Rather than continue this debate on a thread that is meant to acknowledge his playing ability, I would like to make a few general comments about those who seek to trivialise the offences for which Squire appeared in Court. I have already acknowledged his playing abilities and that is a separate matter.
ORDoubleBlues wrote:
Unnecessary and given one particular incident involving a teammate of Damians at the time last year, it would just about make anyone resort to "domestic violence"
ODB - I can't agree that domestic violence is ever justifiable.
Also, if anyone has lost a relative (as I have) or a friend to a drink driver, they may view drink driving a little differently too than just as a minor offence. I have seen many legal cases of drink drivers (from a very close perspective) who have been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and who have blatantly blamed everybody else except themselves. They have blamed their upbringing, their culture, their race, gambling, divorce, the road, the car, a passenger, a paedophile, even the victim. They only occassionally (but rarely) take responsibility for their own actions. Ask Richmond and Collingwood what drink driving players did for their sponsorship revenue. Ask Fremantle what Jeff Farmer's charge did for them. People who have so much talent shouldn't be mollycoddled. There are others with nothing in the world who wish they had the same abilities and/or opportunities.
I have also seen many legal cases where domestic violence has been present (including murder and child protection cases) and this type of offending shouldn't be trivialised either.