Event So You Think You Can Admin

[TheInjuryFactory]

The Jesus​

At various times during Ant Bear’s reign The Jesus/Harvey Manfrenjensenden has made suggestions that he may consider running for admin when the time came, but spent most of his focus this past season on throwing his support, credibility and considerable profile behind the failed Serpents bid, as he became arguably the most vocal proponent in the league for expansion besides anyone from the Wonders.

However when expansion didn’t get up in the end, he ramped up his rhetoric, aiming squarely at the committee predominantly but at times even the admin himself. Early on in Season 30, he made his intentions clear, as he announced from the very get go that he would be running for the admin role in his announcement thread Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

The S27 beez trophy winner and SFA podcast host definitely has the scope and the reach required of an admin, as one of the league’s most recognisable and entertaining figures. He has often been an outspoken figure on many of the league’s most contentious matters, and does not shy away from his convictions. He has positioned himself as a no nonsense candidate, a man of the people, and has stated that should he become admin, he would look to position himself as an enforcer of the rules, and his first move should he win the job would almost certainly be to implement his patented Wheel of Punishment to replace the Tribunal for breaches of the Sweet FA rules.

While being the first to announce, in typical The Jesus fashion he has also remained tight lipped as ever as to just what his mandate will be, teasing a slow trickle of information was to be released throughout the season, as his campaign and his policies take shape as the race heats up.

While some may question the seriousness of his bid, and others may ponder exactly what a Jesus-led league would look like, perhaps the biggest question mark would be around his ability to work productively and constructively with a committee room that has been a source of angst for the great man and his fellow expansionists the past six months.

Whether you’re a The Jesus man/woman/person/tv/camera or not, the league will look on with keen interest to see how the S27 beez medallist and larger than life SFA figure shapes his run at the top gig for Season 31.


Pedigree:

• Debuted S25
• SFA Podcast host
• S27 beez Trophy winner
• LG member at both East Side Hawks & Mount Buller Demons
• Vice-captain of the Death Valley Serpents Expansion bid S30
• 1 x All-SFA

The challenge:

Will the public take his bid seriously enough? And if they do, will they feel The Jesus possesses the necessary engagement and commitment, particularly when it comes to the behind the scenes coordination required to take on the job? Or does the fact that he’s never been to the puppet show and seen the strings go against him?


Signature step:

Pasodoble – The ballroom pasodoble is danced mostly competitively, almost never socially, or without a previously learned routine. All moves are sharp and quick. Pasodoble takes up a lot of space, limiting it to special occasions.

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

Elton Johns Wig​

Another outspoken member of the SFA community, through his WIGMEDIA series Elton Johns Wig has often tackled the big issues facing the league and as a respected voice of the competition, he has generally had no trouble enlisting the league’s biggest identities to hash them out. Despite being a teammate of Ant Bear’s at the Wonders, EJW has been happy to go on the record with views counter to those of AB or aligned with the company line, and as a poster is known as a man of his convictions.

Was an active contributor and at times combatant during the Expansion saga, and while his club almost to a man were vocal supporters and oft times cheerleaders of the concept, despite at times seeming to have a foot in both camps, Wigs was not afraid to go it alone and define his own position on the matter. Often locked horns with some of the league’s most ardent opponents of expansion and is not one to take a backward step.

He too made his intentions to run clear and early on this season, with his straight to the point WIGMEDIA: I Stand For Admin piece. Here he made a very simple statement to define his position, as in his own words he intends to be more of a facilitator than an autocrat or a dictator type. This is not a new perspective, given the role of the admin has been under some question in recent times as a highly functioning committee and at times absent admin has proved to be quite capable of keeping the league itself on track, with some forming the opinion that arguably the admin role has been rendered near redundant in recent times.

I guess the consideration with an EJW bid is the juxtaposition between a combative, opinionated and assertive Wig that we see in threads and engaging in the key issues season after season, and his stated view on how he intends to approach the admin role, where he has suggested he will look to sit back and simply facilitate discussions with a committee that he hasn’t always held in the highest regard.

The EJW bid will definitely make for an interesting admin race this season, and we will definitely see some strong opinions and some ardent debate from Wigs throughout the process, which in itself should provide not only some great entertainment, but also should see a vibrant and colourful discussion as the debate rages in the second half of the season.

In the interest of getting in early, I for one would welcome my new melty overlord. I'd like to remind him that as a trusted SFA personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in his underground wig mine.


Pedigree:

• Debuted 23
• EKA medallist
• Wonders co-captain
• Committee rep
• TFLUA-Tiger Medallist
• 4 x All-SFA

The challenge:

Will the Wigs we know and love really be able to help himself from imposing himself as an admin should he be successful, in contrast with the position he has taken publicly with his bid? And if he is able to strike the right balance between his current persona and the admin he seeks to become throughout his campaign, will he be able to strike a similar balance with a committee he has clashed with during the expansion process?


Signature step:

Jazz dance - This kind of social song and dance became popularized as more dancers with training in ballet and Modern took up the dance form. Some identifying elements of jazz dance include isolations, grounded movement: dancers keep a low center of gravity, and syncopation: accenting an offbeat or note of the musical accompaniment that surprises the audience.

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

manangatang​

The S28 beez trophy winner manangatang is another big name understood to be throwing his hat into the ring, although as it stands he is yet to publicly state his intentions to contend, or at least not with a formal announcement as others have preferred when stepping into the race. However with his name being thrown up as a potential candidate for S31, until it's made official, we can take a look at where a mang run would fit into the overall discussion.

An extremely popular figure across the competition despite being a vocal critic of expansion, and he has successfully maintained support on both sides of the aisle and would find supporters from most sections of the competition. Not one that's prone to histrionics or showmanship, what you see is generally what you get with mang, and when he does weigh in, his arguments are well considered, articulate, impassioned and measured. His cool temperament sees him very rarely dragged into a discussion that he has no interest in, yet conversely when does have a dog in the fight, he passionately debates his position with a well reasoned response, whether voicing his own opinions or putting forth a position on behalf of his club.

Responsible for breaking the news of the secretive expansion bids, mang has been an active and vocal factor in the league’s inner workings for some time now, as a restrained yet strong voice in the committee room comfortable to weigh in on decisions and debates that have a bearing on the greater league.

Having recently taken on the task of moderating the board, as well as having a number of seasons under his belt in the committee room, and not to mention heading up one of the most active and engaged sides in the competition, the Demons skipper is well placed for a run at the top job. One would expect a steady, considered approach from mang should he find himself in the gig and his positions during most discussions have proven to be measured, fair and reasonable.

Is believed to favour a more collaborative approach, having built a number of strong relationships in the committee room over the past few seasons, although you would expect mang to be comfortable to take the reigns should the circumstance require a guiding hand.

A strong communicator and an engaging, intelligent and well liked figure across the competition, mang has certainly had his fingers in all the right pies, and will definitely be one of the more seriously considered candidates for the admin role once the opportunity arises to stake his claim.


Pedigree:

• Debuted S24
• Demons skipper
• Board mod
• Committee rep
• S28 beez trophy winner
• 3 x All-SFA
• Premiership player

The challenge:

Does mang’s affiliation with the BC come into question for some? Does his balanced, measured approach fly in the face of the chaos factor, given the league’s propensity for drama is often fuelled through the decision making and level of oversight (or lack thereof) provided by the admin?


Signature step:

Ballet - Classical ballet is the foundation from which nearly all dance styles have developed. It requires strong technique, athleticism, and grace. French ballet master Jean Georges Noverre diverged from the standard opera ballet to create ballet d'action, emphasizing the storytelling element of the form. It requires a well-maintained posture, extension, and precision

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

NaturalDisaster​

While yet to formally announce, NaturalDisaster has made no secret of his ambitions to run for the top job in Season 31. One of the competition’s most well known and popular figures, ND is everywhere in the Sweet FA and has cultivated one of, if not THE most impressive resume in the race to become admin.

Having spent time as a club skipper and committee rep at the Furies, he has also been a board moderator for some time now, while having also spent several seasons as a league match simmer, his service to the league recognised in S29 with the Frankston Rover Award.

While not one of the most outspoken members of the community, ND has no affiliations to colour his views, and as a result he is comfortable to form his own opinions on the major issues facing the league, and does not shy away from his convictions. Was a passive promoter of expansion last season, however despite his profile he was not a heavy contributor to the discourse.

ND is often found to be the unofficial spokesperson for the board’s moderation, as well as the league’s simming group, and wears the brunt of people’s frustrations towards both camps, however this rarely seems to phase him. Can be a little melty and edgy at times too, although for someone baited as often as he is, he is generally calm and measured and takes it with the good nature it is most times delivered with.

Given his time as a skipper and board mod, he has spent considerable time in the committee room in recent seasons, and has formed strong relationships with not only those in the committee, but also his fellow simmers and as a result has arguably the best understanding of what the admin role will entail out of all the current candidates.

Is another believed to favour a more collaborative approach to the role, and despite being affectionately referred to as Dumbarse, ND is a sharp customer and has broad support from all across the competition. He is well known and well liked enough to garner the same broad support should he be successful in winning the position, and the relationships he has built over his time in the competition will definitely hold him in great stead.

Well who would have thought we would find ourselves here, on the cusp of a Dumbarse admin, but a lot about ND’s run just makes sense, and he is certainly the most experienced and well credentialed candidate in the mix to date. I think the league might just be ready for a popular, slightly edgy, slightly melty admin at the top. Either way, ND in the race should make for a great spectacle.


Pedigree:

• Debuted S22
• Furies skipper
• Vic Metro skipper
• Board mod
• Committee rep
• League simmer
• Frankston Rover Award winner
• 4 x All-SFA
• State of Origin winning captain

The challenge:

Will the greater competition take ND seriously as a candidate, given he is often affectionately treated as a whipping boy in his dual role of board mod and match simmer? Will he be able to overcome the Dumbarse tag? And will the sections of the community dubious of mods and the simmers get on board with an ND ticket?


Signature step:

Interpretive dance –It seeks to translate human emotions, conditions, situations or fantasies into movement and dramatic expression, or else adapts traditional ethnic movements into more modern expressions

It often includes grandiloquent movements of the arms, turns and drops to the floor. It is frequently enhanced by lavish costumes, ribbons or spandex body suits.

 

[TheInjuryFactory]

The Filth Wizard​

The biggest name yet to enter this season’s race, the former admin The Filth Wizard is believed to be considering another run after narrowly (and controversially) missing out on a second stint in the league’s top job back in S28. Easily the most credentialed candidate in the running and arguably the most qualified candidate in the league, this season’s race is certainly heating up.

Responsible for many innovations and significant contributions to the competition rules, the league continued to thrive and grow under Filthy’s reign, having taken over from okeydoke7 back in S21. In fact many of the current league conundrums, from delisted free agency to expansion were as relevant during his first stint as admin as they are now, with Filthy’s imprint firmly visible today.

A vocal critic of expansion and at times the current admin, Filthy’s views are often expressed from the position of an elder statesmen of the competition, given his keen grasp of the inner workings of the competition, as well as the broader impacts that can be brought about through change and evolution having been there and done that during his own time at the helm.

However, he will face similar challenges this time around, as he did back in S28, given his reputation for being a driving force behind the Boys Club movement, and accusations of nepotism and corruption lite that have been laid at his feet in season’s past. Those same sections of the Sweet FA community that supported and ultimately installed Ant Bear as the current admin just a few short seasons ago still remain, and their concerns and fears of a second Filthy era as the league’s admin are unlikely to have been waylaid with the passing of time.

Having looked unlikely to run again after Season 28, the jungle drums are beating and I would not be surprised to see Filthy step into the ring for another shot at the Ivory Tower. One of the league’s greatest larger than life identities, any race involving The Filth Wizard promises to be one for the ages. I for one am here for that content, and look forward to watching the process evolve over the coming weeks as the race reaches fever pitch.


Pedigree:

• Debuted S16
• SFA Podcast host
• Sweet FA Admin
• 2 x beez Trophy winner
• Captain of Dragons FFC, East Side Hawks, Gold City Royals
• Premiership Captain
• Committee rep
• Sweet FA Hall of Fame
• 12 x All-SFA (League record holder)

The challenge:

Having done it all before, the last admin race saw Filthy contending with the legacy of his previous reign, will those remaining players from that era of the Sweet FA look to stifle a run this season? Will he be another candidate tarred with the BC brush given the angst towards the group from sections of the competition and the perceptions of bias that may linger?


Signature step:

Hip Hop - What distinguishes hip-hop from other forms of dance is that it is often "freestyle" (improvisational) in nature and hip-hop dance crews often engage in freestyle dance competitions—colloquially referred to as "battles". Crews, freestyling, and battles are identifiers of this style. Hip-hop dance can be a form of entertainment or a hobby. It can also be a way to stay active in competitive dance and a way to make a living by dancing professionally.