Season Launch 2014

[thejester]

So as some of you would have picked up on I was lucky enough to win the two tickets to the season launch as part of the Varcoe sponsorship. Owing to enormous geographical challenges I was sadly unable to attend so I got my (long time BF lurker) old man and uncle to attend and fly the flag. They had a really good time and Dad sent me this by way of summary, has got some stuff people may find of interest.

Trav was very friendly and seemed more of a practised schmoozer than I was expecting. He didn't really comment on Big Footy other than saying he's in the unusual position of greeting new sponsors at every event, so he can't just look around the room and spot the same old faces like other players do. Plus no doubt that means he has to answer the same questions at every function, but he didn't seem to mind.

He's pretty excited about (a) having got through his first full pre-season since 2007 and (b) becoming a dad in 7 weeks. We talked a bit about the baby and he reckons there are so many dads in the playing group now that they've got managing the lost sleep down to a fine art.

As far as 'that kick' goes, his summary was "Shit happens..." Several people came up during the night to reassure him that they still loved him, etc. But he confirmed that the playing group are pretty pissed off with the way last season ended and one of the themes of the night was that the Cats feel they can still beat anyone on their day and just need a bit of luck with injuries etc. to really give this season a shake.

I also asked him about Adam. He reckoned Adam was justified in being pretty cocky when he arrived at the club and he (Trav) is sure he would have been a better player than Trav if he'd had any luck with injuries. Trav says he's one of those people who "says he's going to do something, and then always succeeds at doing it". I'm pretty sure Trav said he's now had three knee re-cos. Either way, he's just become a dad and has given up footy so he can be sure of staying fit to work. He's building portable houses in Adelaide, which Trav reckons he loves.

There were four players on our table: Trav, Darcy Lang, Jake Kolodjashnij and Zac Bates. I only spoke to Darcy once, just to confirm that he hadn't played for Inverleigh as a junior. Sure enough, I'd misheard him and it's Alvie he played for. I also asked Trav if Darcy copped heaps about his resemblance to Rove and that seemed to be a new one on Trav (surely not?). Anyway Trav called out to Darcy that I reckoned he looked like Rove and he (I think – it was a bit hard to hear at times) said that was old news and his uncles actually call him Rove.

I asked Zac if he was homesick and he said he'd already been through all that when he moved to Adelaide aged 15 to play footy. He had family on the other side of town but couldn't get across to see them much. In the first year there were a couple of other indigenous players at the club, but last year he was the only one.

Then Zac and all the other first-year players went up on stage to be interviewed by Kell and Stevie J (aka Dogger). Kell asked Zac if there was anything he'd found easier than he'd expected about coming to an AFL club and Zac replied "Yeah, hangin' round with the other blacks." Back at our table Trav groaned, but it brought the house down and earned Zac the three votes for the evening from J. Selwood. A little more mentoring on official AFL indigenous terminology may be required...

Trav moved to the other end of the table and Jake sat between us for main course. He's a really nice guy and very happy to be at the Cats. Always comparing notes with his twin, of course, and said they were doing a lot more running up there. Jared Rivers is his official mentor, so he's been working with him. Said he'd played on Hawk quite a bit through the pre-season, which was a fair test.

Jake said he didn't go on BF much, but his parents got into it in the lead-up to the draft to follow the speculation about where they'd both go. Now they're avoiding it so they don't have to read anything insulting/upsetting about their boys.

Jake was a Hawks supporter (although "not really keen"), so it's a big turnaround for him to be on the other side of that rivalry. Zac is a cousin of Mickey O'Loughlin, so his family were all Swans.

Neither of them thought they would be picked up by the Cats. I think Jake said he exchanged a few words with Stephen Wells but had a longer conversation with one of his offsiders and Zac only spoke to an offsider. And I was surprised to learn that no one's sat down with them since the draft and told them why the club picked them and where the club sees them as fitting into their plans. Maybe they're just a bit more subtle than that.

Finally, Zac has made Stokesy very happy by taking over the title of Shortest Cat – 174 cm to 175.

The whole event was much less pretentious than I'd feared. No motivational AVs or particularly rousing speeches. Huddo provided a short impersonation of Rex Hunt calling and contrasted that with the way commentary might be headed with the opening bounce and goal from next Thursday night in Champion Data-speak: "Hit-out Simpson. Handball Selwood. Handball receive Varcoe. Short kick Varcoe. Smother Dangerfield. Hardball get Varcoe." etc. Colin Carter ended his speech with an update on the father/son breeding program. Sellsy gave his votes. There was lots of love for Stokesy joining the leadership group.

Some of the other player sponsors looked as if their business was organised crime. Your uncle was gazumped at the last minute in the silent auction for Trav's signed guernsey. Brad Hartman's was the only one I saw that didn't attract a bid...

A good time was had by all. Sorry you couldn't be there to grill the players in person.

PS:
I've just remembered the funniest moment of the night.

Mitch Duncan was interviewed about being added to the PLG (as they call it). He said it was really a tribute to Sellsy for mentoring him so well because "I'm not the smartest tool in the shed."

Sellsy (in stage whisper): "It's 'sharpest'."

Mitch: "See what I mean?"

They also didn't get a chance to have an official portrait taken for some reason and not being of the younger generation are not totally selfie obsessed, so this is the only photographic proof they discharged their duties as BF representatives:

Thanks again to Jim Boy and SJ for organising it!

 

[jim boy]

Great write up, thanks for doing that

 

[Turbocat]

Top write LOL , smartest tool Groan by Varcoe. JK mentored by Rivers makes sence as its probably him that JK will replace. Breeding program ??? Joke I presume.

 

[you pick one]

Thanks again to Jim Boy and SJ for organising it!

You look nothing like your dad.

 

[dazbroncos]

A great read and sounds like a quality event.

Congrats to thejester for getting close to going….

Go Catters

 

[thejester]

You look nothing like your dad.

The orange skin throws people off...guess I took too many of Hirdy's tanning drugs.

 

[Bobby_]

Really enjoyed that. I felt when reading it as though the Geelong boys were very quiet and shy along with Jester's uncle and father. Disappointing to read about Jake Kolodjashnij parents being put off BigFooty due to the hurt it could cause their son reading some of the stuff on here. I personally had no idea the players would know of this website so to hear that they do occasionally log on is eye opening to me (I'm laying off the Mitch debating now!).

Would have been a terrific night and by the sounds of things, Geelong is not going to slide down the ladder as the punters have predicted this season, last season and the season before that.

 

[dazbroncos]

Really enjoyed that. I felt when reading it as though the Geelong boys were very quiet and shy along with Jester's uncle and father. Disappointing to read about Jake Kolodjashnij parents being put off BigFooty due to the hurt it could cause their son reading some of the stuff on here. I personally had no idea the players would know of this website so to hear that they do occasionally log on is eye opening to me (I'm laying off the Mitch debating now!).

Would have been a terrific night and by the sounds of things, Geelong is not going to slide down the ladder as the punters have predicted this season, last season and the season before that.

This place is not an insulated fish bowl. Plenty can see that there is some rough shit written here sometimes. Especially whence you are the target of what is said. People can say what they want but when it just gets overboard I can completely see why its given a wide berth.

I've yet to meet anyone that likes strangers coming to their place of employ to critique and destroy their work and belittle their efforts. But in the reverse, suddenly it becomes a right…

Go Catters

 

[AM]

Nicely put daz.

Hopefully the professionals at the club will take hold of the kid and explain the nature of forums. Still, a cautionary note for all who use forums to demean those doing their best in their chosen field of endeavour.

 

[dazbroncos]

Nicely put daz.

Hopefully the professionals at the club will take hold of the kid and explain the nature of forums. Still, a cautionary note for all who use forums to demean those doing their best in their chosen field of endeavour.

And as usual, I'm sure the ones with the loudest words and most "stout" opinions are the first to crumble and whine like little !@#$$ when the heat turns on them….

Go Catters

 

[manboob]

Thanks thejester! And a big thanks to your dad for the write-up!

Where do you live BTW? Are you an OS supporter like me?

 

[Teriyakicat]

The orange skin throws people off...guess I took too many of Hirdy's tanning drugs.

You could've said you'd been eating too many carrots http://www.uamshealth.com/?id=892&sid=1

Jester, please thank your Dad for his summary and ponderings- a hell of a lot of work has gone into what he's written and I almost felt like I was there, looking on Seriously, it was a great read. Had a big chuckle at Mitch's gaffe Hilarious!! There was a bit of Billie Smedts about that one

 

[Teriyakicat]

Dammit! Why am I always the second one in with similar comments to the person who beats me to it?? ;(

 

[vinum coupe]

Hartman no bids?

Catsman will be pissed.

 

[vinum coupe]

I personally had no idea the players would know of this website so to hear that they do occasionally log on is eye opening to me (I'm laying off the Mitch debating now!).

You'd be amazed at how many read forums and never post.

I've met heaps of people on another forum.
And they seem to know me back to front. "But you've only made 3 posts" "I have read it everyday for 3 years"

But I can't see players spending too much time here.
I'd certainly give it the arse in 2 minutes.
What would they learn other than to be despondent?

 

[Turbocat]

This place is not an insulated fish bowl. Plenty can see that there is some rough shit written here sometimes. Especially whence you are the target of what is said. People can say what they want but when it just gets overboard I can completely see why its given a wide berth.

I've yet to meet anyone that likes strangers coming to their place of employ to critique and destroy their work and belittle their efforts. But in the reverse, suddenly it becomes a right…

Go Catters

Sound like The Seinfeld episode "The Fire" where Jerry reverses the tables on a "Heckler". (Good episode , I think thats George's Bozo episode)

 

[manboob]

You'd be amazed at how many read forums and never post.

+1 I have a lot of friends who read but never post. It's no secret this forum.

 

[vinum coupe]

My brother reads and never posts.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Hartman no bids?

That's just so sad for the poor kid. Lucky I didn't attend. I'd have gone and put a bid in on all the players who didn't have any bids. Would've come home with a heap of stuff I didn't need or want!

 

[Teriyakicat]

+1 I have a lot of friends who read but never post. It's no secret this forum.

Probably too scared......

 

[Teriyakicat]

My brother reads and never posts.

see above... and add 'of you'

 

[Turbocat]

That's just so sad for the poor kid. Lucky I didn't attend. I'd have gone and put a bid in on all the players who didn't have any bids. Would've come home with a heap of stuff I didn't need or want!

There's a challenge. How many players were passed over at the draft , and the next year made all those clubs very sorry. Go out and make a name for himself.

 

[Turbocat]

Probably too scared......

Yeah we all so scary on here

 

[Teriyakicat]

Yeah we all so scary on here

Well *I* was too scared to post for a few years
It may be daunting for some, who might think that everyone here is an expert .....

 

[manboob]

It may be daunting for some, who might think that everyone here is an expert .....

Lol look at my username and ask yourself that question again.