During a game of football there are countless mistakes made by players from both teams, yet none receive the scrutiny or humiliation associated with a player’s courage at the contest being questioned.

Players are well aware of this stigma and are continually blurring the boundaries between courage and risking personal safety to avoid ever being publicly shamed for what members of the media may label as a lack of courage or “soft”.

This is not healthy, nor is it fair to tarnish a player’s reputation over an isolated moment. Every week when we take the field we accept that our performance will be scrutinised and not only do we know the media will be looking for any sign of weakness, but we also know that we will be reviewed post game by our club, and more importantly our peers. This is where any small flinch or missed tackle will be highlighted, so there is nowhere to hide if our performance is not at its best.

The increased media coverage and rise of social media has also contributed to this, with an incident no longer gone and forgotten, but rather driven by the media via every TV channel, social network and sporting forum.

The high level of courage shown by players like Jonathon Brown, has led to all players being measured against this yardstick, but surely this is unrealistic. In the same way, not every players skills are measured against those of Gary Ablett, neither should every players courage be measured against the fearless aerial attack on the contest that some players are able to exhibit  – every player has his own unique skill set.

This growing pressure and obsession with question a player’s courage is not new.

Players make mistakes, and have momentary brain-fades, in the same way that every other member of society does. In that split second they make a decision, occasionally it is the wrong one –  and this relates to skill, experience, decision making and attack on the contest, but at the end of the day it is just a simple mistake. It is not a reflection of their character, or what they have achieved over their career.

We all know how easy it is to make judgement looking from the outside in. Footy is a game that brings people together, quite often based on their opposing views. Differing opinions and debate is welcomed by players, who are also fans of the game, and who recognise that it’s one of the things that makes the game great.

All we ask, is that in forming their opinions people show respect for the individuals who take to the field each week, knowing they put their body on the line for the benefit of the game and accept as we do, that there will be times we make mistakes.