The ex-AFL coach helping dads tackle the Andrew Tate factor
This story is part of the June 21 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories.
Rodney Eade spent more than half his lifetime within the hypermasculine world of Australian rules football, first as a player with AFL clubs Hawthorn and Brisbane, then as coach of, respectively, the Sydney Swans, the Western Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Suns. 'One thing I learnt,' says Eade, 67, who retired his clipboard in 2017, 'is that boys and young men need direction and mentoring. And when they become partners and fathers, they continue to benefit from support.'
Such lessons continue to resonate in Eade's current role as partnerships manager for The Fathering Project, a secular, not-for-profit organisation that he says is in increasing demand for the father-focused support groups and programs it runs through schools, corporations and sporting clubs.
'Most fathers are looking for a better connection with their kids and to be a better role model, but often they don't know how,' he says, stressing the considerable benefits of addressing this.
'Evidence shows that the developmental outcomes of children [improve] exponentially when they have an engaged father, or father figure, in their life,' he adds, referencing research linking attentive fathering to a reduction in children's behavioural problems, emotional problems and delinquency.
Founded in 2013 in Western Australia by respiratory physician Professor Bruce Robinson, The Fathering Project facilitates almost 500 dads' groups around the country. Demand has never been greater, says its CEO, Káti Gapaillard, something she puts down to fathers feeling caught between expectations of providing for their families during a cost-of-living crisis and what can feel like a conflicting desire to be a more present parent. 'So they come to us looking for tools to help them connect with their kids and to other fathers – without judgment,' she says.
While The Fathering Project's focus is on fathers and children of both sexes, it has highlighted many boys' struggles with emotional regulation, aggression and gendered stereotyping, issues highlighted to devastating effect in Netflix shows, such as the universally acclaimed British drama Adolescence and the Danish thriller Secrets We Keep.
'Boys, especially, are looking for a way to see who they are and express their masculinity,' says Gapaillard, 'and if we don't provide that identity-development support, then they find it somewhere else, either through a peer group or online, via potentially harmful male role models.'
Professor Michael Flood, a Fathering Project associate and researcher on masculinities and gender at the Queensland University of Technology, says influencers such as Briton Andrew Tate use discussions about finance, fitness and self-improvement as 'Trojan horses through which sexism and misogyny are smuggled in'. Fathers, he says, can help inoculate their sons against such things: 'Just as violence can be passed down through generations, so can nurturing.'
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Hawthorn icon absent from club's premiership three-peat celebration
Lance 'Buddy' Franklin made an appearance at Hawthorn's celebration of their 2013-2015 premiership three-peat on Friday night, but a fan favourite was absent from the anniversary function. Players from Hawthorn's most recent golden premiership era attended a commemorative function in Melbourne, with the club's premiership cups from 2013, 2014 and 2015 proudly on display. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Franklin played in the 2008 and 2013 premierships with Hawthorn but missed out on the rest of the three-peat after he moved to the Sydney Swans, playing out the rest of his career there and losing three grand finals, including the 2014 decider to Hawthorn. The legendary goalkicker was in good spirits as he chatted to former Hawks spearhead Jarryd Roughead and the likes of Luke Hodge, Isaac Smith Sam Mitchell. Franklin, who is expecting his third child with wife Jesinta, didn't attend Hawthorn's 100-year club anniversary earlier this year. One fan commented on Instagram: 'Seeing Bud at Hawk functions and talking about Hawthorn warms my heart.' Franklin now co-hosts a podcast with Hawthorn champion and 2008 premiership teammate Shane Crawford. But not every player from Hawthorn's premiership three-peat could attend, and one notable absentee was legendary small forward Cyril Rioli. The 2015 Norm Smith Medallist was one of just six players to play in the three-peat and the 2008 flag, but his relationship with Hawthorn has soured over allegations of racism during his time at Hawthorn. Rioli retired in 2018 after playing 189 games across a career that saw him win Goal of the Year in 2009 and named to the All Australian team on three occasions. Neither Rioli or former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, now the coach of North Melbourne, were at the three-peat function. One fan commented on social media: 'Someone missing', while a second said: 'Where's Cyril?' A third said: 'Cyril will never come back it's sad.' Another commented: 'I do miss Cyril hopefully under Mitchell he'll feel comfortable enough to come back.' In May, triple premiership captain Luke Hodge greeted Rioli at an AFL game in Darwin and stopped to chat to his old teammate in the crowd. 'I hadn't seen him since about 2018,' Hodge said. 'I saw Mark Evans (Gold Coast Suns CEO) talking to him so I just wanted to go over and say g'day. It was good. 'He's looking great and had a smile on his face. He said his cousin was flying out there running across the halfback line. It was great to see him and Shannyn over there.' Earlier this year, Hodge told Channel 7's Agenda Setters: 'We understand that Hawthorn and Cyril haven't come to the stage where Cyril feels comfortable back in the football club just yet. 'There's been a number of guys that have reached out to Cyril. And we left on really good terms. When he retired he sent me a message saying 'thanks for all the development and help'. I've had no issues with Cyril ever, but it's almost like he's parted ways with everyone there. Even a lot of the mentors in that forward line (at the time he played) haven't been able to connect with him either.' Hawthorn have won premierships in every decade since the 1960s and now as the team's coach, Mitchell will he hoping that streak can continue in the 2020s. Jordan Lewis, who missed the event due to commentary duties with Fox Footy, said Hawthorn's dominant premiership teams were defined by their 'competitiveness'. 'You need the game plan, you need to be fit and healthy and everything to go right, but if you're not competitive, you can't sustain that long period of success,' Lewis told 'Players recognise that when they've been successful for one year and find it really hard to back it up. Then you really appreciate how good those teams that were able to stay at the top of their game and win multiple premierships in a row.'
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Hungrier than us': Aussie-bound Lions mauled by Pumas
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But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids. The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser. The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit. It was the first time for 54 years since their famous 1971 triumph in New Zealand with Barry John and co that the Lions have lost their opening match of any tour - and the setback left coach Farrell quickly reading the riot act. He didn't hold back about his side's lack of intensity as he declared: "They were hungrier than us - and that's just not acceptable." There were moments, as the Lions scored three tries through centre Bundee Aki, a penalty try and lock Tadhg Beirne, when they showed what captain Maro Itoje called "glimmers of what we can do", the sort of cohesive attacking and forward domination they'll need in their nine Australian matches including three Tests. But their error count was horrendous, allowing the slick visitors, who Beirne had reckoned would be treating the match as their "World Cup final", to lead 21-10 at halftime and then hold out courageously after repelling the Lions' second-half comeback. The excellent counter-attacking Pumas also crossed the whitewash three times through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero in a deflating evening for the Lions before they fly out to Perth for their first match against Western Force next Saturday. "It's disappointing. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Farrell, back at the Aviva Stadium where he's led Ireland to so much success. Not for the first time, the Pumas, who crushed the Wallabies by 40 points the last time the teams met in the Rugby Championship, delighted in spoiling the send-off, the world's No.5-ranked side now adding the Lions to their victims for the first time after beating all three Rugby Championship rivals last season. The Pumas took the upper hand early when, after Mendy's try had been answered by Aki's score, Albornoz struck from a Puma's counter from their own 22 on the stroke of halftime. The Lions, deprived of almost half their squad because of recent club commitments and injuries, had a couple of scores ruled out in the first half - including one from Sione Tuipulotu - because of knock-ons. But Farrell was briefly enthused at the start of the second half when their robust response led to the penalty try and home favourite Beirne powering over. But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids. The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser. The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit. It was the first time for 54 years since their famous 1971 triumph in New Zealand with Barry John and co that the Lions have lost their opening match of any tour - and the setback left coach Farrell quickly reading the riot act. He didn't hold back about his side's lack of intensity as he declared: "They were hungrier than us - and that's just not acceptable." There were moments, as the Lions scored three tries through centre Bundee Aki, a penalty try and lock Tadhg Beirne, when they showed what captain Maro Itoje called "glimmers of what we can do", the sort of cohesive attacking and forward domination they'll need in their nine Australian matches including three Tests. But their error count was horrendous, allowing the slick visitors, who Beirne had reckoned would be treating the match as their "World Cup final", to lead 21-10 at halftime and then hold out courageously after repelling the Lions' second-half comeback. The excellent counter-attacking Pumas also crossed the whitewash three times through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero in a deflating evening for the Lions before they fly out to Perth for their first match against Western Force next Saturday. "It's disappointing. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Farrell, back at the Aviva Stadium where he's led Ireland to so much success. Not for the first time, the Pumas, who crushed the Wallabies by 40 points the last time the teams met in the Rugby Championship, delighted in spoiling the send-off, the world's No.5-ranked side now adding the Lions to their victims for the first time after beating all three Rugby Championship rivals last season. The Pumas took the upper hand early when, after Mendy's try had been answered by Aki's score, Albornoz struck from a Puma's counter from their own 22 on the stroke of halftime. The Lions, deprived of almost half their squad because of recent club commitments and injuries, had a couple of scores ruled out in the first half - including one from Sione Tuipulotu - because of knock-ons. But Farrell was briefly enthused at the start of the second half when their robust response led to the penalty try and home favourite Beirne powering over. But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Who's the best expansion club? Giants, Suns test mettle
Interstate bragging rights, a top-eight spot and a post-bye curse - there's plenty on the line in the so-called Expansion Cup. As GWS look to head into their mid-season bye with back-to-back wins, a refreshed Gold Coast outfit is out to reignite their season with a smash-and-grab mission at Engie Stadium on Sunday in the interstate clash between the AFL's two youngest sides. The clash looms as the biggest to date between them: GWS are seventh (8-6), while Gold Coast have shaken their status as rank outsiders to be sixth (8-6). The Giants boast a 14-5 record against the Suns and Adam Kingsley's men will hope to pull off a Queensland complete sweep after pulling off an upset over Brisbane in enemy territory. Their top-eight spot could come into question if a defeat is coupled with wins by eighth-placed Fremantle (8-5) over Essendon and ninth-placed Western Bulldogs (7-6) over Richmond. Should the Giants fall short against the Suns, redemption would have to wait after their round-16 bye. Damien Hardwick's charges are boasting fresh legs after a timely bye. The Suns were left licking their wounds after back-to-back wins, losing to the Dockers by 11 points before a 24-point defeat to Geelong. But a weekend off doesn't necessarily pose as an advantage for the Suns, who have not won half of their post-bye matchs since their inaugural season in 2011. Still, Giants midfielder Xavier O'Halloran won't make the mistake of underestimating the Suns - given their record-breaking start to the season. "They're obviously going really well at the moment so they've got a great side," O'Halloran told AAP. "We will do our best during the week to prepare for it, and hopefully come out on Sunday and get the job done. "It would be nice to go into the bye with another win." A blockbuster engine room fight is set to take place at Engie Stadium. While the Giants hope the inclusion of star Toby Greene (glute) will perfectly complement midfielders Finn Callaghan and Tom Green, the Suns will boast quality in skipper Noah Anderson, midfield bull Matt Rowell and Touk Miller. Small forward Brent Daniels, who has often been deployed in the Giants midfield, has suffered an adductor issue and joins veterans Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward on the sidelines. All-Australian defender Sam Taylor is also out after fracturing his toe. The Suns have made three changes, with winger Lachie Weller returning from a hamstring injury to play his 150th game. Ethan Read and Connor Budarick return, while Sean Lemmens, David Swallow and Leo Lombard make way. Giants player O'Halloran is also pushing his case in the midfield after cementing himself in Kingsley's best 22. The 24-year-old has been called upon by Kingsley in 13 matches so far and is set to eclipse his career-best tally of 19 games played. "I've just tried to grab that with both hands and do as best I can," O'Halloran said. "The downside of it is seeing your mates go injured and have time away from footy. "But it opens up opportunities and I've been fortunate enough to have that through the midfield this year." Interstate bragging rights, a top-eight spot and a post-bye curse - there's plenty on the line in the so-called Expansion Cup. As GWS look to head into their mid-season bye with back-to-back wins, a refreshed Gold Coast outfit is out to reignite their season with a smash-and-grab mission at Engie Stadium on Sunday in the interstate clash between the AFL's two youngest sides. The clash looms as the biggest to date between them: GWS are seventh (8-6), while Gold Coast have shaken their status as rank outsiders to be sixth (8-6). The Giants boast a 14-5 record against the Suns and Adam Kingsley's men will hope to pull off a Queensland complete sweep after pulling off an upset over Brisbane in enemy territory. Their top-eight spot could come into question if a defeat is coupled with wins by eighth-placed Fremantle (8-5) over Essendon and ninth-placed Western Bulldogs (7-6) over Richmond. Should the Giants fall short against the Suns, redemption would have to wait after their round-16 bye. Damien Hardwick's charges are boasting fresh legs after a timely bye. The Suns were left licking their wounds after back-to-back wins, losing to the Dockers by 11 points before a 24-point defeat to Geelong. But a weekend off doesn't necessarily pose as an advantage for the Suns, who have not won half of their post-bye matchs since their inaugural season in 2011. Still, Giants midfielder Xavier O'Halloran won't make the mistake of underestimating the Suns - given their record-breaking start to the season. "They're obviously going really well at the moment so they've got a great side," O'Halloran told AAP. "We will do our best during the week to prepare for it, and hopefully come out on Sunday and get the job done. "It would be nice to go into the bye with another win." A blockbuster engine room fight is set to take place at Engie Stadium. While the Giants hope the inclusion of star Toby Greene (glute) will perfectly complement midfielders Finn Callaghan and Tom Green, the Suns will boast quality in skipper Noah Anderson, midfield bull Matt Rowell and Touk Miller. Small forward Brent Daniels, who has often been deployed in the Giants midfield, has suffered an adductor issue and joins veterans Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward on the sidelines. All-Australian defender Sam Taylor is also out after fracturing his toe. The Suns have made three changes, with winger Lachie Weller returning from a hamstring injury to play his 150th game. Ethan Read and Connor Budarick return, while Sean Lemmens, David Swallow and Leo Lombard make way. Giants player O'Halloran is also pushing his case in the midfield after cementing himself in Kingsley's best 22. The 24-year-old has been called upon by Kingsley in 13 matches so far and is set to eclipse his career-best tally of 19 games played. "I've just tried to grab that with both hands and do as best I can," O'Halloran said. "The downside of it is seeing your mates go injured and have time away from footy. "But it opens up opportunities and I've been fortunate enough to have that through the midfield this year." Interstate bragging rights, a top-eight spot and a post-bye curse - there's plenty on the line in the so-called Expansion Cup. As GWS look to head into their mid-season bye with back-to-back wins, a refreshed Gold Coast outfit is out to reignite their season with a smash-and-grab mission at Engie Stadium on Sunday in the interstate clash between the AFL's two youngest sides. The clash looms as the biggest to date between them: GWS are seventh (8-6), while Gold Coast have shaken their status as rank outsiders to be sixth (8-6). The Giants boast a 14-5 record against the Suns and Adam Kingsley's men will hope to pull off a Queensland complete sweep after pulling off an upset over Brisbane in enemy territory. Their top-eight spot could come into question if a defeat is coupled with wins by eighth-placed Fremantle (8-5) over Essendon and ninth-placed Western Bulldogs (7-6) over Richmond. Should the Giants fall short against the Suns, redemption would have to wait after their round-16 bye. Damien Hardwick's charges are boasting fresh legs after a timely bye. The Suns were left licking their wounds after back-to-back wins, losing to the Dockers by 11 points before a 24-point defeat to Geelong. But a weekend off doesn't necessarily pose as an advantage for the Suns, who have not won half of their post-bye matchs since their inaugural season in 2011. Still, Giants midfielder Xavier O'Halloran won't make the mistake of underestimating the Suns - given their record-breaking start to the season. "They're obviously going really well at the moment so they've got a great side," O'Halloran told AAP. "We will do our best during the week to prepare for it, and hopefully come out on Sunday and get the job done. "It would be nice to go into the bye with another win." A blockbuster engine room fight is set to take place at Engie Stadium. While the Giants hope the inclusion of star Toby Greene (glute) will perfectly complement midfielders Finn Callaghan and Tom Green, the Suns will boast quality in skipper Noah Anderson, midfield bull Matt Rowell and Touk Miller. Small forward Brent Daniels, who has often been deployed in the Giants midfield, has suffered an adductor issue and joins veterans Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward on the sidelines. All-Australian defender Sam Taylor is also out after fracturing his toe. The Suns have made three changes, with winger Lachie Weller returning from a hamstring injury to play his 150th game. Ethan Read and Connor Budarick return, while Sean Lemmens, David Swallow and Leo Lombard make way. Giants player O'Halloran is also pushing his case in the midfield after cementing himself in Kingsley's best 22. The 24-year-old has been called upon by Kingsley in 13 matches so far and is set to eclipse his career-best tally of 19 games played. "I've just tried to grab that with both hands and do as best I can," O'Halloran said. "The downside of it is seeing your mates go injured and have time away from footy. "But it opens up opportunities and I've been fortunate enough to have that through the midfield this year."
