Indigenous legacy

[FredLeDeux]

There's always a uniqueness about them as opposed to the others, I do believe.
It's like they need to find their brothers within the group, or is it just us, we always look at them as socially unadjusted? almost as if they need to be led like children for their protection.

Then again probably not such a bad thing, knowing the pitfalls out there for a 17yr old recruit.
I bet they pair Hartman off with one of the indigenous players, I hope they choose Bundy, he knows what he wants, but he's humble about it!

There's nothing unique "about them as opposed to the others", all players "need to find their brothers within the group", it's how footy clubs work.
And what on earth would a 21-y-o from Lara have in common with an 18-y-o from SA?
As MCD said above "Our club has a responsibility to recruit players who have the skills and discipline that will make them quality AFL players and representatives of the club. They also have a responsibility to provide the required support to get them playing the best football they possibly can, while supporting them, whether they've come from the Falcons or the Tiwi Islands, through the transition from boys to men."

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

No need to cringe over some ANONYMOUS ramblings on a computer. This is not life and death stuff, merely relaxation and escapism from the real issues of life. Or is it?

Eh...? I mean it's cringe-worthy as in 'embarrassing', the same way that seeing Simon Marshall on AFL Gameday is cringe-worthy, or watching Andrew Maher's boundary line interview with Brett Kirk was cringe-worthy, or having David Brent as your boss would be cringe-worthy. Sometimes 'cringe-worthy' can still be funny. Ever seen Swingers? This may have been the most cringe-worthy scene in the history of film:



Other times, as in people's patronising attempts to appear inclusive towards Aboriginal footballers, it's just embarrassing and makes me feel that we've got a long way to go as a society. I hope all Aboriginal AFL players see Geelong as a quality environment with good people, good facilities and the right support staff. But I hope that every AFL player feels the same way.

 

[you pick one]

There's nothing unique "about them as opposed to the others", all players "need to find their brothers within the group", it's how foot clubs work.
And what on earth would a 21-y-o from Lara have in common with an 18-y-o from SA?
As CD said above "Our club has a responsibility to recruit players who have the skills and discipline that will make them quality ALF players and representatives of the club. They also have a responsibility to provide the required support to get them playing the best football they possibly can, while supporting them, whether they've come from the Falcons or the Timi Islands, through the transition from boys to men."

They are as unique as the Kangaroo,koala and Platypus. And we need to except that.

Culture to start with and possible an already existing support group?

 

[FredLeDeux]

They are as unique as the Kangaroo,koala and Platypus. And we need to except that.

Culture to start with and possible an already existing support group?

Arrant nonsense.

 

[you pick one]

Arrant nonsense.

So we just line them all up give them a coat of Dulux and job done,successive Governments have been trying to do that for 200 years and have failed.Why?

 

[FredLeDeux]

So we just line them all up give them a coat of Dulux and job done,successive Governments have been trying to do that for 200 years and have failed.Why?

@MC Extra Dollop, that was a successful prediction, it's descended to the cringe-worthy.

 

[you pick one]

@MC Extra Dollop, that was a successful prediction, it's descended to the cringe-worthy.

Yeh good call by Dollop best left there.

 

[Vdubs]

Bill Shankly, Liverpool Soccer Manager:
Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.'

I don't mean footy itself- that is the essence of life we know?!
I refer to the thoughts/musings/opinions often splattered down here on BF.

 

[Vdubs]

Eh...? I mean it's cringe-worthy as in 'embarrassing', the same way that seeing Simon Marshall on AFL Gameday is cringe-worthy, or watching Andrew Maher's boundary line interview with Brett Kirk was cringe-worthy, or having David Brent as your boss would be cringe-worthy. Sometimes 'cringe-worthy' can still be funny. Ever seen Swingers? This may have been the most cringe-worthy scene in the history of film:



Other times, as in people's patronising attempts to appear inclusive towards Aboriginal footballers, it's just embarrassing and makes me feel that we've got a long way to go as a society. I hope all Aboriginal AFL players see Geelong as a quality environment with good people, good facilities and the right support staff. But I hope that every AFL player feels the same way.

Very good MC
I love the cringe scene, WHICH ONE OF HUNDREDS?, in The Office, as you alluded to, where there is a mock fire scene, and the boss has to deal with a lady worker in a wheelchair . I'm not up to digging these things out like you and some others are able to, but almost painful stuff.
I was only getting at for me, I find stuff on BF a little less real than on radio or TV because it is so anonymous. Not that I don't spend time on BF, way too much for my liking, still curse my brother getting me hooked on it, but opinions here are often written while people are multi-tasking, and the consequences are not as far-reaching as they would be if they were not anonymous.
Yet, you are correct, they do reflect what sort of society we live in, no doubt.

 

[Cat of Ages]

unfortunately due to our recent success, we sort of suffer for it as other teams gain high draft picks and they end up taking some of the best indigenous talent around which also limits our chances of adding more boys to the list but I think Fremantle gain quite a few through the WAFL connection but here's a 2011 list of all the indigenous players team by team
http://www.afl.com.au/development/q...heafl/currentplayers/tabid/14139/default.aspx

I agree that the best players should be the ones we field. No contest. But how do people get to be their best? Indigenous communities in Australia have life expectancies equivalent to those of Europe in the middle ages. AFL is hugely popular in these communities, on the whole, and lots of Indigenous kids want to play footy beyond local level. It provides a vital link for some kids to get out there are make a difference to themselves and their communities.

Catland was not always a great place for Indigenous players for whatever reason. Might have been that Bomber Thompson brought in some of Sheeds' openness in the post-Long era, but whatever, we are now lucky beneficiaries and some of our Indigenous Cats are among the stars of the team. Some Cat players head north to remote communities in their down time and that is great to see. Think what it must mean for the kids in those places.

AFL is a bridge between communities that can help make Australia a better country for everyone. So I am proud to love a club that has social values as well as the other values linked to sport. Sorry if that makes me a soft-headed bore.

My cringe is when I hear people use the word 'magic' about Indigenous players - good to hear Franklin say: actually, it's just hard work.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I agree that the best players should be the ones we field. No contest. But how do people get to be their best? Indigenous communities in Australia have life expectancies equivalent to those of Europe in the middle ages. AFL is hugely popular in these communities, on the whole, and lots of Indigenous kids want to play footy beyond local level. It provides a vital link for some kids to get out there are make a difference to themselves and their communities.

Catland was not always a great place for Indigenous players for whatever reason. Might have been that Bomber Thompson brought in some of Sheeds' openness in the post-Long era, but whatever, we are now lucky beneficiaries and some of our Indigenous Cats are among the stars of the team. Some Cat players head north to remote communities in their down time and that is great to see. Think what it must mean for the kids in those places.

AFL is a bridge between communities that can help make Australia a better country for everyone. So I am proud to love a club that has social values as well as the other values linked to sport. Sorry if that makes me a soft-headed bore.

My cringe is when I hear people use the word 'magic' about Indigenous players - good to hear Franklin say: actually, it's just hard work.

The biggest one is when they make a statement like that and then nominate players like Naitanui and Rodan...now that's when it gets to David Brent territory. Or when they question the heritage of players like Jonathon Griffin...that's when Andrew Bolt's continued popularity makes complete sense.

I know what you're saying, but I'm not sure that we have an unfortunate history with Aboriginal players at all. Ezra Bray was an absolute failure, from a Geelong perspective, but there's a fair bit of evidence that, despite his undenied talent, he would have struggled to make it at any club. It doesn't exonerate the club from fault, but most seem to think the writing was on the wall with Bray.

The other thing to consider is that somewhere like Perth is amost a different planet to somewhere like Yuendemu and the cultures between Aboriginal people from these two areas is also completely different. Some Aboriginal communities basically just want to be left alone by white people, white influences and white society. That's where a lot of the issues arise.

 

[footscore]

My cringe is when I hear people use the word 'magic' about Indigenous players - good to hear Franklin say: actually, it's just hard work.

yeh, it's still a touchy subject today but I grew up with friends who were African, Aboriginal and Asian so I reckon the younger folk today aren't as acute to the past as what the older folks are.

In regards to Franklin, I doubt he works as hard as most...look at his physique for example and then look at Hawkins when he first entered the game, there is a stark difference between the two in terms of pure muscle and although most is genetic, Franklin has not only slowed down in speed but he has not become much stronger over the past 7 years he's been in the weight room.
I reckon this is a reason why he will never become anything more than what he currently is, if he had Selwood's dedication and mind set, he'd the best player in the game but he's not going to be.

 

[Cat of Ages]

...

In regards to Franklin, I doubt he works as hard as most......
I reckon this is a reason why he will never become anything more than what he currently is, if he had Selwood's dedication and mind set, he'd the best player in the game but he's not going to be.

And a blessing too for other teams if Buddy does not do all he really could!! But I think he was making the rhetorical point that some of the things he does which are labelled 'magic' are not based on heritage or talent only, that there is more to it, so I'll back that.

 

[footscore]

some of the things he does which are labelled 'magic' are not based on heritage or talent only, that there is more to it, so I'll back that.

am not disagreeing with you and I agree with your point, I guess I look at Franklin and don't rate him as highly as most footy fans do but I don't get why fans think he's so good.
I watched that game against North Melbourne this season where he booted 13 goals and you watch the highlights for yourself, it's probably the most boring 13 goals kicked by a player in a single game I can recall.



2 goals were brilliant and the rest were just average, Brad Scott didn't change things up until he booted his 8th goal on that dud defender.
Not one spectacular mark and if this was Jack Riewoldt kicking 13...the highlights reel would be off the chart in comparison to Buddy..'the tall crumbing goal sneak'.