Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Nightcliff football player has allegedly attacked a female club mate
during an off field incident, prompting a police investigation and
internal review by the club and the Northern Territory Football League.
According to a report in the Northern Territory News, the
altercation involved two members of the Nightcliff Football Club and
occurred away from official club activities. Now what we know
(00:23):
is there authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding that incident
and no charges have been confirmed at this point. Joining
me in the studio is the Nightcliff Football Club president
Mark Dodge. Good morning to you, Mark, Thanks so much
for your time this morning. Now, when did this incident
occur and what's alleged to have happened.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
It happened just before senior training last Thursday at the
ground just in Oleander Streets are just off the ground,
but it was part of our area there.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Now, I mean, what did happen?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Going off the report in the paper, you know it's
saying that there was an altercation, but effectively, if I'm
to read this correctly, that a male player has allegedly
attacked a female clubmate.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yes, we believe their partners. In fact, I know that
to be true. The allegations, of course still are allegations
at this stage, but it was witnessed by quite quite
senior members of our club. They are alleging that this
young man attacked his partner through her back window of
her cars, smashed back window of her car, and then
(01:27):
allegedly chased her up the street in the vehicle. So
it's a pretty nasty.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Incident, goodness me.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, And no matter how you look at this, I mean,
whether they're partners or not, still behavior that should absolutely
not be happening, particularly at a football club one dred.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Percent, and we've been very strong on that. We've been
part of the Domestic Violence Action Plan group with No
More in TA since twenty fourteen, so we've been involved
for a long time. We have a domestic violence action
plan in place. Our plan basically says that we will
act when we hear these things and when things are proven.
Because this is a situation where people actually witnessed it.
We acted very quickly and we were on the front
(02:02):
foot on this particular situation.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
So what steps has the football club now taken.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, we managed to report the incident, so that's been
reported to police as witness statements were taken. My understanding
is police are doing a thorough investigation now, including the
likely Sports Club to see if they can get vision.
I'm not sure where that's actually at this point in time.
We then immediately suspended the player a subject to investigation
and he has now been suspended from all activities within
(02:28):
the Likely Foot Club, including training or anything to do
with the Likeli Football Club.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
And how long will that suspension stay in place?
Speaker 1 (02:35):
I mean, presumably a police investigation has to go on.
Is there a situation here where he may be kicked
from the club.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Depending on what the investigation comes back with. Let's take
this particular incident aside for a second. If a person
is deemed to be bringing the club into distribute, or
is actually acting in a violent manner and has been proven,
then we will take steps to echect them from the club.
But having said that, we also very keen to make
sure that we offer support to that particular person, the
(03:02):
victim and the perpetrator, because it's absolutely no point in
just cutting people loose and saying look off you go,
we don't want to talk to you anymore. So we
as a club already offered counseling to the perpetrator and
to the victim.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
So there is that counseling happening for both both of
those players.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Understanding is it's happening.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
They haven't come to us for any sort of recommence
or suggestions in that way, but my understanding that it's happened.
We've actually offered that as well as a club through
the No More program.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Mark of these both players from your Premier League teams.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
They're both senior players, senior players. One of them is
a fringe senior player and is a Premier League player.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I mean, how important is it here that the club
really deals with this and deals with this in a
strong way, because the last thing that anybody wants is,
you know, any kind.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Of physical assault alleged.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I mean, particularly then when you're talking about you know,
are male on female.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
If I'm to understand this correctly.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
We stand against domestic family vince or violence of any
type at the Nightcliff Football Club. As soon as we
were made aware of that on the Friday morning, we
took steps immediately to put a Facebook and Instagram post
out to our members. That's the best way for us
to communicate on master members saying that we're aware of
this incident that we're taking steps to offer support to
both players as well as reported it.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
To the police.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Mark I have got a message that came through from
a junior parent at the Nightcliff Football Club and they say,
we have not been issued any communication about the incident
that happened at the grounds last week. It's concerning that
the club's not provided any information to its members, in
particular the junior teams and their coaches, who were worried.
Given that we shared training facilities with the senior players.
(04:46):
It's amiss of the club not to acknowledge the incident
or provide reassurance about what steps are being taken to
ensure the safety and well being of all members. This
parent said, first off, why hasn't the club communicated with
its men members about the incident and what message does
the club want to send to its members about respect,
safety and behavior both on and off the field.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
I think that's a valid concern from that parent.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
We find the best way to communicate to our members
directly is through Facebook and Instagram, and we did that immediately.
We wrote a post in there immediately saying these are
the steps that we've taken. We had to be very
careful because we it's a police investigation, so we can't
actually name players. And the NC News got the story.
The Thaniel Chambers is a very good journalist that he
got the story and they asked me for some quotes
over the weekend, which I gave him. But we've been
(05:33):
on other radio stations but obviously now but we've been
communicating directly with members through that way. So we don't
send an email through everybody, but we actually did that
through the Facebook post. I know they've got chat groups.
It's not appropriate to put things up on chat groups.
It's all through the public comes from the president.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Just on that point, what message does the club want
to send to its members about respect, safety and behavior
both on and off the field.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You know, what message do you want to send.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
We stand by our domestic violence Action Plan, but it's
basically it's a prelevent in our community unfortunately violence and
we know that we're part of a big group of
people and we're probably a reflection on what goes on
society or we don't stand for it. We've got a
zero tolerance when it comes to that type of any
type of violence, but particularly domestic family violence. We know
(06:17):
unfortunately that probably some people in our club are facing
that situation today. We want them to know. That's one
of the reasons why we're on the front foot straight away.
We want them to know if they come to the
club and ask for help, we will put them in
contact with the right people and will offt that mentorship.
They can do that either through coming to us directly.
They can go through no more nt if they want to,
but probably the best way to get to come through
(06:38):
the club directly, speak to somebody and we'll make that
action happen.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Just finally, how is the club also working now with
the NTFL and the police to make sure that there
is transparency but also maintain that public confidence in the
club's handling.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Of the matter.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Yeah, we are working with the NCFL directly. So NGfL
have been involved all the way through. I've informed them
straight away, contact them through the relevant channel, and we
are working with the nc police. So we are handling
this matter as best we can. We have to make
sure that we wait until such time as the investigation
is complete because under the law, of course, everybody is
innocent until proven guilty. This situation was slightly different code.
(07:14):
That's why we move so quickly in that we actually
had members, senior members of our coaching staff and players
actually witness the incident, so that's where we acted very quickly.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Most everybody pretty rattled.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, it's been tough week.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It's been a very tough week for me, Percy, but
also obviously for our members that saw that. We wanted
to make sure that people knew that we were across
this situation. We're there to offer safe, safe fame position.
These two people were very much known to each other.
I understand our partners in life, so it's not like
somebody came into the club and attacked somebody straight as
a stranger, but it still was very very nasty. It
(07:47):
makes no difference to us. Any type of advance is
not good, and we wanted to make sure that people
know that we have a safe and other standing place
to play football, enjoy themselves and come up volunteers as well.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Mark Dodge, President of the Night Cliff Football Club. We
are going to have to leave it there. Thanks so
much for your time this morning, pleasure.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Thank you
Nightcliff football player has allegedly attacked a female club mate
during an off field incident, prompting a police investigation and
internal review by the club and the Northern Territory Football League.
According to a report in the Northern Territory News, the
altercation involved two members of the Nightcliff Football Club and
occurred away from official club activities. Now what we know
(00:23):
is there authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding that incident
and no charges have been confirmed at this point. Joining
me in the studio is the Nightcliff Football Club president
Mark Dodge. Good morning to you, Mark, Thanks so much
for your time this morning. Now, when did this incident
occur and what's alleged to have happened.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
It happened just before senior training last Thursday at the
ground just in Oleander Streets are just off the ground,
but it was part of our area there.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Now, I mean, what did happen?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Going off the report in the paper, you know it's
saying that there was an altercation, but effectively, if I'm
to read this correctly, that a male player has allegedly
attacked a female clubmate.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yes, we believe their partners. In fact, I know that
to be true. The allegations, of course still are allegations
at this stage, but it was witnessed by quite quite
senior members of our club. They are alleging that this
young man attacked his partner through her back window of
her cars, smashed back window of her car, and then
(01:27):
allegedly chased her up the street in the vehicle. So
it's a pretty nasty.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Incident, goodness me.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, And no matter how you look at this, I mean,
whether they're partners or not, still behavior that should absolutely
not be happening, particularly at a football club one dred.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Percent, and we've been very strong on that. We've been
part of the Domestic Violence Action Plan group with No
More in TA since twenty fourteen, so we've been involved
for a long time. We have a domestic violence action
plan in place. Our plan basically says that we will
act when we hear these things and when things are proven.
Because this is a situation where people actually witnessed it.
We acted very quickly and we were on the front
(02:02):
foot on this particular situation.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
So what steps has the football club now taken.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, we managed to report the incident, so that's been
reported to police as witness statements were taken. My understanding
is police are doing a thorough investigation now, including the
likely Sports Club to see if they can get vision.
I'm not sure where that's actually at this point in time.
We then immediately suspended the player a subject to investigation
and he has now been suspended from all activities within
(02:28):
the Likely Foot Club, including training or anything to do
with the Likeli Football Club.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
And how long will that suspension stay in place?
Speaker 1 (02:35):
I mean, presumably a police investigation has to go on.
Is there a situation here where he may be kicked
from the club.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Depending on what the investigation comes back with. Let's take
this particular incident aside for a second. If a person
is deemed to be bringing the club into distribute, or
is actually acting in a violent manner and has been proven,
then we will take steps to echect them from the club.
But having said that, we also very keen to make
sure that we offer support to that particular person, the
(03:02):
victim and the perpetrator, because it's absolutely no point in
just cutting people loose and saying look off you go,
we don't want to talk to you anymore. So we
as a club already offered counseling to the perpetrator and
to the victim.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
So there is that counseling happening for both both of
those players.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Understanding is it's happening.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
They haven't come to us for any sort of recommence
or suggestions in that way, but my understanding that it's happened.
We've actually offered that as well as a club through
the No More program.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Mark of these both players from your Premier League teams.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
They're both senior players, senior players. One of them is
a fringe senior player and is a Premier League player.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I mean, how important is it here that the club
really deals with this and deals with this in a
strong way, because the last thing that anybody wants is,
you know, any kind.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Of physical assault alleged.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I mean, particularly then when you're talking about you know,
are male on female.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
If I'm to understand this correctly.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
We stand against domestic family vince or violence of any
type at the Nightcliff Football Club. As soon as we
were made aware of that on the Friday morning, we
took steps immediately to put a Facebook and Instagram post
out to our members. That's the best way for us
to communicate on master members saying that we're aware of
this incident that we're taking steps to offer support to
both players as well as reported it.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
To the police.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Mark I have got a message that came through from
a junior parent at the Nightcliff Football Club and they say,
we have not been issued any communication about the incident
that happened at the grounds last week. It's concerning that
the club's not provided any information to its members, in
particular the junior teams and their coaches, who were worried.
Given that we shared training facilities with the senior players.
(04:46):
It's amiss of the club not to acknowledge the incident
or provide reassurance about what steps are being taken to
ensure the safety and well being of all members. This
parent said, first off, why hasn't the club communicated with
its men members about the incident and what message does
the club want to send to its members about respect,
safety and behavior both on and off the field.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
I think that's a valid concern from that parent.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
We find the best way to communicate to our members
directly is through Facebook and Instagram, and we did that immediately.
We wrote a post in there immediately saying these are
the steps that we've taken. We had to be very
careful because we it's a police investigation, so we can't
actually name players. And the NC News got the story.
The Thaniel Chambers is a very good journalist that he
got the story and they asked me for some quotes
over the weekend, which I gave him. But we've been
(05:33):
on other radio stations but obviously now but we've been
communicating directly with members through that way. So we don't
send an email through everybody, but we actually did that
through the Facebook post. I know they've got chat groups.
It's not appropriate to put things up on chat groups.
It's all through the public comes from the president.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Just on that point, what message does the club want
to send to its members about respect, safety and behavior
both on and off the field.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You know, what message do you want to send.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
We stand by our domestic violence Action Plan, but it's
basically it's a prelevent in our community unfortunately violence and
we know that we're part of a big group of
people and we're probably a reflection on what goes on
society or we don't stand for it. We've got a
zero tolerance when it comes to that type of any
type of violence, but particularly domestic family violence. We know
(06:17):
unfortunately that probably some people in our club are facing
that situation today. We want them to know. That's one
of the reasons why we're on the front foot straight away.
We want them to know if they come to the
club and ask for help, we will put them in
contact with the right people and will offt that mentorship.
They can do that either through coming to us directly.
They can go through no more nt if they want to,
but probably the best way to get to come through
(06:38):
the club directly, speak to somebody and we'll make that
action happen.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Just finally, how is the club also working now with
the NTFL and the police to make sure that there
is transparency but also maintain that public confidence in the
club's handling.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Of the matter.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Yeah, we are working with the NCFL directly. So NGfL
have been involved all the way through. I've informed them
straight away, contact them through the relevant channel, and we
are working with the nc police. So we are handling
this matter as best we can. We have to make
sure that we wait until such time as the investigation
is complete because under the law, of course, everybody is
innocent until proven guilty. This situation was slightly different code.
(07:14):
That's why we move so quickly in that we actually
had members, senior members of our coaching staff and players
actually witness the incident, so that's where we acted very quickly.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Most everybody pretty rattled.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, it's been tough week.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It's been a very tough week for me, Percy, but
also obviously for our members that saw that. We wanted
to make sure that people knew that we were across
this situation. We're there to offer safe, safe fame position.
These two people were very much known to each other.
I understand our partners in life, so it's not like
somebody came into the club and attacked somebody straight as
a stranger, but it still was very very nasty. It
(07:47):
makes no difference to us. Any type of advance is
not good, and we wanted to make sure that people
know that we have a safe and other standing place
to play football, enjoy themselves and come up volunteers as well.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Mark Dodge, President of the Night Cliff Football Club. We
are going to have to leave it there. Thanks so
much for your time this morning, pleasure.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Thank you
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