Playing angry?

[footscore]

Just to reassure u ross lyon conspiracists, I played against hayden ballantyne as a junior, and he was the same then. Thats just him loathe or love it

You have probably heard this already and am sure you won't think anything of it now but I can assure you that Hayden Ballantyne is going to get his unfortunate behind the play incident which will have him thinking twice about his tactics in the long run.

It's not how footy should be played but that's just how these things pan out in time.
Call it karma or whatever, someone will have a chance to give him something to remember and it's not going to be pretty and when it does happen....please don't go crying wolf

 

[Reginald Perrin]

You want to defend your man, and fair enough. But don't put your head in the sand completely.

It says a lot that three AFL players 'tweeted' their sympathies for Scarlett's hit, despite it being an obviously unacceptable response on Scarlett's part. Show me another example in the contemporary game of a player hitting someone and players from other clubs risking the wrath of their own club by actually endorsing said actions.

Make no mistake, Ballantyne is a serial pest and repeat offender who is clearly much hated among AFL players. What he has to say on the field, along with the constant behind the play niggle, must go well and truly beyond the pale.

By the bye, the cowardly hit on Ling epitomizes Freo's tactics against Geelong.

The tweeting by a few AFL players just proves that twitter is becoming more prevalent by the day among the younger generation, and that players get softer year after year.

I don't know how an incident many years ago involving a player who played most of his career with Essendon epitomises Freo's tactics against Geelong. Geelong have always tried to rough up Fremantle under the belief that they were fragile under physical pressure, and perhaps early on that was the case. The players on Saturday night clearly had an agenda that went off the rails.

You have probably heard this already and am sure you won't think anything of it now but I can assure you that Hayden Ballantyne is going to get his unfortunate behind the play incident which will have him thinking twice about his tactics in the long run.

It's not how footy should be played but that's just how these things pan out in time.
Call it karma or whatever, someone will have a chance to give him something to remember and it's not going to be pretty and when it does happen....please don't go crying wolf

Plenty of Geelong players had a crack at him during the game and he just got up, dusted himself off and played on. I don't think he'll be too worried.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Ok Reginald, you have it your way. Meanwhile, back here on earth, we will continue to believe what is clear for all see: namely, that Ballantyne is a serial pest with little to no respect in AFL ranks outside of your club, and that he is an entirely average footballer who gets a game more by stint of his 'gamesmanship' than his actual ability to play the game.

 

[Reginald Perrin]

Ok Reginald, you have it your way. Meanwhile, back here on earth, we will continue to believe what is clear for all see: namely, that Ballantyne is a serial pest with little to no respect in AFL ranks outside of your club, and that he is an entirely average footballer who gets a game more by stint of his 'gamesmanship' than his actual ability to play the game.

You were doing well right up until this point. Coaches do not select players on "gamesmanship".

You can slag off Ballantyne as much as you want, but your players were agitated well before any incident involving him. Your own poster acknowledged that in the OP when he suggested that they have a problem with Fremantle generally.

I'm guessing it had more to do with being five goals behind in a matter of minutes to a team that is supposedly inconsequential in AFL standings.

 

[footscore]

Plenty of Geelong players had a crack at him during the game and he just got up, dusted himself off and played on. I don't think he'll be too worried.

Just wait a little while and you'll realize what I was on about

 

[Reginald Perrin]

Just wait a little while and you'll realize what I was on about

What, you think you were being subtle or something?

 

[Nankervis brothers]

You were doing well right up until this point. Coaches do not select players on "gamesmanship".

You can slag off Ballantyne as much as you want, but your players were agitated well before any incident involving him. Your own poster acknowledged that in the OP when he suggested that they have a problem with Fremantle generally.

I'm guessing it had more to do with being five goals behind in a matter of minutes to a team that is supposedly inconsequential in AFL standings.

Blah blah blah. FRE met a very underdone GEE side at home and barely got over the line. Kudos to Ballantyne and alike for sucking GEE in - they should have known better, truth be told. But if the two teams meet in September when it counts then you can count on a mauling. Only time will tell whether or not Ballantyne will still be getting selected on the basis of his gamesmanship by that stage.

 

[footscore]

Blah blah blah. FRE met a very underdone GEE side at home and barely got over the line. Kudos to Ballantyne and alike for sucking GEE in - they should have known better, truth be told. But if the two teams meet in September when it counts then you can count on a mauling. Only time will tell whether or not Ballantyne will still be getting selected on the basis of his gamesmanship by that stage.

this

 

[Reginald Perrin]

Blah blah blah. FRE met a very underdone GEE side at home and barely got over the line. Kudos to Ballantyne and alike for sucking GEE in - they should have known better, truth be told. But if the two teams meet in September when it counts then you can count on a mauling. Only time will tell whether or not Ballantyne will still be getting selected on the basis of his gamesmanship by that stage.

In this interview, Lyon describes Ballantyne as a "game breaker". I don't think his selection will be in doubt.

 

[David the Cat]

Haven't agreed with a lot our Freo visitor Reginald has said, but I have to say that for all his shortcomings, Ballantyne is a good footballer. He gets the footy, delivers well and puts himself on the line. Certainly in Freo's best 22.

Defending his conduct is another thing. His off the ball hit on Chapman was uncalled for and unnecessary....and most footballer followers don't condone elbows or strikes 80 metres off the play. Its a shame that parochialism impedes common sense on these boards from time to time.....Scarlett and Ballantyne deserved their respective fates.

Ballantyne is no different than say..Tony Liberatore. Same type of animal really...big with the cheap shots and verbalising but combined with an ability to play the game. Opposition supporters detest this type of player, and as can be seen by recent tweets, some players have little or no respect for Ballantyne either. I suspect there are other "non-tweeting" players who feel exactly the same way.

Outside his team mates and parochial Fremantle supporters, it will be interesting to see how Ballantyne is remembered as a footballer once he retires. If he continues to conduct himself on the field as he does now, I suspect he won't be remembered so much for the footballing ability he undoubtedly has, but rather for other things.

Personally I think thats unfortunate. Ballantyne, though, probably doesn't care for, or even seek, the respect of players from other clubs.


Thats probably just as well.

 

[Commando]

Just to reassure u ross lyon conspiracists, I played against hayden ballantyne as a junior, and he was the same then. Thats just him loathe or love it

Figures. He's always been a d@ckhead then

 

[CatAttack84]

Coaches do not select players on "gamesmanship".

Had no idea this forum was being graced by an AFL coach. We're so lucky.

 

[SmackAdder]

Haven't agreed with a lot our Freo visitor Reginald has said, but I have to say that for all his shortcomings, Ballantyne is a good footballer. He gets the footy, delivers well and puts himself on the line. Certainly in Freo's best 22.

Defending his conduct is another thing. His off the ball hit on Chapman was uncalled for and unnecessary....and most footballer followers don't condone elbows or strikes 80 metres off the play. Its a shame that parochialism impedes common sense on these boards from time to time.....Scarlett and Ballantyne deserved their respective fates.

Ballantyne is no different than say..Tony Liberatore. Same type of animal really...big with the cheap shots and verbalising but combined with an ability to play the game. Opposition supporters detest this type of player, and as can be seen by recent tweets, some players have little or no respect for Ballantyne either. I suspect there are other "non-tweeting" players who feel exactly the same way.

Outside his team mates and parochial Fremantle supporters, it will be interesting to see how Ballantyne is remembered as a footballer once he retires. If he continues to conduct himself on the field as he does now, I suspect he won't be remembered so much for the footballing ability he undoubtedly has, but rather for other things.

This

End of the day, it was unwise to say the least that some of the more experienced players let Ballantyne get under the skin. Some of it can certainly be attributed to it being the first game in the home and away season, and the adrenaline going, and the hostile crowd, but it is still a shame they let those remarks get to them.

That said, I know I'm not the only one who felt like Ballantyne was finally getting a bit of what he's been asking for all along.

 

[YOTC]

Has nothing to do with Lyon. For the past several years Freo has been getting under our skins. We always bite with Freo.

 

[Gogeelong]

Playing angry is putting yourself above the team
Stupid, Irresponsible, Costly

50 meter penalties drive me crazy

We have set ourselves up for rough tactics in the future.

The AFL believe that the niggle is part of the game, so get used to it.
Implement it as part of our game when we can derive a benefit.

 

[Partridge]

As for the Cats, there's enough shown last night to still give me a lot of confidence for the coming season. Even if we lose next week to a hot Hawks outfit, few may realise Geelong managed to top the ladders in 1980 and 1992 after being 0-2 start.

It's a long season and Geelong more than most sides know what they need to do. I am certain the anger shown last night and reactions to the niggles will be worked on in coming weeks.

Didn't win the flag though. In either year.

 

[Partridge]

Plenty of Geelong players had a crack at him during the game and he just got up, dusted himself off and played on. I don't think he'll be too worried.

He might be worried when he wakes up in the change rooms without any teeth. That's against any side by the way, not just us. (Yes I am advocating that by the way)

Cheap, sniping scum. Scarlett shouldn't have responded but part of me wishes he was still hitting him.

Can't wait to play you scum again. Love to see how cocky Ballantyne is walking off after a 80 point loss. Vermin.

 

[David the Cat]

Niggle has always been part of the game. The verbal niggle should be easy to deal with for a professional footballer. When it becomes a physical thing ( ala Steven Baker )...well....sometimes you have to act. Waiting....and acting when the player leasts expects it ( and hopefully where the umpire is blindsided) is usually the way to go. Much harder these days though.

Belting a player in front of the umpire, fifteen metres out from goal isn't too smart on any level. I should add that a fair percentage of these guys though, are on the edge when they cross the white line. It contributes significantly to their aggression which we are quick to applaud from the sidelines.

Controlling the anger, not eradicating it, is the way to go.

 

[Rosso]

Niggle has always been part of the game. The verbal niggle should be easy to deal with for a professional footballer. When it becomes a physical thing ( ala Steven Baker )...well....sometimes you have to act. Waiting....and acting when the player leasts expects it ( and hopefully where the umpire is blindsided) is usually the way to go. Much harder these days though.

Belting a player in front of the umpire, fifteen metres out from goal isn't too smart on any level. I should add that a fair percentage of these guys though, are on the edge when they cross the white line. It contributes significantly to their aggression which we are quick to applaud from the sidelines.

Controlling the anger, not eradicating it, is the way to go.

Well put. However in both this game and the Baker / SJ game if the umpires stamped their authority early a lot of the reaction and suspension wouldn't have happened.