Opinion Few and far between: the rare howlers made by the club

[ATSAM]

We never seem to learn about the rush the player back. Stoneham was a very good CHF and his career was ruined by the medical mismanagement of the club. What was so dreadful was that pain after surgery means two things-instrument left in or infection- and this pain want on for some time before anyone investigated. The results as above. We did it again with Egan and probably Menzel.

 

[ATSAM]

Gosh Seeds you remembered another disaster the moving of an injured Bairstow onto Matera in the second half of the grand final. For someone with footy smarts Blight got that one very wrong.
Add an injured player-gosh forgotten who- on Hodge in 2008 GF, instead of just putting Rooke on him to mongrel him.

 

[Lana]

Gosh Seeds you remembered another disaster the moving of an injured Bairstow onto Matera in the second half of the grand final. For someone with footy smarts Blight got that one very wrong.
Add an injured player-gosh forgotten who- on Hodge in 2008 GF, instead of just putting Rooke on him to mongrel him.

Stokes

 

[winty]

Stoneham was an absolute gun. Mobile for a big bloke and able to play anywhere down the spine or pinch hit in the ruck. Could've been remembered in the same class as blokes like Carey or Grant if he didn't cop that severely broken leg as mentioned above.

 

[FredLeDeux]

We never seem to learn about the rush the player back. Stoneham was a very good CHF and his career was ruined by the medical mismanagement of the club. What was so dreadful was that pain after surgery means two things-instrument left in or infection- and this pain want on for some time before anyone investigated. The results as above. We did it again with Egan and probably Menzel.

No corporate memory in footy clubs.

 

[Hello Kitty]

You can't wrap them in cotton wool and if the players don't want to go I'm sure they can opt out,they will have a great time and enjoy the trip while you sit there worrying about the unlikely negatives.again what will be will be.

There was also an outcry against Bartel playing cricket! It's ridiculous, better he plays cricket than a more dangerous sport, motor racing

 

[Hello Kitty]

Don't want to start a long debate on this as it was low down on my list compared to the others so I will respond once and then move on. There's no question that the club did a lot to support them in non financial terms and they got away with a lot that other players didn't. But ultimately they were underpaid compared to the performances they put on the park let alone the extra revenue they brought through the gates. There's something very unsavoury when the clubs biggest player, a player that is a large reason why this club still exists (have no doubt that the club would of folded in 99 if it wasn't for the extra members and support Ablett brought to the club) is seriously struggling financially and from all reports has gone a bit crazy (admittedly he was a bit crazy to begin with). Other sporting clubs wouldn't let the same happen to their legends of the club.

From all reports one of the reasons Jnr was disgruntled by the club was due to the way his dad had been treated (particularly after the 10,000 thing). Geelong should of had foresight to raise his pay after the 2008 season when he was clearly the best player in the land getting about half what the best player in the land should of been getting. An increase in a couple of hundred grand probably would of been enough to keep him.

Seeds, Bumber also had a bit to do with GAJ leaving. There are so many ways to pay players outside the salary cap, with sponsors + his manager getting him lucrative adverts + sports gear deals etc.

I agree with you, just wanted to add that bit.

In fact, when you look at the elite level of training AFL players are required to achieve, compared to other sports, our players are very poorly paid.

 

[Seeds]

Seeds, Bumber also had a bit to do with GAJ leaving. There are so many ways to pay players outside the salary cap, with sponsors + his manager getting him lucrative adverts + sports gear deals etc.

I agree with you, just wanted to add that bit.

In fact, when you look at the elite level of training AFL players are required to achieve, compared to other sports, our players are very poorly paid.

No disagreement that there weren't other reasons and I'm not exactly happy with the way Junior went about it either. The whole Bomber thing came after it was looking like Ablett was already thinking of leaving though and Bomber tried to call him out on that. It certainly wasn't what started it.

Also agree with you regarding getting paid outside of salary caps. Don't think Junior was the smartest cookie there. If he remained a one club player he would of been a legend in Geelong for life and receiving royalties and sponsorships and media gigs for decades after he retired. His dad didn't because of obvious reasons. Junior wouldn't be in the same boat. Once Junior finishes up at the Gold Coast he will be completely forgotton by the community.

 

[Seeds]

another damn curse to one of our most promising footballers catswhiskers

Stoneham's statistics say it all, prior to the leg break, Bazza was averaging 15 touches, 5 marks, 2 tackles & 1 goal per game.
When he returned, those averaged dropped down to 10 touches, 3½ marks, 1½ tackles & a little under 1 goal per game.
He really lost significant mobility which was what made him such a terrific centre half forward.

Very few centre half forwards balk and dodge opponents the way Stoneham could prior to his broken leg. Very underrated player these days. After Carey and Brereton he was the best centre half forward of the 80's to 90's period, even if his time was short lived.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Refusing to fork up a bit of extra cash to keep Greg Williams. He was willing to stay for a lot less than Sydney were offering, had already won the league MVP, was clearly our best player (even with the likes of Stoneham and GAS in the team). Would have won probably three more premierships if not that stupid decision.

I've always reckoned on two. '89 and '92.

 

[Turbocat]

Refusing to fork up a bit of extra cash to keep Greg Williams. He was willing to stay for a lot less than Sydney were offering, had already won the league MVP, was clearly our best player (even with the likes of Stoneham and GAS in the team). Would have won probably three more premierships if not that stupid decision.

There was a quality post a few years ago Jim Boy , not sure if you read it (you been around here even longer than me) and it had facts and figures on why Geelong did not match it. From memory , Geelong was almost gone financially and they actually got money from his transfer that kept the wolves from the door. Truth. not sure , but it makes more sense than us not finding 5G to match. That group of departures match the Colbert/Ayres in Rats and sinking ships. If Willams had stayed...3 flags. If true thats one expensive choice. Would he have made the difference in 89? Willams would not have been shy in that whack feast. In 92 which I feel was our best chance , could he have steemed the tide after 1/2 time or made us better in the 1st half? In 94 or 95 very hard to judge , but take Willams out of Carlton and put him in our side..who knows.

Perhaps the real howler was just the miss mangament of the club to get us into a position where we had to make such hard edged choices. The money was getting thrown around in the early 80's for good or bad going after Peake and other guys was probably typical of that reckless era. By 87 when the AFL started ( all but name ) there was no choice but to go national as half the clubs were broke from the same sort of behaviour.

 

[Turbocat]

Very few centre half forwards balk and dodge opponents the way Stoneham could prior to his broken leg. Very underrated player these days. After Carey and Brereton he was the best centre half forward of the 80's to 90's period, even if his time was short lived.

Very tru in the best 2 or 3 for sure. And ruined playing in the ruck, against Fitzroy

 

[Seeds]

Very tru in the best 2 or 3 for sure. And ruined playing in the ruck, against Fitzroy

Yep. I was at that game. devastating.

 

[Seeds]

I've always reckoned on two. '89 and '92.

His 5 goals in 95 would of helped too. particularly if he wasn't kicking them for the other team.

 

[Turbocat]

Yep. I was at that game. devastating.

Yes , wet and slippery centre.. Cricket pitch area ?

 

[SleazySimon]

There was a quality post a few years ago Jim Boy , not sure if you read it (you been around here even longer than me) and it had facts and figures on why Geelong did not match it. From memory , Geelong was almost gone financially and they actually got money from his transfer that kept the wolves from the door. Truth. not sure , but it makes more sense than us not finding 5G to match. That group of departures match the Colbert/Ayres in Rats and sinking ships. If Willams had stayed...3 flags. If true thats one expensive choice. Would he have made the difference in 89? Willams would not have been shy in that whack feast. In 92 which I feel was our best chance , could he have steemed the tide after 1/2 time or made us better in the 1st half? In 94 or 95 very hard to judge , but take Willams out of Carlton and put him in our side..who knows.

Perhaps the real howler was just the miss mangament of the club to get us into a position where we had to make such hard edged choices. The money was getting thrown around in the early 80's for good or bad going after Peake and other guys was probably typical of that reckless era. By 87 when the AFL started ( all but name ) there was no choice but to go national as half the clubs were broke from the same sort of behaviour.

Part of the reason too was that he would have been the highest paid player on the list. In those days all players were paid exactly the same apart from the captain. And apart from Brain Peake and they didn't want a repeat of that. He was still unproven too.
The captain at the time begged the club to suck it up and keep him though.
I doubt that Williams have played his whole career at Geelong if he stayed then anyway.
Actions speak louder than words and he was a money grabbing professional footballer his whole career. Would have still ended up at the brown paper bag club Carlton eventually.

 

[winty]

There was also an outcry against Bartel playing cricket! It's ridiculous, better he plays cricket than a more dangerous sport, motor racing

True, we wouldn't Jimmy to follow in Aker's footsteps....

 

[jim boy]

Stoneham was an absolute gun. Mobile for a big bloke and able to play anywhere down the spine or pinch hit in the ruck. Could've been remembered in the same class as blokes like Carey or Grant if he didn't cop that severely broken leg as mentioned above.

That's the frustrating bit, he didn't severely break his leg. As far as leg breaks go (and of course they are never trivial) it was a pretty minor break. It was the subsequent infection that turned it from something minor to something major.

 

[jim boy]

He was still unproven too.

yeah unproven, if you dont count the VFL MVP, the Carji Greeves medal and the record for most number of handballs in a season.

 

[flatcat]

I reckon egan was more comparable to Lonergan than Taylor with egan better. A more defensive player than Taylor. Took all the power forwards in 2007 and beat them all. Freed up Scarlett to play qb. Huge loss. Especially for 2008 because Taylor wasn't quite ready.

 

[Vdubs]

No disagreement that there weren't other reasons and I'm not exactly happy with the way Junior went about it either. The whole Bomber thing came after it was looking like Ablett was already thinking of leaving though and Bomber tried to call him out on that. It certainly wasn't what started it.

Also agree with you regarding getting paid outside of salary caps. Don't think Junior was the smartest cookie there. If he remained a one club player he would of been a legend in Geelong for life and receiving royalties and sponsorships and media gigs for decades after he retired. His dad didn't because of obvious reasons. Junior wouldn't be in the same boat. Once Junior finishes up at the Gold Coast he will be completely forgotton by the community.

Bet that's just how he likes it.

 

[Vdubs]

That's the frustrating bit, he didn't severely break his leg. As far as leg breaks go (and of course they are never trivial) it was a pretty minor break. It was the subsequent infection that turned it from something minor to something major.

It's the fact he had a plate and screws inserted rather than cast immobilisation, and then got infection; some argued it could have been managed without surgery, like Orlando Engelaar last year at Melbourne Heart. 3m later he was running and playing apparently.

 

[JUBJUB]

True, we wouldn't Jimmy to follow in Aker's footsteps....

Aker is such a wannabe Pastor Maldanado,although I'm not sure even Pastor has stacked on the warm-up lap.

 

[Seeds]

Bet that's just how he likes it.

Not if he is after cash which he clearly was.

 

[Vdubs]

Not if he is after cash which he clearly was.

It was never ALL about $.
Anyway, we will not go there again.