THERE is an expression you will see on social media and hear in casual conversation – particularly in reference to misbehaving footballers – that you’ll rarely read in the mainstream press: “playing the depression card”.
The great Tom Raudonkis once remarked on radio, when asked about the increasing propensity of off-field hijinks – “I’m expecting plenty of bipolars this year”.
When Wigan prop Ben Flower punched a defenceless Lance Hohaia as he lay on the ground during the Super League grand final, condemnation of the Welshman was widespread and pretty much unanimous.
But amid the din, some fans sought to highlight a contradiction in rugby league’s professed determination to assist in the battle against mental illness and the level of disdain being directed at Flower.
There is little doubt that if Flower, or someone close to him, had stated that he was struggling to deal with the reaction to his misdemeanour, 90 per cent of the criticism would have stopped immediately – leaving the 10 per cent who use the phrase up there in the first paragraph of this column,
