 to 17 years, but this Richmond player is a grown man who cannot use ignorance as an excuse.
This act also violates a number of AFL policies on respect, privacy and social media engagement, as the Richmond player would be well aware.
The latter policy specifically outlaws the transmission of “sexually explicit material” and breaching the “reasonable expectation of privacy of a person”.
Richmond club president Peggy O’Neal has said the image is “not what our club is about”.
It’s now up to O’Neal, her board and the AFL to take a strong stand in addition to any police action. There’s no point in having policies if nothing happens when they are violated.
Let’s hope immediate and decisive action is taken against the player who circulated the image.
No doubt the club would be mindful that naming the player may lead to the woman’s identity being uncovered. However, the issue can be dealt with appropriately without further damage to the woman’s reputation.
Whether we like it or not, AFL players — especially those who win grand finals — are role models.
They should be subject to higher standards than the average person because of the elevated status they hold in our community.
While the AFL and many of its clubs should be congratulated for their moves to improve equality and end discrimination, the emergence of the photo shows more needs to be done.
Indeed, the culture within AFL HQ came under scrutiny earlier this year after it emerged that a number of senior executives were having affairs with more junior women.
For too long, men in power have gotten away with treating women like objects and sexual playthings.
Some, like former Miramax boss Harvey Weinstein, are allowed to sexually abuse women for decades because they are wealthy, well-connected and powerful.
A cone of silence protected Weinstein because he kept making hit movies that made a lot of money.
Let’s hope the same doesn’t happen in this case.
What a shameful issue to have to write about on the International Day of the Girl.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/susie-obrien/afl-richmond-tigers-need-to-act-against-player-who-circulated-topless-photo/news-story/7f5518f756fecd0c3120fc4693465c4a
