Oppo Camp Former Players

[Seeds]

That would've been an all-time great draft had there not been injuries/gambling.

The player who had the best career was arguably the least talented of the lot. Edit - ignoring taylor hunt.

 

[MacStradbroke]

F*** off. Williams was offered over 80 thousand a year at sydney. He was on 40 thousand at geelong. He would of stayed at geelong if he was offered 45 thousand. We refused a paltry 5 thousand increase even though another club was offering 40 thousand plus more.

it wasnt greed that he left. It was cos the geelong club completely disrepected him and massively low balled him compared to market value. He was happy to stay for massive unders.

So Gazza what…50% pay increase to leave. $1m > $1.5m about right?
Williams 100% pay increase. $40K > $80K.
it’s all relevant, one left for twice the pay increase as the other. Both were about money so don’t defend one over the other.

 

[Spazz Cat]

So Gazza what…50% pay increase to leave. $1m > $1.5m about right?
Williams 100% pay increase. $40K > $80K.
it’s all relevant, one left for twice the pay increase as the other. Both were about money so don’t defend one over the other.

No. Williams was about respect. He didn't care about the money. Just wanted 5k more even though he was worth way more just to show he was appreciated by the club.
Also not all Geelong's fault though. We had no money and needed those transfer fees from Sydney to keep going.

 

[MacStradbroke]

No. Williams was about respect. He didn't care about the money. Just wanted 5k more even though he was worth way more just to show he was appreciated by the club.
Also not all Geelong's fault though. We had no money and needed those transfer fees from Sydney to keep going.

Then he left over a piddly $5K. I’ll support club over player. Especially him.

 

[Spazz Cat]

He still left over $5K. I’ll support club over player. Especially him.

He did but he had to.
The club had to as well. It makes us sound like tightarses and stubborn.
But they actually sorted of wanted him and needed him to leave. Was good transfer money.

 

[Vdubs]

He did but he had to.
The club had to as well. It makes us sound like tightarses and stubborn.
But they actually sorted of wanted him and needed him to leave. Was good transfer money.

Williams leaving opened the door for Couch to be the Brownlow medallist and champ he was. That opportunity may not have been there with Diesel occupying centre. And in that era, we also off-loaded Adrian Fletcher, a similar player who flourished elsewhere.
Couch, Bairstow, Buddha, Bews, Bruns- we had a brilliant midfield. And then Liam Pickering and Kilpatrick also were good value.
Not at all saying Diesel would not have helped, but that particular position he played was not a weakness.

 

[Seeds]

So Gazza what…50% pay increase to leave. $1m > $1.5m about right?
Williams 100% pay increase. $40K > $80K.
it’s all relevant, one left for twice the pay increase as the other. Both were about money so don’t defend one over the other.

100 percent is twice as big as 50 per ent and williams was willing to stay for only 5000 more.

plus a million a year in 2010 makes you incredibly well off. 45 thousand in the 1980s did not. In 2010 terms that 45 thousand williams would stay for was about the equivalent of 100 thousand. I.e. ablett wouldnt stay for 1 million but williams would stay for 100 thousand in 2010 terms.

 

[MacStradbroke]

100 percent is twice as big as 50 per ent and williams was willing to stay for only 5000 more.

plus a million a year in 2010 makes you incredibly well off. 45 thousand in the 1980s did not. In 2010 terms that 45 thousand williams would stay for about 100 thousand. I.e. ablett wouldnt stay for 1 million but williams would stay for 100 thousand in 2010 terms.

Haha Saturday is feet up day, you just made my head spin! I get your point though.

 

[My Tilly]

Williams leaving opened the door for Couch to be the Brownlow medallist and champ he was. That opportunity may not have been there with Diesel occupying centre. And in that era, we also off-loaded Adrian Fletcher, a similar player who flourished elsewhere.
Couch, Bairstow, Buddha, Bews, Bruns- we had a brilliant midfield. And then Liam Pickering and Kilpatrick also were good value.
Not at all saying Diesel would not have helped, but that particular position he played was not a weakness.

I think Williams was a superior footballer to Couch and Hocking. As good as what those guys were, arguably the best midfielders of their generation . . . . Diesel is in the discussion of greatest midfielder ever.
You are right though, that position was never a weakness for Geelong.
We simply had no quality key defenders when the team was right in it's prime to snag a flag. Imagine having O'Reilly or Graham in the 89 and 92 team. We were always one big brute of a defender short.

 

[cats_09]

Vale Stewart Lord:

Fred Wooller has led the tributes following the death of 1963 Geelong premiership teammate Stewart Lord.

The talented defender died on Friday, aged 81.

“He was a very valuable member of the premiership side,” Wooller, who captained the Cats to what was their sixth VFL flag, told Geelong Broadcasters.

“Stewart was a very reliable, very solid, (and a) great team man.

“He was down-to-earth, played his role, always good around the club, and formed good relationships.”

Cats lose a star and servant

Stewart (left) and Alistair Lord with the 1963 premiership cup Fred Wooller has led the tributes following the death of 1963 Geelong premiership te...

www.bay939.com.au

 

[The rabbi]

I remember when Stewy was the publican at the SaleYards hotel (now the Yardz).
I think that he may have coached Geelong West (VFA) around the same time.

 

[you pick one]

I remember when Stewy was the publican at the SaleYards hotel (now the Yardz).
I think that he may have coached Geelong West (VFA) around the same time.

Was (Black ****)Ma Broadhurst the Licensee?

 

[Sttew]

I remember when Stewy was the publican at the SaleYards hotel (now the Yardz).
I think that he may have coached Geelong West (VFA) around the same time.

I know Alistair won the Brownlow. How good was Alistair?

 

[David the Cat]

Solid player Stewart Lord. ...S Lord-P Walker-J Devine...a fine half backline.

His identical twin Alastair won the 1962 Brownlow, but that seemed unlikely when he was reported for striking. Stewart came to the rescue "admitting" he was the culprit and the umpire reported the wrong twin. Alastair was exonerated and went on to win the Brownlow.

Stewart was an average kick but expert at kicking it out of bounds, often on the full. No penalty in those days.

RIP Stewart Lord

 

[Vdubs]

I know Alistair won the Brownlow. How good was Alistair?

Some people (mischievously) say that Alistair received several of Stewart's votes that year

 

[David the Cat]

I know Alistair won the Brownlow. How good was Alistair?

Alastair was all class...

 

[you pick one]

I know Alistair won the Brownlow. How good was Alistair?

Recent comparison Dane Swan.

 

[you pick one]

Solid player Stewart Lord. ...S Lord-P Walker-J Devine...a fine half backline.

His identical twin Alastair won the 1962 Brownlow, but that seemed unlikely when he was reported for striking. Stewart came to the rescue "admitting" he was the culprit and the umpire reported the wrong twin. Alastair was exonerated and went on to win the Brownlow.

Stewart was an average kick but expert at kicking it out of bounds, often on the full. No penalty in those days.

RIP Stewart Lord

Funny what people become renowned for.

 

[Sttew]

Recent comparison Dane Swan.

I meant to ask how good Stewart was as a player

 

[you pick one]

I meant to ask how good Stewart was as a player

Think the opposite of Dane Swan.No my memory of Stewart was a half back who you could rely on day in day out to get the job done seldom beaten the old see ball get ball type of player,didn't have the class of Alister but didn't need it to to be effective.Blue collar footballer.

 

[uranium_death]

I was unhappy with the way Mark Bairstow left the club
Was given a performance-based contract for 1995, and rejected it. Effectively pushed out
Gary Ayres was a nutsack. He could coach, but his people management left a lot to be desired
He and Ablett also didn't see eye to eye. Gary Ayres ditching the club was the best thing he ever did, IMO.

The club had awful relationships with past players. So many good players from the 70s and 80s were alienated
After Bairstow was chopped, the club never contacted him or reached out to keep him involved on some level

I am so glad that under Cook and Costa, past players are welcomed back and involved far, far more. Success can often do that though

 

[My Tilly]

I was unhappy with the way Mark Bairstow left the club
Was given a performance-based contract for 1995, and rejected it. Effectively pushed out
Gary Ayres was a nutsack. He could coach, but his people management left a lot to be desired
He and Ablett also didn't see eye to eye. Gary Ayres ditching the club was the best thing he ever did, IMO.

The club had awful relationships with past players. So many good players from the 70s and 80s were alienated
After Bairstow was chopped, the club never contacted him or reached out to keep him involved on some level

I am so glad that under Cook and Costa, past players are welcomed back and involved far, far more. Success can often do that though

He was too regimented for that time and particularly a club like Geelong who blooded boys from country towns (laid back nature).
Tried to incorporate the Alan Jeans mentality and for the most part, it worked but then you had some guys who knew where they were at in their footballing careers and did not need to partake in extra sessions etc.

As for Ablett, he was just a different cat all together. While most expected everyone to rock up after the game and get pissed and party, he wanted to get away to the bush to be left alone. Must have brushed off a few teammates, particularly the seasoned veterans back in those days.

 

[The rabbi]

Solid player Stewart Lord. ...S Lord-P Walker-J Devine...a fine half backline.

His identical twin Alastair won the 1962 Brownlow, but that seemed unlikely when he was reported for striking. Stewart came to the rescue "admitting" he was the culprit and the umpire reported the wrong twin. Alastair was exonerated and went on to win the Brownlow.

Stewart was an average kick but expert at kicking it out of bounds, often on the full. No penalty in those days.

RIP Stewart Lord

You know you are getting old when you can remember the days before you were penalized for deliberate out of bounds or out on the full.

 

[Seeds]

I was unhappy with the way Mark Bairstow left the club
Was given a performance-based contract for 1995, and rejected it. Effectively pushed out
Gary Ayres was a nutsack. He could coach, but his people management left a lot to be desired
He and Ablett also didn't see eye to eye. Gary Ayres ditching the club was the best thing he ever did, IMO.

The club had awful relationships with past players. So many good players from the 70s and 80s were alienated
After Bairstow was chopped, the club never contacted him or reached out to keep him involved on some level

I am so glad that under Cook and Costa, past players are welcomed back and involved far, far more. Success can often do that though

They kind of made the same mistakes with chapman, steve johnson, motlop and menzel. Basically anyone who was an attacking half foward flanker from 2015-19.

 

[uranium_death]

He was too regimented for that time and particularly a club like Geelong who blooded boys from country towns (laid back nature).
Tried to incorporate the Alan Jeans mentality and for the most part, it worked but then you had some guys who knew where they were at in their footballing careers and did not need to partake in extra sessions etc.

As for Ablett, he was just a different cat all together. While most expected everyone to rock up after the game and get pissed and party, he wanted to get away to the bush to be left alone. Must have brushed off a few teammates, particularly the seasoned veterans back in those days.

A first year coach from a club like Hawthorn - a club that won 7 flags in the 70s and 80s, and another in 1991, cannot walk into Geelong and expect things to change overnight. He had 1994 to see what worked, and to expect everybody to suddenly change "because Gary Ayres says so" was doomed to failure. Geelong is not Hawthorn. Never will be. Geelong is a unique club in the AFL.

If players are past their use-by date, I understand. Say so. Bairstow was better in 1994 than 1993. The main issue I have is the way he left, and the fact he wasn't made to feel welcome back at the club

Ablett got along with some team mates, but he was always different. I don't think he wanted many friends. I think he enjoys his solitude.
Paul Couch got along fine with him. From game footage, I think he also had good rapports with Buddha, Bews, Bairstow, Barry Stoneham and BilL Brownless - players that all played with him for a while. Hocking for a decade, Bews for a decade. Bairstow for 7 years, Couch for 12 seasons, Barry Stoneham for a decade, and Bill for 11.

Ablett was and still is unique. We know that, but we're richer for it