Saints Fan Forum vs Rohan Connolly

[sainter]

I'm not sure if anyone caught Sports Sunday on 3AW today but there was an interesting situation today.

Rohan Connolly quoted a message from the St Kilda Fan Forum on Nov 1 that spoke about the positive media coverage that the club had been receiving but which will change when he and Sheehan get the opportunity to sink their teeth in.

I'm led to believe the message involved was written by a regular to the saints forum as well as a Big Footy regular.

Rohan believed that he had never criticised saints fans and that they were paranoid. Funnily enough, he did describe St Kilda as a 'basket case' a few weeks ago.

I only wish I heard the message being read out on air and did not have to hear what happened through other members of the forum afterwards.

He seems to have annoyed a lot of people at the saints forum now.

Be careful everyone, you can't be too sure who are reading these messages.

 

[Westy Boy]

Originally posted by sainter:

I'm led to believe the message involved was written by a regular to the saints forum as well as a Big Footy regular.

.

Hmmm... that narrows it down a bit.... Savotage? STL? Karnaby?

... seriously congrats Sainter!! The first bigfooty poster referred to by the media... great job considering some of quality from other contributors here and on other forums!

Originally posted by sainter:
Rohan believed that he had never criticised saints fans and that they were paranoid.

Rohan would NEVER lie!!! He would never contradict himself either. The "basket case" thing (which he has written twice) was just a typo.... on BOTH occasions.

Originally posted by sainter:
Be careful everyone, you can't be too sure who are reading these messages

May I just take the liberty to say that Rohan and Mike are the greatest men to have ever lived! ...and organisations such as 3AW, News Limited and Fairfax have the upmost integrity, are very knowledgeable when discussing certain teams and show no bias.... and that I am looking for employment....

[This message has been edited by Westy Boy (edited 06 November 2000).]

 

[Hawkforce]

While I can appreciate the need for optimism, Sainter, you seem to be putting all your faith in Malcolm Blight and Aaron Hammill.

Where does that leave you if they're no good next year?

BTW my impression was that St Kilda, and especially its board and Andrew Plympton, were treated quite softly by the media last year.

They were not so kind to the Bullies in 1995, or fitzroy during the 90's.

Collingwood, as well, seems to have an Administration that is allowed a spectacular lack of success without biting criticism.

 

[Shinboners]

Onya Sainter!

You should write a letter to Rohan at the Age. At the Saints forum, do they have your e-mail address on it, because you would have thought that Connelly would have e-mailed you personally to put his own point across. But then again, he probably doesn't like being told his wrong.

In the end, I don't mind Connelly's journalism...don't always agree with what he writes, but he's prepared to have a go at the AFL when needed. Unlike Mike "AFL's pet" Sheahan (funny how he never got stuck into Melbourne when they had internal problems).

 

[Crow54]

Better watch out Sainters...when the press started quoting messages from the Crows web forum, the Club saw fit to remove it from its website. They couldn't handle all that negative publicity and criticism. They actually said they were worried about litigation, but beats me how other sites can continue with their forums if that's the case.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Rohan's a legend! Love that cynical wit. Keep up the good work, Rohan!

 

[Arch]

i think a while back on Bombertalk, a few people challenged rohan to name a few names from the forum on Bomber radio, just to prove he was the real RC. And he happened to oblige (apparently).I dont get B-radio here of course.

I think we'd all be surprised at who reads whats written here and other forums.
Anyways- Im a fan of RC, I find his glowing Essendon articles a great read

A.

 

[Max Power]

Be careful everyone, you can't be too sure who are reading these messages.

Rohan's was a regular contributor to the old Essendon BomberTalk forum when it was working (which it ain't now) for the past few years.

So there is no doubt that he for one lurks around footy forums.

Can't see the likes of Mike Sheahan, Patrick Smith and older type journo hacks like that surfing footy forums but be wary of what you say may end up in print or the radio.



[This message has been edited by Max Power (edited 06 November 2000).]

 

[CJH]

I may view the world through rose coloured glasses, but I don't mind Rohan Connolly. Maybe because in comparisn to his predecessor at the Age, he is a prince.

Patrick Smiths sustained and unrelenting personal attack on the Giesch was one of the more appalling pieces of journalism ever witnessed.

On a different tack, the Crows forum that was closed, was it part of the official site? If so, as publisher of the opinions presented, they may well have been seen as endorsing the negative views which will never do.

Maybe this is why site like BigFooty, RoarPower and Nick's do well - fans get express their views and clubs can distance themselves from the negativity.

------------------
This is a hallucination and these faces are in a dream. A computer generated environment; a fantasy island you can do anything and not have to face the consequences.

 

[Max Power]

Rohan did actually name names from the old BomberTalk crew and did a little spiel about Internet forums and such.

Wasn't on B-Radio though, was about this time last year on 3AW weekend sports show.

 

[sainter]

Happy Hawker,

I am certainly optimistic about our prospects for next year but not to the extent that you must think I am. I think we are a good chance to make the eight and if we acheive that, I will one very happy supporter.

As for the saints putting all their faith in Blight and Hamill, that is not true at all. The club have embarked upon a vigorous trading period and have targeted some talented players (and coach). Yet I am just as excited about how a Lenny Hayes, or a Beetham, Blake, Baker Moyle or Wulf go next year than a Hamill or a Gehrig.

Besides, we do not have a golden era like the 80's to look back on. What the club have achieved over the past few months has been magnificent. The club as a whole are in a vulnerable position and the administration have done everything in their power to turn things around. We have had less to be enthusiastic about than any other team and if the enthusiasm generated results in an extra 5,000 members and the supporters walking with an extra spring in their step, then so be it.

Thanks Shinboners and Westy Boy,

I got the shock of my life when I was told that he read my message on air. There was nothing abusive or anything in what I wrote. He just seems to have took offence at the fact that I mentioned him as someone who criticises the club unfairly. You would think he would be sick of having to listen to St Kilda supporters complain about him and Sheehan during the year without having to highlight it on radio.

I'm not really one of these people that automatically criticises anybody in a position of power or dares criticise my football team, but along with many saints fans genuinely think that we have copped some unfair criticism from him.

I believe his personal disagreements with Tim Watson influenced his writing more than it should have but that is another story.

But that's life.

I'm just rapt to get a mention on air.

 

[lioness]

Good onya sainter, enjoy the moment lol. All I have to say is that I know I am in no danger of ever being quoted by any of those journos coz I never say much that's real inspiring lol

 

[Dan26]

Well done Sainter !!! Top effort

While we are on the topic, I might just add that back in May, I reached the media myself with one of my posts. The post, that I used was as follows :

Originally posted by Dan24:
I notice the AFL has refused to move the Round 11 Essendon-Geelong clash from Colonial to the MCG.

The last time these two sides met when they were towards the top of the ladder was Round 11 1995. On that occasion, both teams entered the match with two losses each. 77,000 turned up. Last year 62,000 turned up after the Cats had sufferred 5 consecutive losses.

All this rubbish about giving Essendon a 5 day break is making a mountain out of a molehill. After the Tuesday Anzac Day clash with Collingwood in 1995, the Dons had only 5 days to prepare for a match against St.Kilda who had an 8 day break. Essendon won by 116 points. That same year, A Carlton-Richmond match was moved to a Sunday where it attracted 85,000, even though the Tigers had 5 days to prepare for their next match. The Tigers drew their next match with the Bombers on a Friday night and were coming on strong towards the end, despite a 5 day break.

This years Dons-Cats clash could attract up to 80,000 at the MCG. There still a month to go. MOVE THE MATCH !!!

I thought it was a pretty concise piece of writng, so I e-mailed it to Mike Sheahan in the Saturday Herald-Sun in his weekly column, called "Mike says" (I think that's what it's called)

It won the letter of the week and I won a night for two accomodation at the Rockmans Regeny hotel valued at $400. So, I might use this opportunity to toot my own horn a bit and state that back in May, one of my posts made the Herald-Sun ....... and won me a prize, no less.

 

[Hawkforce]

Congratulations Dan24!!!

It is official...

You operate at Mike Sheahan's level!

 

[Eagle_Fan]

We used to have a regular forum contributor who was also a West Australian football columnist. We often used to see familiar phrases and ideas turn up a week or so after we posted them.
Unfortunately Wattie died last year after a long illness, so we no longer get his fantastic input at the Eagles forum.

BTW/ Well done sainter!

 

[JUBJUB]

May I just take the liberty to say that Rohan and Mike are the greatest men to have ever lived! ...and organisations such as 3AW, News Limited and Fairfax have the upmost integrity, are very knowledgeable when discussing certain teams and show no bias.... and that I am looking for employment....
********************************************

WESTY - to get a job in any of those media outlets,you have to of been brainwashed by the AFL.How many of the journos at those media outlets would criticise the AFL -2 at most.



------------------
"Hillbillies are people too"

 

[CJH]

At the RoarPower site we have a regular contributor (LounderLegacy) who has quite openly admitted that he is a sports journalist with Channel 9 in Brisbane.

Not having watched any news on Ch 9 Brisbane, I don't know his real name.

------------------
This is a hallucination and these faces are in a dream. A computer generated environment; a fantasy island you can do anything and not have to face the consequences.

 

[InTheBack!]

Mike gave me a night at the Rockman Regency for a letter I wrote a few months ago.

I made it contoversial & provocative as I know journos are only interested in that (rather than logical arguments) & also avoided the trap of complaining about how the "the umpires cost us a win".

The best part was when the paper rang my wife at home to inform us of our win, my wife not knowing who Mike was said "oh right, does he write for The Age?" The woman on the other end nearly had a fit!

The Rockman was excellent (fantastic breakfast) so get writing!

 

[StrengthThroughLoyalty]

Well done sainter on making the 'real' media. Connolly reckons our fans are paranoid yet he lurks around forums and complains to the whole world when he gets a derogatory post. Who's paranoid???

Mike Sheahan is the one that really pisses me off. He openly shows his contempt for everything St Kilda. Like all journalists he has his pet hates, his is St Kilda. When things are going well at Moorabbin he never writes an article, however when the wheels fall off, (as they are prone to do down our way), he is the first to stick his poisonous pen into the club. He and other journalists should realise that clubs change from year to year yet they let their prejudices show continually with biased reporting or non reporting. How would Sheahan know what's going on in the footy world anyway when he's got his head stuck that far up Wayne Carey's arse.

 

[Hawkforce]

Are there any supporters who believe Mike Sheahan DOESN'T single their team out for criticism???

 

[BigHawk]

Hawkforce

Mike Shithead loves Richmond.

From memory he has selected them every year to make the eight fro the past 10 years.

Not sure there is much to complain about there.

 

[Hawkforce]

Over to you - Tiges fans...

Do you think Mike Sheahan reports your Club's affairs in a fair and equitable manner??

He he...

Methinks all this Sheahan-bashing is another case of jumping on Hawthorn's bandwagon.

We immortalised this guy when he was at the Age. Any one remember the "too old too slow" Hawks of the late 80's???

It is vicarious success - "if Mike bags us we must be worth noticing"!

 

[CJH]

wrt Sheahan and Richmond, I do not find him either good nor bad. That is to say, he does write some good articles and also some utter crap.

My only real grievance with him is that he appears to be the AFL's lapdog. There has been plenty of material to criticise the AFL with this year, but Mike has been pretty gentle with them.



------------------
This is a hallucination and these faces are in a dream. A computer generated environment; a fantasy island you can do anything and not have to face the consequences.

 

[Shinboners]

Hawkforce

Rest easy knowing that Mike has kept up with his "Hawks are too old, too slow" theories. Towards the end of the season, he wrote off North Melbourne, Footscray, and Hawthorn after these clubs had lost 2 or 3 games in a month. All these clubs then went on to win their next four or so games and all made the finals. And we all remember how he tipped Adelaide for the flag back in 1995 when Robert Shaw was made coach

 

[S.Robbo]

Rohan's great value. An Essendon nut, who's insight on bombertalk this year was welcomed by all. As anyone with optus would testify, the guy virtually runs football feedback on a Monday Night. Very witty as well as educated about his footy and isn't scared to ask the hard question to those important in the footy circles.

Kep up the good journo Wayne Otway!