Mega Thread Port Forum 'General AFL Talk' Thread

[Portology]

And they've been trying to plug the same holes the last 3 or 4 years it seems and not getting anywhere.

As a fan you'd worry, they don't have a big supporter base, they don't have rich fans (ala the Demons) or the cachet Melbourne has as being so old it'd be (from a Victorian POV) a disgrace if they went under. And although their stadium deal isn't great, it's nothing like the shit we had (and trying to avoid again) and they haven't been artificially constrained (ala SNAFL). Without artificial roadblocks to remove like Port has done (or in the process of doing) where are those sponsors, supporters, dollars going to come from? They don't have a good future to sell.

A pity as of the Victorian clubs that have been most at risk of going under since Fitzroy the Bullies are probably the one I'd like to see go down least (not that I'm gunning for clubs, but there are still too many in Victorian in a supposed AFL).

They are certainly the least deserving of going under of the four minnows 'at risk'. The Hawks have made the old "big 4" a "big 5" and Geelong are set financially due to their 'stadium deal', leaving Melbourne, St Kilda, Kangas and Bulldogs.

I understand why the Roos, even with the single most iconic Australian image to market and a huge fistfull of AFL $$ on offer, still didn't take the Gold Coast option (basically because James Brayshaw is a fool leading a collection of fools supported by a large % of fools) but I never understood exactly why Fitzroy took 'the Brisbane option' rather than merge with a Melbourne club, so their fans could at least have a continuous, local entity to barrack for.

I think it was at least partly because AFL/other AFL clubs feared creating a "super club" by feeding North's 1996 list with "Fitzroy supplements". If the rest of the comp wasn't going to approve a merger of a 'large' Vic club and a 'small' one in 1996 how much less likely now, with Port, GC (eventually) GWS on the up, Sydney set for one last COLA-fuelled shot, and (a first??) all six big/safe Vic clubs with relatively 'ageing' lists ? Not going to happen.

So we've ruled out any club moving lock stock to Tassie, and ruled out mergers between 'large' and 'small' Vic clubs. What's left ? Merge small fry, FFS, and please let their fans finally have an entity worth growing up with. Bulldogs & North have always been the most obvious candidates. Along with a dash of red, the Doggies might actually bring some humility to the inbred idiots that seem to dominate Norfcultur. Can't see much in common between Melbourne, the Saints and the other two except that they are all in the AFL.

In the past you might say "but, the bye ??" well the bye in some form is already here to stay. Non-issue.

None of it will happen though, TV/media money, via the AFL coffers will keep them all on life support until at least 2025, when the AFL get Jihad stadium and all the rules can suddenly change (except for the Adelaide oval stadium deal of course, which goes on forever). Not even sure why I bother writing sometimes

 

[Jim Dixon]

They've been trying to plug the key forward hole since Chris Grant and Daniel Del-Re were running around.

Danny Del-Re? Now that's a blast from the past. I had to look him up, poor bugger ended up at South Adelaide.

Those of us who are old enough will remember the villain Simon the Likeable from Get Smart.

Mrs P & I stayed up late one night a few years ago and had a few drinks and we still couldn't sit through Get Smart- a show that hasn't aged well at all.

Halfway through 2014 that's no longer the case, he's under pressure. Brisbane and Melbourne are visibly getting their act together, even Carlton despite the drama of the last 2 weeks. The Doggies are going to be left down with GWS and Richmond despite having a list that should be doing OK. Time for Choco to update his CV again.

Oh the laughs that would ensue! I'm probably going to Hell anyway but I so would love to see Choco in charge one more time. Do it Doggies!

Looking forward to the Suns/Swans game. I have tipped the Suns; I think the Swans aren't nearly as strong as the media have painted them to be, demolition of Geelong notwithstanding. They did lose to the Giants, FFS!

 

[Seanybruz]

I reckon Gary Ablett going mental with a 35+ touch 2-3 goal game is on the cards after 2 poor weeks in a row (by Gazzas standards), I'll be going for the Suns even if it means we face a fired up Sydney next week.

 

[xflamedancer]

Nah Burgo & Kern would sort him out & he'd become the beast he should be

That why he re signed with Wet Toast, if he went somewhere else he knows he would have to actually do some work and earn his spot in the side. At Wet Toast as long as he is uninjured he has a gold pass.

 

[JimmyBeerCans]

That why he re signed with Wet Toast, if he went somewhere else he knows he would have to actually do some work and earn his spot in the side. At Wet Toast as long as he is uninjured he has a gold pass.

It's not just him though is it, alot of the West Coasters are just treading water

 

[Jim Dixon]

It's not just him though is it, alot of the West Coasters are just treading water

West Coast by name, Coasters by nature. Imagine the Crows with money.

 

[xflamedancer]

It's not just him though is it, alot of the West Coasters are just treading water

True but NicNat really stood out to me as a downhill skier for some reason today and I realised he is like that every game. I'm so glad we got Ebert out of there.

Compare Lobbe yesterday with Nic.

Lobbe tap the ball out, go after it all day, get in and under, chase, tackle, get his own ball, run up and down the field all day.
Nic, tap the ball out (usually to the opposition) stop, plod into a space nowhere near the ball, get near the opposition player with the ball, throw a hand out, fall over, get up after the ball is long gone and plod into a space nowhere near the ball, take a POG mark, kick a gift goal.

 

[Powerstufff]

True but NicNat really stood out to me as a downhill skier for some reason today and I realised he is like that every game. I'm so glad we got Ebert out of there.

There is a persistent rumble we might be looking at Lycett next year but I heard today Cox is out of contract at the end of this year. In the normal course of events Cox'd be retiring at season's end but a year or two with us to add to his super might be enticing. Works for me at the right price.

 

[xflamedancer]

I like Cox, but I think we are better off going with some one younger. We definitely need to stock up on another ruck, but I would prefer some one younger who is going to last more than a couple of years. Honestly I don't know anything about Lycett though.

 

[TeeKray]

NicNat is just a highlight reel. Never has been good for anything in terms of consistent effort and output.

 

[Powerstufff]

NicNat is just a highlight reel. Never has been good for anything in terms of consistent effort and output.

I'm a NicNat fan in general, he can't win a game by himself though. Great in ruck, and in the tussle that follows. Not too much use up forward.

 

[Andre]

NicNat is just a highlight reel. Never has been good for anything in terms of consistent effort and output.

A taller Rodan.

 

[Macca19]

Naitanui hasn't been fit for a couple of years. He's a fantastic ruckman, but I think peoples expectations of him are too high.

 

[Magpiespower]

I think it was at least partly because AFL/other AFL clubs feared creating a "super club" by feeding North's 1996 list with "Fitzroy supplements"...

And that was only a few years after Carlton basically tried a hostile takeover of North Melbourne.

Heard John Elliott in many interviews say - in his usual, endearing, blowhard style - that the plan was to buy the Kangas for their players and give them a little history corner somewhere at Optus.

That really would've rewritten the book on buying premierships...

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

Will be interesting to see if Nic Nat can handle sole ruck responsibilities when Cox retires.

 

[stanmack]

Naitanui hasn't been fit for a couple of years. He's a fantastic ruckman, but I think peoples expectations of him are too high.

That's my read on it too, has a few 'magic moments' and the rest is average. Judge him when he has a decent preseason followed by a good run with injury.

 

[Portology]

And that was only a few years after Carlton basically tried a hostile takeover of North Melbourne.

Heard John Elliott in many interviews say - in his usual, endearing, blowhard style - that the plan was to buy the Kangas for their players and give them a little history corner somewhere at Optus.

That really would've rewritten the book on buying premierships...

I'd never heard of that. How typically Carlton.

And how ironic for the Kangaroos if Carlton had succeeded: the team who first tried to live by the cheque book would have perished by it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[edgie]

What about that supposed St Kilda/Carlton merger in 95? What on earth was the point behind that?

 

[Andy_B]

What about that supposed St Kilda/Carlton merger in 95? What on earth was the point behind that?

to get the team in victoria down to 10 and so we can get in too

 

[tribey]

Naitanui hasn't been fit for a couple of years. He's a fantastic ruckman, but I think peoples expectations of him are too high.

You'd shelve him now WCE's season is gone, surely.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

definitely playing then

You're correct on all counts

 

[tribey]

I'd never heard of that. How typically Carlton.

And how ironic for the Kangaroos if Carlton had succeeded: the team who first tried to live by the cheque book would have perished by it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If memory serves, Carlton owned a significant number of shares in North Melbourne.

 

[PJ Power]

GC v Syd is looking a good game, but boy are Syd good.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

GC not doing too bad, but they kicked 1.6

 

[Jumbo]

When will danger do his first big wince for the game?