Polak thread [merged]

[mightytiges]

Benny Gale said Polly doesn't remember the interview

[one-eyed]

Richmond furious as newspaper 'bullies' injured player Polak into interview
Ben Doherty | The Age | August 22, 2008

INJURED Richmond footballer Graham Polak — still recovering from being hit by a tram in June and unlikely to play football again — is caught in the middle of an angry stand-off between his club and a major Melbourne newspaper.

Richmond is furious at what it has described as the "gutter journalism" of the Sunday Herald Sun, which sent a reporter to Polak's house on Wednesday and "bullied" him into an interview.

The club threatened to hold a press conference with Polak today to scupper the paper's exclusive, but that was withdrawn because of doctors' advice that Polak was not ready to participate in interviews.

On Wednesday, Richmond claims, Sunday Herald Sun reporter Stephen Drill arrived unannounced at Polak's house, asking for an interview.

After being refused, Drill left but returned several hours later with a photographer dressed in Richmond club clothing.

The club says Polak "felt extremely pressured, confused and uncomfortable" and agreed to an interview under duress.

He was said to be upset and stressed and has told club officials he was confused and remembers nothing of what he said.

Despite making good progress, Polak has not returned to full brain function after being struck by a tram on Dandenong Road hours after the club's centenary celebration match against Carlton on June 28.

His girlfriend, Alyce Oksuz, who arrived home on Wednesday as the interview was finishing, said she initially thought the photographer and reporter were from the club's website because the photographer was dressed in Richmond gear.

Richmond has demanded that the Sunday Herald Sun pull the story, and club officials, Polak's manager Paul Connors and Polak are meeting newspaper representatives today. "We just hope that common sense prevails and they don't run the story," Connors said last night.

The club has also threatened to boycott the paper, in scenes reminiscent of last year's stand-off between Channel Seven and AFL players over the leaked medical records affair.

There could also be a broader boycott of the newspaper by Richmond players, players in Connor's management stable, which includes stars Chris Judd and Jimmy Bartel, or even AFL players generally.

Chief executive of the AFL Players Association Brendan Gale said media organisations had been told Polak could not give interviews, and that Melbourne's "football media" deserved credit for respecting that.

"But here, we're talking about repeated intrusions, we're talking about arriving unannounced at his home," he said. "We're not talking about a bloke who's broken a law or failed to meet community standards. We're talking about a bloke with a serious brain injury, a bloke that is extremely vulnerable, and a bloke whose representatives have told the media ad infinitum that he's not in a position to be conducting interviews. In that context, it's extremely disappointing."

Richmond said Drill was told that Polak was unable to grant interviews. Neither Sunday Herald Sun editor Simon Pristel nor Stephen Drill returned calls from The Age yesterday.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/polak-bullied-into-interview/2008/08/21/1219262414261.html

[Moi]

They're a disgrace 

[2JD]

Absolute vultures!

[moose]

it is a worry though that polly cannot remember it, real worry

[WilliamPowell]

Benny Gale said Polly doesn't remember the interview

it is a worry though that polly cannot remember it, real worry

They had his manager Paul Connors on SEN just before 8.00am and Connors said the reports that "Polak could not remember doing the the interview" were not quite accurate.

Connors said that Graham remembers doing the interview but cannot remember everything he said in the interview, which his doctors have said is normal with this type of brain injury. Short term memory loss is common.

He also went onto to say that is the reason the medicos have said Graham is not to do any interviews because of the short term memory issues. The medicos have said he can give interviews but the fact that he is unlikely to remember all parts of it at this stage of his recovery means it may cause anxiety and at this stage of recovery this not in Polak's best interests.

Hence, why the want the story pulled because as Connors said Graham is already upset about it because he felt he was bullied and he cannot remember all parts of the interview.





If the HUN cannot see that running this story could hinder the blokes recovery then..... but then again we are talking about the media

[Go Richo 12]

Herald-Sun editor on 3aw this morning said Alyce was home and that the interview was conducted with Polly's permission. Stated they would not pull interview unless requested by Polly. Believed everything was above board.

Polly's girlfriend was on 3aw later, stating she only arrived at the end of the interview and was under the impression that they were official richmond reporters. Polly is under doctors orders not to conduct interviews as it is detrimental to his recovery. They did not introduce themselves as is practice and only left a business card when requested by Alyce.

[one-eyed]

Graham Polak set for full recovery says girlfriend Alyce Oksuz
Matthew Schulz | Herald-Sun | August 22, 2008 10:50am

RICHMOND'S Graham Polak is set to make a full recovery from brain injuries suffered after he was hit by a tram, his girlfriend says.

The Tigers defender suffered a bruised brain after being hit by a tram outside his Armadale home on June 28.

He was placed in an induced coma and was treated in intensive care at the Alfred Hospital after the freak accident, before making quick progress in his recovery and being moved to the Epworth Rehabilitation Centre.

After a month in hospital and several more weeks convalescing at home, model girlfriend Alyce Oksuz said she was confident he would make a full recovery.

Asked if he was likely to return to professional footy on Radio 3AW today, she said “absolutely”.

“The brain was damaged, bruised, and it takes a long time for the brain to heal.

“So as it does heal he will definitely get out of this state of confusion.

“Compared to what he was even two weeks ago, his confusion is so much better and his memory is so much better.

And in a positive sign for family and fans, Ms Oksuz said that Polak was mostly in fine form.

She said 90 per cent of time he was fine but he had “moments where he was confused, especially in the afternoon”

But things were not always so positive soon after the accident, she said.

“They couldn’t even tell me that he’d live.

“Obviously just number one was for him to survive, and then after that I got selfish and wanted him to be 100 per cent.

“He couldn’t even tell me that he’d live, he’s a very lucky boy.

“Considering that he got hit by a tram he’s doing very well, I think.

Polak was a 2003 Rising Star nominee and drafted to the Tigers from Fremantle.

He played all 22 games for the Tigers last year.

Meantime, Sunday Herald Sun editor Simon Pristel has rejected suggestions Polak was tricked into giving an exclusive interview to with the newspaper to be published this weekend.

This follows claims on Channel Nine's Footy Show that Polak could not remember the interview because of brain damage sustained in the accident.

3AW presenter Neil Mitchell said the newspaper had acted unethically by taking advantage of someone suffering a brain injury.

But Mr Pristel told the radio station that Polak had agreed to a request for an interview with reporter Stephen Drill, and had even given the reporter his mobile phone number.

"If at any point during this he'd said I don't want to do an interview we would have gone away."

"We have not tricked or harassed or bullied him in any way."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24223013-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Paper won't run Polak interview
Mex Cooper | The Age | August 22, 2008 - 5:14PM

The Sunday Herald-Sun has backed down from publishing an interview with injured Richmond footballer Graham Polak.

Richmond Football Club yesterday accused Sunday Herald-Sun reporter Stephen Drill of bullying Polak into an interview with the newspaper.

Polak is recovering from a brain injury after being hit by a tram in June.

The club said he had initially refused to be interviewed but agreed under duress after the journalist twice visited his house uninvited, once with a photographer dressed in Richmond club clothing.

Despite the club's allegations and threats to boycott the paper, it today issued a statement saying it accepted the interview had been conducted in "good faith" and that Polak had invited the reporter into his home after agreeing to talk.

Polak's model girlfriend Alyce Oksuz told 3AW Radio today that Polak had felt pressured to let the reporter and photographer into their home.

She said Polak suffered short-term memory loss and was a "little bit scared" about what he had said during the interview which he couldn't recall.

"Graham didn't really understand what was going on," she said.

She said she had believed the reporter and photographer were from the Richmond Football Club when she arrived to find them taking photos of Polak.

"I just figured they were going to put it on the Richmond website," she said.

Ms Oksuz said Polak was not ready to speak to the media despite making progress in his recovery.

"It's such a long process but considering where he was at the start to where he is now he's doing amazing and he's in such good spirits, I'm really proud of him," she said.

The club released the statement after Richmond chief executive officer, Steven Wright, and Polak met Sunday Herald-Sun editor, Simon Pristel, today.

"Mr Pristel said that while the newspaper had done nothing wrong in gaining the interview, he has agreed not to publish after hearing personally from Graham," the statement read.

"Mr Pristel categorically rejected there had been any bullying or intimidation of Graham and all parties agreed that Graham's health and wellbeing was of paramount importance."

Mr Wright and Polak's manager, Paul Connors, thanked the newspaper for agreeing not to publish the article "clearly in the best interests of Graham's recovery".

AFL Players' Association chief executive, Brendon Gale, told the Footy Show last night that he believed Polak could not recall what he had said to the journalist.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/paper-wont-run-polak-story/2008/08/22/1219262511356.html

[moose]

Benny Gale said Polly doesn't remember the interview

it is a worry though that polly cannot remember it, real worry

They had his manager Paul Connors on SEN just before 8.00am and Connors said the reports that "Polak could not remember doing the the interview" were not quite accurate.

Connors said that Graham remembers doing the interview but cannot remember everything he said in the interview, which his doctors have said is normal with this type of brain injury. Short term memory loss is common.

He also went onto to say that is the reason the medicos have said Graham is not to do any interviews because of the short term memory issues. The medicos have said he can give interviews but the fact that he is unlikely to remember all parts of it at this stage of his recovery means it may cause anxiety and at this stage of recovery this not in Polak's best interests.

Hence, why the want the story pulled because as Connors said Graham is already upset about it because he felt he was bullied and he cannot remember all parts of the interview.





If the HUN cannot see that running this story could hinder the blokes recovery then..... but then again we are talking about the media

cheers for clearing that up wp, things are not that great but at least much more positive

[one-eyed]

Herald-Sun's version

----------------------------------
Polak meets with Sunday Herald Sun
August 22, 2008 03:45pm

THE Richmond Football Club, Sunday Herald Sun and Graham Polak met today at the invitation of Sunday Herald Sun editor Simon Pristel.

At that meeting, it was acknowledged by all parties that the recent interview with Polak was conducted in good faith as Polak accepted the request of the reporter and invited the newspaper into his home to conduct the interview.

Pristel said that while the newspaper had done nothing wrong in gaining the interview, he has agreed not to publish after hearing personally from Polak.

Pristel categorically rejected that there had been any bullying or intimidation of Polak and all parties agreed that Polak's health and well being was of paramount importance.

Richmond Football Club CEO Steven Wright and Polak's manager Paul Connors thanked the Sunday Herald Sun for listening to Polak and acting responsibly in agreeing not to publish the article as that was clearly in the best interests of Polak’s recovery.

Pristel said that he was pleased that the matter had been resolved and looked forward to working closely with Richmond and Connors in the future.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24224359-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Polly was at the 'G today watching the game  .

[one-eyed]

Happy Graham Polak joins Tigers' victory joy
Herald-Sun | August 24, 2008



GRAHAM Polak returned to the MCG for the first time in eight weeks yesterday and was delighted to see his Tiger teammates triumph in a hard-fought clash.

The brave defender appeared in his element as he continued his rehabilitation from injuries received when he was hit by a tram on June 28.

Polak was waiting in the rooms to congratulate his teammates as they entered after the game.

And the injured star was all smiles as he stood behind the circle of Richmond players singing the club's song.

His great day out - watching Richmond overcome his former club, Fremantle, by seven points -- came a day after the Sunday Herald Sun decided not to publish an interview Polak gave to the newspaper.

The Sunday Herald Sun made the decision after meeting Polak on Friday.

After days of misinformation about his controversial interview, this newspaper can clarify:

THE Sunday Herald Sun's reporter approached Polak for an interview at his home on Wednesday.

POLAK was keen to talk and invited the newspaper to return at noon on Thursday. Later on Wednesday, he phoned the reporter to say he would do it then.

NEITHER reporter Stephen Drill nor photographer Darren Tindale wore Richmond colours -- Tindale was wearing a blue-and-yellow jacket of the Banyule Bears junior football club, for whom his children play.

POLAK appeared well during the interview and was happy to pose with long-term girlfriend Alyce Oksuz.

LATER that evening Richmond Football Club called the Sunday Herald Sun, expressing its concern about the interview.

THE Sunday Herald Sun agreed to Polak's request on Friday not to run the interview. The newspaper agreed it was in the best interests of his recovery.

AFL Players' Association chief Brendan Gale said: "I applaud the Sunday Herald Sun for deciding not to run the story.

"It is the right and responsible decision and the regard they have shown to Graham's health and welfare at this time is pleasing."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24230842-2862,00.html

[one-eyed]

Why we supported Graham Polak
Editorial | Sunday Herald Sun | August 24, 2008

EVERYONE has had a say on the Graham Polak issue. Now it's time to get down to facts.

Graham Polak's health and rehabilitation was always this newspaper's primary concern.

Despite outrageous lies peddled by other media - notably The Age and its sister radio station 3AW - there was no bullying, no intimidation and no coercion used by this newspaper to gain an interview with the recovering Richmond footballer.

The Richmond Football Club has verified that Graham accepted our reporter's request for an interview. He phoned this newspaper and invited Stephen Drill into his home.

Graham spoke to us for more than an hour about many subjects, including his truly inspirational comeback from the tram accident that almost ended his life.

He spoke of his desire to again play AFL football, how much he enjoyed watching the Olympics - especially the feats of his heroes Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt - and was anxious to thank football fans for the tremendous support they have given him.

One of the more outrageous lies in The Age was that our photographer, Darren Tindale, was wearing Richmond gear.

That's just nonsense. Darren was wearing a blue and yellow Banyule Junior Football Club jacket, a club of which he is president. The Age did not let that fact get in the way of its attack on this newspaper.

We believed that an interview with Graham would inspire many Victorians. In the end, after speaking personally with Graham, we decided in the best interests of his ongoing recovery not to publish the interview. It is, we believe, the right decision.

We look forward to continue working with Richmond Football Club and Graham as he returns to full health. We wish him well.

theeditor@sundayheraldsun.com.au

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24229917-24218,00.html

[torch]

Great to see Polak walking. not pleasing to hear about him forgetting things.

but hearing what Terry Wallace said on SEN before the Fremantle match.

Polak may not play AFL again.