And the Wankley goes to…The Age’s James Hird “scoop”.
Wednesday morning’s Age front page was certainly an early morning eye opener for AFL footy fans. Rohan Connolly’s exclusive that “James Hird wants to play again” for Essendon — a season after retiring — in “a second coming” for the Bombers’ faithful was a sensational scoop.
Such a shame Hird had denied the yarn by the time most readers picked up their copy of The Age. “I’m now 36 and my footy days are well and truly over,” the ex-Bombers’ captain confirmed.
He also wondered why Connolly didn’t contact him to verify the story. “I was totally shocked to see the story. I can’t believe the story ran the way it did. Making an AFL comeback is definitely not in my plans. It’s totally ludicrous.”
A suitably chastened Age quietly dropped the story from its second edition and Connolly also hit the interview rounds to explain how such a non-starter was front page worthy. He advised he hadn’t contacted “Hirdy” since he works for major competitor the Herald Sun, fearing The Age would come second in ‘the second coming’ stakes.
But the Wankley scorn shouldn’t be heaped upon Connolly, but rather all over his news desk chief Steve ‘Marvel Comics’ Foley and newly appointed Age editor-in-chief Paul Ramadge. Connolly’s report may have made an interesting sporting gossip snippit but it was its placement front and centre on page one that led to Connolly “copping a lot of flak” (as he admitted).
Crikey understands that the editorial team even created a fake front page to prevent their competitors from getting wind of the exclusive.
The only person who emerges with any credit from the whole affair is James Hird himself. Cleverly, he managed to use the media interest to repeatedly spruik his post-footy career business interests.
And unlike another fanatical Bomber — ex-Essendon number 1 ticket holder Peter Costello — Hird immediately killed the story without creating any doubt by using weasel words such as “I neither seek nor indeed will I accept a return to the Essendon bench”.
NOTE TO ALL COMMENTATORS:
It’s clear that Little Jimmy K thrives on the limelight……any limelight………even that afforded to a witless, right wing, racist bigot such as he.
The best way to eliminate Tiny Jimmy’s facile commentary, or at least reduce it, is not to mention his name at all, or respond to his silly arguments.
Hopefully this tactic will rid us all, both left & right wing commentators, of his increasingly tiresome, low rent ramblings…..this time about Age editorial policy….is there no end to his interests (quite clearly ..yes.. there is…)
PS: I get the impression that Mini Jimmy sees himself as a big-time ‘ player’ ……….yes… really!!!!! You know the type……the one who thought that by bombarding political science tutes with his silly views, he would be seen as a stand-out student …sorry Junior Jimmy……..no way…
I agree. The sin is not so much Connolly’s as The Age’s editor.
Every commentary on The Age for many years now could well start: “This once respected broadsheet…..”
It does not now have a single non-leftist political commentator on staff and it is obvious.