Folau to Quit

[Viney]

Not directly Melbourne related, but a change from tanking is needed here anyway

Looks set to quit after only 2 years into his 4 year contract

See here

What a joke of a situation he was even enticed across. A poor marketing stunt that backfired.

The question is did he count towards their cap? And if so, are they clearing the decks for Tippett in the draft?

 

[Bluelegs]

Was played in a stupid position.

"Lets get a guy who's never touched a footy in his life to play one of the hardest positions in the game"

Gold Coast did it right by putting Hunt into the midfield, he's a rugby player so they used his build to be an in and under player and he's become a decent pick up for them.

 

[Dory_77]

I think another problem with Folau is that even in League, where he was a star, he never did much thinking on the field. He played on a wing in some of the best sides around and all he had to do was catch the ball and put it over the line; it was never going to be that simple for him in the AFL, especially for GWS. Hunt had at least played in some playmaking roles as five-eight and fullback, so wasn't totally useless when it came to thinking for himself on the field and doing things like kicking, marking under pressure and making decisions about how to put together some constructive play.

 

[fattyboombatty]

For a person to switch codes, they have to be motivated and wanting to perform at the highest level. Izzy was never motivated to be the best in AFL.

 

[CTHORANGE]

But according to Kevin Sheedy he was going to be a great player and had all the required attributes, except, perhaps, any AFL skills whatsoever

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Hilarious stuff. Was never going to work under any circumstances.

 

[RandB]

If the reports are true that he is looking at joining Parramatta he won't have to drive far at least.

Hey, 6000 posts.

 

[PureFooty]

The only person who I could confidently say would become a good AFL player from the NRL is Billy Slater. But of course your not gonna bother attempting to lure the greatest NRL player of the modern era (Porbably ever), it's just disrespectful.

 

[Jakovich13]

All just makes me admire Karmicheal all the more. Everyones entitled to their opinions, but i would have no problem with him pulling on a Melbourne Jumper. He may not be the best AFL player but he is definitely an AFL standard player.

 

[LiveFreeOrDie]

Takes the focus off the Dees for the next 7 days. (hopefully). Feels like a pressure cooker at the moment.

 

[Logger]

Makes me wonder who in the AFL could make it as a rugby player?

Jono Brown?

 

[Dory_77]

Makes me wonder who in the AFL could make it as a rugby player?

Jono Brown?

I reckon there'd be a few guys who'd go alright at fullback, maybe even in the halves. Guys with good kicks and good tackling would fit in. O'Keefe might be one.
Actually, I reckon anyone who's played in the Dees forward line over the past five years would be a good option at fullback. You know they'd be used to having balls bombed on their head all day and having to run the ball out the other way!

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Nek Minnut... speaks out about the tank against GC?

 

[Marlowe]

Scully should follow him to the NRL - then maybe someone can chew his ear off.

I still think Izzy could have made it if he were motivated by more than $money$.

 

[Crimson Azure]

At least he knew when to cut his losses.*

*If you can call a couple of mil a loss that is.

 

[Svensson]

All just makes me admire Karmicheal all the more. Everyones entitled to their opinions, but i would have no problem with him pulling on a Melbourne Jumper. He may not be the best AFL player but he is definitely an AFL standard player.

Most people seem to hate on Hunt, I'm not sure why, i actually find it fascinating to watch him play. The midfield definitely suits him. I hope he becomes a great player and proves everyone wrong. He actually has a crack at the ball, and seems to have pretty good decision making. I've seen him do some very good play making kicks across half back to set up a goal for the suns. On the other hand Izzy just wasn't up to it. Wish him the best of luck as he makes a come back to the N.R.L

 

[tasmanlvr]

I love a bloke who just goes hard for the ball. Karmichael fits the bill perfectly.

Full credit to Izzy for admitting he is not up to the standard of the AFL. He was 415th out of 416 players ranked by Champion Data to play more than 10 games, finishing ahead of Addam Maric. I'm sure Addam would be hugely pleased with that.

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

Makes me wonder who in the AFL could make it as a rugby player?

Jono Brown?

Kieran Jack, his old man was a gun apparently.

 

[tasmanlvr]

LRT was playing rugby for a while wasn't he? He would have made it, I'd imagine Mike Pyke technically made it playing union for Canada too.

There's something in the water with the Swans and rugby converts.

 

[Covertackle]

cant say im not sorry that one of the pacific island experiments failed. at least AFL reflects our populations demographic. NRL is flooded by PI monsters. id hate to see AFL go that way also.

i think the middle distance running requirements and the soon to change rules of the interchange will keep them away.

PI kids are great talents, but they love contact. the 2 rugbies are their sport really...

 

[SuburbanMe]

All just makes me admire Karmicheal all the more. Everyones entitled to their opinions, but i would have no problem with him pulling on a Melbourne Jumper. He may not be the best AFL player but he is definitely an AFL standard player.

This Massively!!! K.Hunt is a gun. Sure he's not the best AFL player, but he busts arse, hits packs, wins his own ball, and actually enjoys what he's doing. I still remember the footage of him kicking his first goal and the game winning goal - both times he looked like a little kid - much like Tom Hawkins kicking that game winner. Almost made me teary thinking about how god damn happy K was.

I'd have K on our list - he certainly wouldn't hurt our midfield.

Now as for Folau - Really disappointed. Pure example of a pea heart. He had SOOOOOO many people rooting for him, and he shoved it back in everyones face, took the money and ran back to a substandard competition where any brain dead **** can get a game. Sheeds is gutted - and I don't blame him.

 

[ramastar]

I don’t think this is a stunt that backfired. It generated millions of dollars worth of media attention for GWS and the AFL in NSW at the time, and again now.

I live in NSW’s now, you don’t hear much AFL news, but when Folau switched, it was front pages news for a week! He has generated a lot of news and media all through this year, such as when he scored his only. He was basically the only thing that gave GWS media coverage in the NSW sport press at all.

Sure, from a purely playing perspective it was a failure. I think it is partly to do with that GWS didn’t expect Jeremy Cameron to be quite so good and hold down his spot in the team for nearly a whole season. They expected to rotate Folau with Cameron, Patton through the year, get Falou more experience, this didn’t happen.

 

[Cannon82]

I don’t think this is a stunt that backfired. It generated millions of dollars worth of media attention for GWS and the AFL in NSW at the time, and again now.

I live in NSW’s now, you don’t hear much AFL news, but when Folau switched, it was front pages news for a week! He has generated a lot of news and media all through this year, such as when he scored his only. He was basically the only thing that gave GWS media coverage in the NSW sport press at all.

Sure, from a purely playing perspective it was a failure. I think it is partly to do with that GWS didn’t expect Jeremy Cameron to be quite so good and hold down his spot in the team for nearly a whole season. They expected to rotate Folau with Cameron, Patton through the year, get Falou more experience, this didn’t happen.

Yup. It wasn't an attempt to lure a potential AFL star across, it was a marketing move to get Sydney's west (league territory) interested in the Giants. If he turned out to be able to play, bonus, but it was a kick in the teeth for league. Put GWS on the map. I thought his salary was outside the cap but if they're talking up Tippett being able to sign on with the extra space, it must've been under or at least a significant portion was.

Works out for the best that he's gone back to league. Doesn't have to bleed any more cash from the AFL and the hype and buzz over him are well and truly gone. He might have turned into a decent player in 4 or 5 years but not worth the money and effort to see. When Tippett didn't get to the Swans, I'd imagine GWS and Folau's manager sat down and came up with this happy solution.


LRT played rugby union at one of Sydney's private schools. Second row I think, and he was supposed to be pretty good. Think he only took up AFL at about 14.

Gary Jack used to be a gun fullback for Balmain back in the 80s / 90s.

Any big knuckle dragger would do a job in league. Will Minson, Kozzy, Tom Hawkins, Brown, Barry Hall, etc. Not the most complicated game.

 

[1980GFVideo]

I don’t think this is a stunt that backfired. It generated millions of dollars worth of media attention for GWS and the AFL in NSW at the time, and again now.

I live in NSW’s now, you don’t hear much AFL news, but when Folau switched, it was front pages news for a week! He has generated a lot of news and media all through this year, such as when he scored his only. He was basically the only thing that gave GWS media coverage in the NSW sport press at all.
.

I agree with that. People living down here just don't understand that as much as we (AFL fans) will be able to appreciate the development of guys like Patton,Cognilio and Cameron, they will generate very little interest up there UNTIL they have reached the level that they are expected to reach and are driving GWS into a top four position.

The AFL and GWS would happily take another bloke like Falou for the next two years who will call it quits in a couple of years with two touches to his name. Three years still needed to fill so as to get GWS some real estate in the daily papers up there. They will be a better team over next couple of years but its going to be harder to get themselves into the paper. The people running the club will be anxious to get the club to a stage though where they dont have to pull that shit as from a football team perspective it had no benefit at all.

 

[tasmanlvr]

I'm actually watching the GWS/Richmond game in the wet (Folau didn't play) right now. It's really noticeable how skilful Patton and Cameron are even in wet conditions. There was no way Folau was going to get a game next year with both of them running around. And the scary thing is Patton and Cameron could get much much better.

Thing is too, Patton and Cameron are willing to run into the midfield to help out and present as an option and they do it so well. Folau was just lost whenever he set foot onto the field.

Also, if GWS go after Tippett I just wonder how they will structure their forward line. I thought Phillips showed a bit when he played but he's going to be, what, third in line behind Giles and Tippett?