Roast Most disliked ex-Cat?

[flatcat]

I'm not saying it was a rational decision, but my impression is he was mighty unhappy with the amount of time he spent in the VFL at Geelong and that would have put pressure on a few relationships at the club.

Overestimated his own ability. He didn't fail because of his knee injuries, he failed because he was soft. You have to be very very good if you are not hard at it. He wasn't. Only got lots of possessions for seniors because he had a cast of champions feeding him.
Blake also overestimated his own abilities. A player who can't mark, kick or gather the ball from the ground is lucky to be playing afl football. Yes, he was durable and that vs the injuries of other players meant he got a lot of games. But he was light years behind ottens. And also king before injuries took their till. That's what annoyed me about his petulance at 2007 gf. Mooney and Milburn on the other hand were champions and would have the known they were good enough if their body could hold out for one more year. So they'd be a bit of bitterness that comes with that. I just think prismal and Blake should have been a bit more realistic.
Abblett, Williams and Mumford went for $ but I can't hate them for that. Our whole society worships money (and power and prestige). In places I've worked 95 percent of men would sell their mother for the next promotion. Not much loyalty there. I don't know why people expect more from 'their' footballers. Except for the universality of self interest and hypocrisy.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Except for when your club ceases to exist, e.g. Fitzroy, it is unfathomable to ever switch

It's just not cricket, is it?

 

[FredLeDeux]

Except for when your club ceases to exist, e.g. Fitzroy, it is unfathomable to ever switch

In Peter Temple's "Jack Irish" series, after the League folds Fitzroy, a group of old die hard Fitzroy barrackers decide to change to the only mob which has always been as hopeless, and hopelessly-run, as Fitzroy, namely St Kilda.
Which is a pretty astute piece of observation by a South African immigrant.

 

[catempire]

Oh well, good thing he became a superstar elsewhere then.

I'm sure there's a JUBJUB gif that would be appropriate here.

 

[Claude Balls]

For whatever reason I have never really felt that badly towards Colbert. He's a nice enough guy, who was probably a bit unlucky in a way to be given the captaincy at that age, when the team had bitter older players in it that made his life tough.

The tales about Murphy point toward a fairly two-faced, weak character. He would be a far worthier winner of this poll IMO.

I could just about vote Harley haha, in view of his cringe worthy and obsequious attempts at objectivity in the media. It is almost self-debasing, and really hard to watch. Though of course he's a good bloke underneath the media persona, and captained two Geelong flags, so he really shouldn't be compared to players who actually left the club to play for another.

Bundy... he is helped by the fact that he never really established himself. If he'd played a 100 games and wasn't as injury prone I think he'd be getting judged a lot more harshly.

 

[Vdubs]

For me it really is difficult to dislike any ex- Cat.
It's almost insulting that some of those names were suggested.
Sam Newman??
Tom Harley??
Gary Ablett??
Again reflects the length of off-season and preseason.

 

[Partridge]

For me it really is difficult to dislike any ex- Cat.
It's almost insulting that some of those names were suggested.
Sam Newman??
Tom Harley??
Gary Ablett??
Again reflects the length of off-season and preseason.

For their actual tenures at Geelong, there's no way I could include any of those three.

 

[GTOA]

Tom Harley is a dickhead

Despite being a two-time premiership captain?

 

[GTOA]

Senior or Junior?

_Me_ hates them both.

 

[Rainfall]

Despite being a two-time premiership captain?

Media made me hate him

 

[Partridge]

Media made me hate him

That's his media persona though, it shouldn't affect what he was like when he was at Geelong.

 

[Rainfall]

That's his media persona though, it shouldn't affect what he was like when he was at Geelong.

It doesn't and I never said it did which originated the problem

 

[GTOA]

Did Silvagni do something in the moments leading upto the Milburn hit or was it a spontaneous decision?
It seemed like Milburn had been lining him up from a good 30 feet away

Yes, I hired Milburn to knock out Silvagni for me, since he stole Jo Bailey off me.

 

[GTOA]

Did he apologise?

Anyway, if he truly thinks that, he's a dill (as, of course, are the Geelong supporters that are happy he did it). It doesn't take a massive leap to see that the goal he gifted Fremantle and his subsequent suspension helped hand us two close losses, in a season where we missed the top four by a game (and yes, we had the edge on Collingwood on percentage, if we'd finished level with them on points). Having said that, I'd hardly say that the scene that you described is any sort of conclusive evidence of how he truly feels about it. We're all capable of saying some stupid things when we've got a room full of peanuts egging us on. My guess is he might have been singing a slightly different tune in front of the leadership group and coaches.

Maybe if the umpires did their job, and offered more protection against taggers, and penalised someone like Ballantyne everytime he went over the line, instead of being in the WA supporters' pockets, then players like Scarlett wouldn't have to hit out at dogs like Ballantyne.

 

[FredLeDeux]

That's his media persona though, it shouldn't affect what he was like when he was at Geelong.

I think it's true of all of them, with the possible exception of Ayres, that it's not their time at Geelong which prompted the dislike, it's the circumstances of their departure and/or what they did afterwards.

 

[GTOA]

I was there that day seeing us get our bums kicked it the rain. I was located right behind the interchange bench where Milburn clapped the Carlton supporters as he exited the ground. There was lots of angst in that particular area of the crowd and I was nestled in amongst a sea of Blues fans who then proceeded to abuse any Geelong supporter within striking distance. It was from that point on that my hatred of the Carlton Football Club began and to this day is still as strong as ever!

The problem was, the crowd could act as they wanted, since the police didn't attend, because they were out striking for more pay.

 

[Sttew]

I think it's true of all of them, with the possible exception of Ayres, that it's not their time at Geelong which prompted the dislike, it's the circumstances of their departure and/or what they did afterwards.

Justin Murphy? Can't say I "dislike" what he did after leaving Geelong.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Justin Murphy? Can't say I "dislike" what he did after leaving Geelong.

I think it was the circumstances of his departure, ie his disgraceful behaviour after the Silvagni hit.
Was he unpopular before that? I just remember him being a more than handy player for us.

 

[Sttew]

I think it was the circumstances of his departure, ie his disgraceful behaviour after the Silvagni hit.
Was he unpopular before that? I just remember him being a more than handy player for us.

You're right. He'd actually been a handy player.

 

[Partridge]

You're right. He'd actually been a handy player.

There's almost universal dislike for him off the field going by the stories, but he was a good footballer. It's a shame as he had genuine talent. Very good skills too.

 

[Sttew]

There's almost universal dislike for him off the field going by the stories, but he was a good footballer. It's a shame as he had genuine talent. Very good skills too.

Was he not 3rd in the 2001 B&F?

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

I believe I do know. There's no secret to it is there? krisholio14 has done a good job of summarising what I had already read/heard in mainstream media and from Colbert himself at times.

I probably didn't express myself well in that original post. I know the "reasons" I just think a stronger and better person in that situation sticks at it rather than walks away.

What were you doing in your early to mid 20s? Being asked to lead a club that was struggling while being white anted by your peers or on the piss at the Eureka or Lyric or Geelong Hotel and the like trying to pull a root?

 

[Teriyakicat]

What were you doing in your early to mid 20s? Being asked to lead a club that was struggling while being white anted by your peers or on the piss at the Eureka or Lyric or Geelong Hotel and the like trying to pull a root?

Neither...

 

[Partridge]

What were you doing in your early to mid 20s? Being asked to lead a club that was struggling while being white anted by your peers or on the piss at the Eureka or Lyric or Geelong Hotel and the like trying to pull a root?

If that's the case you take it to the club - either the Coach or President or CEO (or all three). If those representatives of the club can't or won't pull the players into the line let people know about it.

At the same time, Colbert, like all footballers, was being handsomely paid. No one holds a gun to their heads. It's called responsibility.

 

[catempire]

What were you doing in your early to mid 20s? Being asked to lead a club that was struggling while being white anted by your peers or on the piss at the Eureka or Lyric or Geelong Hotel and the like trying to pull a root?

Er, neither.

Besides, I'm not sure young AFL captains should be taking their lead from what non-footballers are doing in their spare time.