Force star Drew won’t be drawn on row

[KenyaQuin]

Force star Drew won’t be drawn on row

6th January 2009, 12:00 WST

Western Force and Wallabies back Drew Mitchell played a straight bat at training this morning when asked about the saga which has threatened to rip the club apart over the past few months.

Coach John Mitchell was only yesterday given the green light to resume dealing with his players after being barred from having contact with them for more than a month while allegations of inappropriate behaviour were investigated.

Most of Force’s players and support staff had complained about the New Zealander’s methods in a review of last season, prompting the club to appoint retired justice Robert Anderson to hold an inquiry.

Yet despite the furore, Drew Mitchell said...Read More Here

[travelling_gerry]

and from the Sunday Times Nick Taylor, rugby writer

January 05, 2009 10:00pm
WALLABY winger Drew Mitchell says the Western Force inquiry into complaints about coach John Mitchell is not a distraction to players.

Mitchell, at his first training today, said there was a "positive vibe" among players as they head into the crucial pre-season build up for this year's Super 14.

"Our job is just the footy on the field and when we cross that white line to train that's all we're focussed on," he said.

He knew little detail about the inquiry headed by Robert Anderson QC, having been on tour with the Wallabies and then holiday.

He had not noticed any change in the environment at the club and would be happy to have Mitchell in charge this season..

"This sort of stuff can only be a distraction if you allow it to be," he said.

"We're not allowing it to be a distraction.



rest....

[laura]

What did they expect him to say? He's been at training for a day and half and Mitch was only watching for yesterday's session.

Don't know what they (the media) are trying to achieve but its good to see everyone (so far) is remaining positive and publicly supporting Mitch. Its an internal issue and thats how its being dealt with.

[blueandblack]

For someone who's "not being drawn on" the matter, he seems to have said a lot...or at least had quite a bit of quotation attributed to him.

[Darren]

Mitch he must be in the bad books, he's now being called "the New Zealander" ...

[Tazzmania]

Spot on Laura

Like any organisation not everyone is always going to agree with everyone else, especially where you have a person filling a role guiding other under them.

Like all appraisals we hope to gain something positive from our highlighted weaknesses and keep up our areas of stregnth.

Unlike most of us in the working world, John has had to endure his appraisal being played out in the open, due to media persistence, and we can all empathise with him how tough it must be.

Like all appraisals he will get through it, and from his comments so far he intends to work hard at bettering himself for the good of the company ( The Force).

Heres to a great 2009 for the Force and great to see Drew and the others starting to back the coach.

[Thequeerone]

Got to admit the life of a sports writer is a bit cyclical as well - at the moment there is the Glory - no finals chances, the Hoffman Bore and the Force

[normie]

For someone who's "not being drawn on" the matter, he seems to have said a lot...or at least had quite a bit of quotation attributed to him.

good point B&B, but I interpret that to mean "don't expect a juicy controversial comment that you can go to town on for the next 6 months"

He made a few positive remarks and comments that were pretty general- such as players have to take responsibility etcand that there is always a clash with a coach sometime, somewhere... pretty safe.

He didn't exactly clam up and at the same time didn't add any fuel to the fire. in light of that although he is attributed to have said a bit I don't think he was all that drawn into the controversy.

[laura]

Don't forget the poor West Coast Eagles who had to run 200m sprints in the searing heat yesterday

[jargan83]

Don't forget the poor West Coast Eagles who had to run 200m sprints in the searing heat yesterday

I'm sure they had plenty of Ice

[Bronski Beat]

Yeah, apparently Darren Glass was shattered afterwards.

Har har har

[James]

Yeah, apparently Darren Glass was shattered afterwards.

Har har har

I don't know whats funnier that awful joke or the fact that you praised yourself for it.

[James]

If I was Mitch I'd probably have shouted at Drew after he made Phil Mooney's day by firing up the Reds with his article last year. Would've thought he'd have learned from John O'Neill's mistake.

[Darren]

I don't know whats funnier that awful joke or the fact that you praised yourself for it.

The ability to self praise was added so that we can see who the self abusers are...

[brokendown gunfighter]

BB's self abuse knows no bounds