Roast Most disliked ex-Cat?

[Teriyakicat]

Not by me. He's not responsible for what his family members may or may not have said or done (and that's mostly speculation as well).

Served us well as a player. A good tap ruckman who deservedly got to play in one premiership. Was very durable too (imagine us having a durable senior ruckman now). Since he was moved on by the club, to my knowledge has never expressed the slightest anger or bitterness. Unlike say, Mumford or Prismall.

Durability is an undervalued quality at our club, I think This is Blake, I assume?

This. He was a serviceable tap ruckman who was unlucky enough to come into his career in a time when the game was changing and it was more important to be a versatile player. At another time he would have been a quality player, but unfortunately just couldn't develop the skills required. I've never heard any indication that it was a lack of effort on his part. He never seemed a 'popular' part of the group either, but I can't see that you can hate him for that.

As for his attitude after 2007 GF, well, he was disappointed and fair enough. I reckon most people would too. Look at the footage of Stokesy after the 2009 granny and you'll notice he doesn't crack a smile once, but no one's crucifying him for that. If his family did some dumb stuff, well, sometimes family do dumb stuff in sticking up for you.

I followed up his local league a couple of times and noticed he was regularly listed in the goals & best players, so hopefully he continued to enjoy his footy.

Yes, he won B&F in the league, when playing for Maroopna (*not sure what the league was), then again a B&F playing for Aberfeldie in the EDFL last season.
We need to start a movement in order to get MB back at the club

I agree with you on him missing out on an AFL GF- That would BURN for quite some time and you really can't blame a player for finding it difficult to have a smile on his dial only days after the team is announced, the game is played and he's missed the lot.

 

[Teriyakicat]

http://transform.fairfaxregional.co...82585.JPG/r0_90_3516_2077_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
would have run away with the votes had he been added to the poll

Maybe Bangers and Mash can start a new thread and individualise all the 'other' players who've missed out on being given their own hate in this thread

 

[Sttew]

Breaking News!

Colbert and Murphy running neck and neck on 20 votes

Edit: they were. Someone has changed their vote

 

[sauron256]

Durability is an undervalued quality at our club, I think This is Blake, I assume?


Yes, he won B&F in the league, when playing for Maroopna (*not sure what the league was), then again a B&F playing for Aberfeldie in the EDFL last season.
We need to start a movement in order to get MB back at the club

I agree with you on him missing out on an AFL GF- That would BURN for quite some time and you really can't blame a player for finding it difficult to have a smile on his dial only days after the team is announced, the game is played and he's missed the lot.

I've seen in various interviews with Moons about the 2011 premiership where he talks about how painful it is to miss out: in one he talks about watching Hawkins play a great game (in the qualifying final) and getting all teary on the couch because he knew it meant that he wouldn't be able to get back in for the grand final. And I think in the 2 Hours documentary he talks about how no matter what the club does to try and make you a part of the celebration (like Scotty's comments on the podium about them being as much a part of it as the others in the team), you don't feel a part of it and that's really tough.

 

[Catastic82]

This. He was a serviceable tap ruckman who was unlucky enough to come into his career in a time when the game was changing and it was more important to be a versatile player. At another time he would have been a quality player, but unfortunately just couldn't develop the skills required. I've never heard any indication that it was a lack of effort on his part. He never seemed a 'popular' part of the group either, but I can't see that you can hate him for that.

As for his attitude after 2007 GF, well, he was disappointed and fair enough. I reckon most people would too. Look at the footage of Stokesy after the 2009 granny and you'll notice he doesn't crack a smile once, but no one's crucifying him for that. If his family did some dumb stuff, well, sometimes family do dumb stuff in sticking up for you.

I followed up his local league a couple of times and noticed he was regularly listed in the goals & best players, so hopefully he continued to enjoy his footy.

Stokes did dress up as half cat and was very happy for his team.

Blake on the other hand walked around like it was funeral.

I know which player I respect more

 

[meto]

Harley, and he was captain, what a joke! One word mercenary sums him up.

 

[Partridge]

Stokes did dress up as half cat and was very happy for his team.

Blake on the other hand walked around like it was funeral.

I know which player I respect more

Not at the Best and Fairest he didn't. Quite pleasant and approachable. Steven King on the other hand.......made Scarlett seem like a good bloke.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I've seen in various interviews with Moons about the 2011 premiership where he talks about how painful it is to miss out: in one he talks about watching Hawkins play a great game (in the qualifying final) and getting all teary on the couch because he knew it meant that he wouldn't be able to get back in for the grand final. And I think in the 2 Hours documentary he talks about how no matter what the club does to try and make you a part of the celebration (like Scotty's comments on the podium about them being as much a part of it as the others in the team), you don't feel a part of it and that's really tough.

The difference is, Mooney knew he was cooked (and was practically saying so publicly, during the year). It was a tough situation for him, but he was thinking he might struggle to find a spot back in the team, going back to the middle of the season. Blake obviously wasn't cooked in 2007 and Milburn was still playing reasonably well in 2011, there were just 22 fit players that were playing better.

 

[Teriyakicat]

I've seen in various interviews with Moons about the 2011 premiership where he talks about how painful it is to miss out: in one he talks about watching Hawkins play a great game (in the qualifying final) and getting all teary on the couch because he knew it meant that he wouldn't be able to get back in for the grand final. And I think in the 2 Hours documentary he talks about how no matter what the club does to try and make you a part of the celebration (like Scotty's comments on the podium about them being as much a part of it as the others in the team), you don't feel a part of it and that's really tough.

I think Mooney did what a great club person with a big heart should do- and that was help Hawkins get the most out of himself. Obviously Moons had been working with Hawkins for quite some time and he made the choice not to be jealous of Hawkins but to join in the preparations and to help the club achieve a GF win, rather than sit back and sulk and watch it all unfold.

Blake is a different character - I have always seen him as a bit of a loner (like Mitch Brown). It would be very difficult for him to get out among the players and pat them all on the back with a big grin on his face if that isn't his nature. Mooney was always grinning like a Cheshire Cat- so, though difficult, it was probably easier for him to put on a brave face than it was for Blake.

 

[Partridge]

Blake is a different character - I have always seen him as a bit of a loner (like Mitch Brown). It would be very difficult for him to get out among the players and pat them all on the back with a big grin on his face if that isn't his nature. Mooney was always grinning like a Cheshire Cat- so, though difficult, it was probably easier for him to put on a brave face than it was for Blake.

The problem is, if a player has a mild disagreement with even one teammate (say Blake and King), it doesn't take long for that to become 'is hated by all his teammates'. If I see Scott or Steve Hocking say player X is unpopular with his teammates I might start believing it. Not until then.

 

[Teriyakicat]

The problem is, if a player has a mild disagreement with even one teammate (say Blake and King), it doesn't take long for that to become 'is hated by all his teammates'. If I see Scott or Steve Hocking say player X is unpopular with his teammates I might start believing it. Not until then.

Doesn't even have to be a disagreement. Some players aren't as outgoing as others and, if they're not seen smiling and talking to everyone, then there's obviously something big going down at the club!

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

The problem is, if a player has a mild disagreement with even one teammate (say Blake and King), it doesn't take long for that to become 'is hated by all his teammates'. If I see Scott or Steve Hocking say player X is unpopular with his teammates I might start believing it. Not until then.

I think it could even be more straightforward than that. Mooney was a 200+ game club legend, a two time premiership player, multiple leading goalkicker, arguably one of the 50 or so best players to have worn the jumper. If he'd been able to curb his aggression earlier in his career, he could have easily been the captain of that 2007 premiership side. He predated all but two of the 2011 premiership players at the club and I think that most people that have spent a fair bit of time at a footy club will know the role that can play in you looking up to the blokes that were there before you and taking the players that are younger than you under your wing to an extent, keeping that mentor/protege dynamic, even after you've been playing senior football together for 5+ years.

Blake was a 30-odd game just turned-22 year old. And I'm sure that, due to the character that he is, Mooney would have handled it well regardless, but it should be noted that every other player that missed out on selection in a Grand Final saw how players before him had reacted on the day and how the media and supporters had reacted to the reaction. Blake didn't have that luxury; he was the first one to go through it for Geelong.

 

[Sttew]

Harley, and he was captain, what a joke! One word mercenary sums him up.

Well that's not a word I associate with Harley. Or are you being funny?

Yes-man, ambitious, suave. In what way was he mercenary? Ablett was mercenary. Left Geelong for big $$. Mumford was mercenary.

 

[sauron256]

The difference is, Mooney knew he was cooked (and was practically saying so publicly, during the year). It was a tough situation for him, but he was thinking he might struggle to find a spot back in the team, going back to the middle of the season. Blake obviously wasn't cooked in 2007 and Milburn was still playing reasonably well in 2011, there were just 22 fit players that were playing better.

Yep wasn't directly comparing them, just referring to Mooney's thoughts on what it's like to miss out on a premiership. Obviously Mooney had already played in 3 premierships (incl the North one), whereas Blake was a young player who missed out on his first shot. I can imagine that would be bitterly disappointing.

 

[Pivo]

Well that's not a word I associate with Harley. Or are you being funny?

Yes-man, ambitious, suave. In what way was he mercenary? Ablett was mercenary. Left Geelong for big $$. Mumford was mercenary.

I'm fairly sure it was a typo.

 

[Partridge]

Well that's not a word I associate with Harley. Or are you being funny?

Yes-man, ambitious, suave. In what way was he mercenary? Ablett was mercenary. Left Geelong for big $$. Mumford was mercenary.

To be fair to Harley, that part only applied post-footy. He certainly wasn't that while captain.

 

[Partridge]

Blake was a 30-odd game just turned-22 year old. And I'm sure that, due to the character that he is, Mooney would have handled it well regardless, but it should be noted that every other player that missed out on selection in a Grand Final saw how players before him had reacted on the day and how the media and supporters had reacted to the reaction. Blake didn't have that luxury; he was the first one to go through it for Geelong.

That's a valid point. Plus, he was never universally adored, certainly not on here, and some were looking for a reason to hate him anyway. The fact that he wasn't doing cartwheels at the family day provided that.

As I've said many times, the only player at the Best and Fairest in 2007 who I thought was both surly and unprofessional was King, and by a fair distance. Blake at least by my own experience and in the media never came close to that level of petulance.

 

[Sttew]

To be fair to Harley, that part only applied post-footy. He certainly wasn't that while captain.

True

 

[thegerman]

The problem is, if a player has a mild disagreement with even one teammate (say Blake and King), it doesn't take long for that to become 'is hated by all his teammates'. If I see Scott or Steve Hocking say player X is unpopular with his teammates I might start believing it. Not until then.

Probably true.

I met Stephen Handley once, shared a beer, he commented that during the years he played there was definitely two teams, one that hung around together, the other was definitely on the outer.

Like any group setting, individuals will group together, where not all are equal

 

[Pivo]

Probably true.

I met Stephen Handley once, shared a beer, he commented that during the years he played there was definitely two teams, one that hung around together, the other was definitely on the outer.

Like any group setting, individuals will group together, where not all are equal

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Applies everywhere.

 

[thegerman]

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Applies everywhere.

Magnificent book. Very quick on the quote!

 

[Pivo]

Magnificent book. Very quick on the quote!

It is one of my faves. I should go back and read it again, it has been a while.

 

[JUBJUB]

Harley, and he was captain, what a joke! One word mercenary sums him up.

You post a lot of crap but this is the biggest turd you've dropped.
WTF are you on about ?

 

[thegerman]

It is one of my faves. I should go back and read it again, it has been a while.

Like mine, brave New world. Classic. But haven't picked it up for a while

 

[Sttew]

It is one of my faves. I should go back and read it again, it has been a while.

That and 1984 were my favourite compulsory reads at school. Hated most of the the rest, even though they are all on the "Top 100 of all time books to read before you die or see your team win a premiership"