Question for the Hoff

[Howwemissmenschy]

Hey Hoff,

You seem to act like the Alpha Male around here, are you able to clear up these questions for us?

Is the club rife with player infighting? Dissension? Cliques?

Is it aloof and insular, in so far as demeaning new comers?

Is it more about maintaining satus quo - leaders in it for themselves - just maintaining positions of authority and lacking in the gace to involve and harness the skills and gifts of all those who are closely involved (inc. and esp. players)?

Has it chosen badly in drafts, or in the coaching stakes?

Is it full of sarcasim and low brow wit, the classic footy club culture, which inevitably undermines an institution (like a footy club) and rots its foundations?

These are all issues I have seen posted this week. They are also typical of the way supporters are posting about the club, players and each other on this site.

Is the club moulding the supporters, or are the supporters moulding the club?

Can you help resolve this issue?

 

[The Hulkster]

Well i for one can't wait for The Hoff's response. Oh chosen one of all GFC knowledge.

 

[darren forssman]

Hey Hoff,
You seem to act like the Alpha Male around here, are you able to clear up these questions for us?

the hoff aint no alpha male, just making a living out of being matthew spencers love child!!!

 

[thehoff]

Alpha male, can’t say I would agree with that. I’m just a poor guy trying to get a start in life.

I will attempt to answer your question seriously.

I highly doubt there is player infighting. Rumours tend to begin when teams are losing. It’s amazing that we heard no such rumours during the NAB Cup and Rounds 1 & 2. Infighting does not just happen over night. Surely it would have been brewing for quite some time. I find it hard to believe infighting would have begun and peaked within a 5 week period?

Once again it is highly unlikely the players will disrespect a new player due to his experience. All players started as rookies so rumours such as Scarlett not giving new-comers respect is a joke. I’ve heard from the players themselves that there are figures around the club that are very well liked, and dis-liked. This is to be expected when there is 40+ males spending 5-6 days a week together.

As I have stated in a previous post, I witnessed Scarlett, Tenance and S.Johnson play fighting, joking and generally acting like great mates at this year’s golf day, hence my reluctance to accept rumours that senior players distance themselves from rookies and players that have not proven themself at AFL level.

I feel that Geelong has chosen wisely with the limited draft picks we’ve managed to obtain over than past 6-7 seasons. We have been lucky or unlucky not to totally bottom-out like St Kilda, Carlton, Tigers, Hawthorn, etc and have not had access to priority picks. My only criticism of the drafting situation would be our hesitation to go after a match winner such as Brendan Fevola when the chance arose last year.

Sarcasm is the key to life. Without it, you live a boring unhappy life IMO.

I think all the problems Geelong are currently experiencing are due to the loss of the most dominant figure in Geelong’s proud history. The great David Mensch could solve many of our forward and goal kicking problems and lay the key foundations to a successful and dominant team structure. Do you agree?

 

[year of the cat]

Alpha male, can’t say I would agree with that. I’m just a poor guy trying to get a start in life.

I will attempt to answer your question seriously.

I highly doubt there is player infighting. Rumours tend to begin when teams are losing. It’s amazing that we heard no such rumours during the NAB Cup and Rounds 1 & 2. Infighting does not just happen over night. Surely it would have been brewing for quite some time. I find it hard to believe infighting would have begun and peaked within a 5 week period?

Once again it is highly unlikely the players will disrespect a new player due to his experience. All players started as rookies so rumours such as Scarlett not giving new-comers respect is a joke. I’ve heard from the players themselves that there are figures around the club that are very well liked, and dis-liked. This is to be expected when there is 40+ males spending 5-6 days a week together.

As I have stated in a previous post, I witnessed Scarlett, Tenance and S.Johnson play fighting, joking and generally acting like great mates at this year’s golf day, hence my reluctance to accept rumours that senior players distance themselves from rookies and players that have not proven themself at AFL level.

I feel that Geelong has chosen wisely with the limited draft picks we’ve managed to obtain over than past 6-7 seasons. We have been lucky or unlucky not to totally bottom-out like St Kilda, Carlton, Tigers, Hawthorn, etc and have not had access to priority picks. My only criticism of the drafting situation would be our hesitation to go after a match winner such as Brendan Fevola when the chance arose last year.

Sarcasm is the key to life. Without it, you live a boring unhappy life IMO.

I think all the problems Geelong are currently experiencing are due to the loss of the most dominant figure in Geelong’s proud history. The great David Mensch could solve many of our forward and goal kicking problems and lay the key foundations to a successful and dominant team structure. Do you agree?

I half expect Kent Kingsley to pull off a face mask this weekend to reveal Menschy...

 

[Soupy]

Bring Back Menshy, Marty Mckinnon and David Haynes.

Now that might improve our HF line woes.

 

[darren forssman]

Bring Back Menshy, Marty Mckinnon and David Haynes.

Now that might improve our HF line woes.

you forgot darren forssman!!

and darren morgan.

 

[Soupy]

They are duds.

We should of kept Haynes. Did some nice things in '04.

 

[darren forssman]

haynes was a dud...he was charlie gardiner esque.

next you will call for steven hooper to return for ruck duties.

 

[year of the cat]

haynes was a dud...he was charlie gardiner esque.

next you will call for steven hooper to return for ruck duties.

David Mansen would be a beeter option (with beard)

 

[D0nk]

Bring Back Menshy, Marty Mckinnon and David Haynes.

Now that might improve our HF line woes.

Speaking of Menchy, sitting outside KMart in Belmont a couple of weeks back saw both him and Couchy (separately) walk into the TAB to put some money down, maybe they were putting some money on a Cats loss.

 

[The Hulkster]

you forgot darren forssman!!

and darren morgan.

Thats actually Darren "Mad Dog" Morgan

 

[tusk]

Brett Spinks was and still is the key up forward.

 

[Howwemissmenschy]

I think all the problems Geelong are currently experiencing are due to the loss of the most dominant figure in Geelong’s proud history. The great David Mensch could solve many of our forward and goal kicking problems and lay the key foundations to a successful and dominant team structure. Do you agree?[/quote]

Clearly I chose the right man for the question. You display accute insight. Lets be honest, we all thought David Mensch was a genuine marshmellow man, but now we understand how Kent plays we would gladly welcome him back into the side.

 

[thehoff]

Clearly I chose the right man for the question. You display accute insight. Lets be honest, we all thought David Mensch was a genuine marshmellow man, but now we understand how Kent plays we would gladly welcome him back into the side.

Cheers... and here i was thinking this was a serious thread.

 

[darren forssman]

from memory, big davey menschy was no dead eye in front of the goals.

 

[The Hulkster]

Menschy is kicking plenty for Grovedale atm.

 

[Howwemissmenschy]

Cheers... and here i was thinking this was a serious thread.

No. Not serious.

How could it be? This is an unoffically internet site for fans of AFL. It's not the United Nations or a World Peace Sumitt held by great religious leaders. This board could only be serious in what it says about we who are using it!

But I think it's worth thinking about how clubs and supporters mould and influence each other.

 

[slimeball]

I personally love The Hoffs sarcasm!!

His pic says it all

 

[Howwemissmenschy]

Well, you know what they say about sarcasm.

 

[geelong_boy]

from memory, big davey menschy was no dead eye in front of the goals.

Missed a crucial shot in the last quarter of the 1997 semi-final against Adelaide in Adelaide

 

[TheTimeCometh]

kopf... do you think Paul Brown should've made a comeback, we could really use him to throw his weight around.

 

[thehoff]

kopf... do you think Paul Brown should've made a comeback, we could really use him to throw his weight around.

I actually rated Paul Brown... He would be useful. Jamie Lamb would also be a great target.

 

[darren forssman]

we do have a habit of making forwards into defensive guys, paul brown and sir kenneth hinkley to name two dont we!!