Dear Gazza...

[rdhopkins2]

Disappointed more in the way that this has played and and the whole circus that has ensured. Turning down that sort of coin was always going to be hard and perhaps Gary will come to regret down the track not being a one club Geelong legend as opposed to an excellent player who jumped ship.

 

[_Me_]

They do a Saturday morning radio show together on SEN. Should be interesting listening to 'em this weekend to hear what kind of shit comes up...

They are best mates
have a look at the IMG site, their number one speaker is Hutchy

Hutchy has left this one alone all year, when did hutchy leave a story like this alone

 

[hawker92]

Makes me love Matthew Pavlich even more. Despite always having the lure of going back home to SA, he decided to be loyal and a one club player.

Shame. He could've won a brownlow and/or premiership by now if he was with another club

 

[Shane Hird]

Have all of you forgotten how 'different' G.A Snr is?

Have you forgotten how much he thinks of his old man?

Don't you think G Snr would have been in young Gazza's ear?

We didn't carry on like you people when Wanganeen went to P.A for the same reasons G Jnr left.

You got 2 flags from him. Should have been 3.

We would have won more flags than one if Wangas had of stayed.

Telling stories too about how upset your kids are is truly pathetic. You have all got over it quickly and start getting used to life with-out a superstar.

I've been coaching my son's Auskick team for 6 years now-U12s next season. A few years ago when Cousins and Judd left WC and the whole Eagle juggernaut collapsed, I watched many young WC fans in my team and around the club quickly get over the fact that their idols were gone.

They get over it better than an adult does..

 

[terrybull]

Only supporters are loyal...

but that could change too...

maybe in the near future, clubs will buy other teams most fanatic supporters as well....

I mean would you say no, if Collingwood offered a 9 million dollar deal to support the Magpies for five years???

 

[bartelisahardnut]

Well, how you have finally shown your true colours...... and apparently they are red and gold.

To attack your decision with hatred and anger would help me through the feelings that i and many geelong supporters feel right now. however, anger will surpass and clear thinking will once again prevail.

And if i only had one wish for next year, it would be that Maxxy Rooke is fit when we first see you in that GC rubbish and he takes all the anger of a football town, community and its supporters and well.... does what rookie does, lays it all on the line for the blue and white hoops.

You will be remembered for what you did for this club, for being a great player in our colours. But you won't be reveered for what you did for this club. Those places are reserved for loyalty, achievements on field and off field and for a love and respect for a jumper.

And in time, when your playing career is over and you look back on your time alongside others, that you will regret. Because you could of been there, you could of been the next bobby davis.

But that will now be reserved for others, whose deeds for the blue and white hoops will remembered for long after their careers are over, enjoyed and cherished as legends and favourite sons of this great club .

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

We didn't carry on like you people when Wanganeen went to P.A for the same reasons G Jnr left.

Massive internet forums weren't around to the extent they are today, matey. Not that you don't have a point, but Bigfooty alone has 96,760 members as of now. That's a hell of a lot of instant opinion we didn't have back then.

 

[bigrob]

Dear Gary,

Although not a Geelong supporter, from the time I saw the image that deftly contrasted your uniquely shaped torso to that of your fathers in the mid-90's, I have watched you from afar with interest.

I watched as you helped Geelong rise to become the young team to challenge StKilda in the first half of last decade.

I watched as the club did everything right in protecting and sheltering you from an acutely interested media; both for you and your brother.

I watched the debate as to whether your performances elevated you and your Dad to be the best F&S combo in league history. At those times I considered the conglomerate to still be behind the Silvagni due; however, a few years after the debate began, you've put it well beyond any doubt.

I watched as you gave joy to Geelong fans that only comes from being a part of the Geelong family, a son of a club legend and potential legend in your own right. This romance adds to the pleasure your form brought.

I watched as you helped deliver a long overdue premiership to the Cats and I watched as you failed and then delivered again. You gave the club you've supported all your life some of its best ever years and helped demand the footy worlds respect for your club; something it had previously struggled with being "handbaggers" and "GF failures".

I pondered over how much your victory healed the pain of your father's losses.

I watched as so many undervalued and derided your performances, much as most grommets do with great players these days.

And now ... today I will watch as you shatter my belief in traditional football values and walk out on the club your father played for, the club you've won flags with, the club you've supported all your life; to go and get some more cash. From what I can see, it really is your sole motivation, which makes you the biggest merc in the history of the game.

I feel sorry for Geelong supporters and for the GFC. I hope that whatever you get out of all of this eventually helps you achieve success in the future. I know losing Hamill hurt more when everything we got for him turned up spuds.

This. And he isn't even Geelong.

 

[Whiskers]

I really do not want to hate/dislike Gary. He has done so much for our club and i cannot believe he is gone. I thought i was prepared for it but it hurts knowing for sure. Now i look forward to dishing it out to him at all the gold coast games i attend, even though he will probably be dominating.

This is the 2nd time my favourite player has left, yes Leigh Colbert was the other. I loved AFL for the loyalty it shows in most cases over other codes, but that has evaporated today.

 

[bingle]

What can I say that hasnt already been said in this thread. I could echo so many posts in here.

God love you gary for everything you've done and achieved at this club and the memories you've given us but good riddance to you if you want to be the black sheep of our team and take the cash and run when all of your teammates were making financial sacrifices to keep the team together.
I wish you well in life Gary but as far as the football career goes you'll be getting no support or applause from this Geelong member what so ever! And if someone, say Chapman, Rooke, Kelly etc. happens to plow through you on the field and leave you laying in a world of hurt I will feel a great deal of pleasure and rest assured I will be cheering with the majority.
I am certain this the most clear cash grab decision you've made will tarnish your reputation forever in this game.

Enjoy the weather

P.S. to any Geelong supporter (and there have been a few believe it or not) who wants to re-evaluate whether or not to keep supporting the club you have shown your true colours and p!$$ off as well!!

 

[RangaInTeal]

As stated before, you guys are going to have someone step out of the Ablett shadow. A fit Corey, Bartell back to his best, Selwood hitting his best years, Varcoe continuing to grow, Duncan showed plenty this year, Hogan who has been around the mark for a few years, you guys wont be down for too long. Now none of these are Ablett, but the line up is far superior to Port's, Adelaide's, Richmond's, Essendon's, we were all able to win games and your defence is one of the best going around.

If you push Milburn and Rooke as has been mentioned, Your are probably looking at a 7th-5th finish with two first round draft selections up your sleve. Hold on to them untill the end of the compramised drafts which will probably coinside with the end of Ottens and Chapman. Load up with three first round draft picks, like Port did this year, because Butcher, Moore and Pittard really do genuinely excite alot of our suporters.

In 2013 you guys finish 8th as an assumption, use the 3 first rounders and get *picks 3, 12, 20, (that is one after the prioity picks, one at 8 and one at the end of the first round). Any number of these combinations would see Geelong a force soon enough again however;
05 - Ellis (Kennedy, Pendelbury and Ryder taken after)
Jones (Hurn, Birchall, Varcoe and Douglas taken after)
Bower (Ibbotson, Vince and Swallow taken after)
06 - Hanesn (Luenberger, Boak and J.Selwood going after)
Frawley (Riewoldt going after)
Hislop (P.Stewart and Tippet going after)
07 - Masten (Morton, Grant, Henderson, Dangerfield, Rioli going after)
Rioli (Grimes, Taylor and Ward going after)
Notte (Selwood and Greenwood going after)
08 - Hill (Hartlett, Hurley, Yarran, Rich, Ziebell, Sidebottom going after)
Johnston (Schoenmakers, Blease, Strauss, Swift going after)
Swift (Trengove, Zaharakis, Suban, Redden going after)
09 - Martin (Morrabito, Cunnington, Rohan going after)
Lucass (Talia, Pittard, Menzel going after)
Fyfe (Bastinac, Stevens, Carlisle, Bartlett, Duncan going after)
*i am not too sure of your compensation

 

[InnocentBystandr]

I just sat through the GC/GA presser.

Although totally expected, I still feel betrayed. Sort of like your wife/husband just announcing that they're leaving you for another man/woman.

Rationally, I understand that 'its his job, and he should receive maximum remuneration for his skills'.

But as football supporters, its all emotional, and he's now diminished in my view despite his brilliance and achievements for the club.

Like others, I hope Max is fit for next season!!

I'm just pleased I managed to convince my son to get '14' on his new jumper and not '29'.