Toast The Steves

[sportsmaniac89]

This is an absolutely unprecedented thread to create for someone that has fundamentally opposed The Steves over the past 2 years. I still maintain to this day that the rebrand was handled poorly and that what they did to Mark Harvey was unprecedented however......................

The Steves showed guts and took a massive gamble in their decision to go out and get Ross Lyon.

In my mind this was a massive call to make and it actually (in my mind) put their job security on the line. Had this gamble failed in 2012, there would've been a small but growing case to potentially see them both gone from the Fremantle Football Club as their 4 years would've been characterised by underachievement and failure despite the changes made.

Over the past 10 weeks though, I've seen something I never thought I'd ever see and that is a hard as nails Fremantle, prepared to play 4 quarters, absorb blows and retaliate and this is a credit to Ross Lyon and the coaching staff.

Not only that, there is a new found professional attitude (not that they didn't have it previously but it wasn't seen enough for my liking) and I'm liking a lot more of what Freo stand for these days.

"No excuses"
"Anywhere, Anytime"

These are mantras I've always wanted to see associated with the Fremantle Football Club and these once again are a credit to Ross Lyon.

While I might be praising Lyon here a lot more, the reality of the matter is none of this (professional attitude on a regular basis, mantras) would've occurred without the Steves' willingness to take a gamble which could've very well cost them their jobs had it gone belly up.

I don't mind a gamble and in this regard, the Steves do get some respect from me.

This year has gone beyond my wildest dreams as I expected us to make finals this year but to win a final..............in Melbourne..............against Geelong is a memory that I will never ever forget but there's a lot more ahead for us.

Again that memory stems because of the Steves and their guts in getting Lyon.

As much as I've expressed dislike for them over the past 2 years, I want these changes to be rewarded with a flag and should that happen, the Steves will rightfully be hailed as the best administration we've ever had (they admittedly are coming from a way back on my scale courtesy of my previous opinions of them).

That all said, all I want now is for the Steves to continue to grow the club without dividing the supporter base as bitterly as they have in the past, find the best way to Keep Freo in Freo and set in place a structure that will keep the club going in the next 50 years with some flags to boot.

If they can do that, at the end of 2016 or 2017 (end of Harris' reign), I would be very content indeed.

People will rightfully ask why I've changed my tune, some might even attack me, but my reasons for this are

a) I'm more confident about the future direction of the Fremantle Football Club than I was at the end of last year and all that is down to the original gamble by the Steves to go out and get Ross Lyon. I might speak with the benefit of hindsight but at the time I was paranoid and really insecure about our future fearing shit football and the like.

b) I'm tired of all the hate and bitterness and when you lose a relative, it does put a lot into perspective, and encourages people to look at life differently which is what I've done here.

Kudos to the Steves and I look forward to their continuing to grow the club.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Sorry to hear your loss I lost my grandparents a time ago in quick succession.

I also think the Steves have been gutsy and have helped to create a more profesional edge to the club. Things are looking up .

 

[Arcassius]

Respect your post afl08 - glad you feel that same sense of genuine hope and optimism

 

[freo84]

I lost my grandmother rapidly from dementia 2 years ago so i'm sorry to hear about your loss mate.

The Steves have revolutionised the Dockers into something that is not only marketable but respected. By rebranding the club with a slick new image, bringing in Ross Lyon and now looking to upgrade the facilities they have been able to get genuine interest from quality people in the industry about coming to the club. Ross Lyon, Peter Sumich, and Brett Kirk are all amazing pickups that scream "WE WANT THAT TROPHY -insert Major Payne voice here). The Dockers are no longer the ugly red-headed step child of WA but the emerging superpower of the AFL.

Keep up the Good work Steves

 

[Clay Davis]

If Freo win the premiership this year I submit the club changes its name to 'the Cockburn Stevedores', or just 'the Steves' for short.

Dockerland can be called Steveland.

Sorry about your loss, afl08.

 

[Freo Shark]

Commiserations afl08 on your loss. Its a tough experience to go thru.

 

[Crippa]

Love the spirit of your post, afl108. You are a scholar and a gentleman.

 

[Freo4life]

The apocalypse is definitely on its way

Sorry for your loss though. My dad was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer but very fortunate that it was discovered in the early stages, so it looks like he will live to fight another day. Times like this really make you look at things differently and make you cherish what you have in your life while you have it because its very easy to take it for granted and not fully realise how lucky you are until the bad times come knocking.

 

[E Shed]

Nice work afl08
Respect mate.

 

[Seppo]

Nice thread afl08. You may not be the only one with the same thoughts, I'm sure many others will appreciate the work they have done behind the scenes once we taste onfield success on the big stage.

While we are toasting the Steve's, Mr Harris has made an effort many times this year to come down and sit in the cheer squad area in the 3rd qtr. He's not just a suit that will hide away in the corporate boxes and loves to be amongst it all on game day. He has also personally thanked us many times for our loud support for the big games we have won (e.g. Saints and Richmond games).

 

[Proud Bogan]

Is this real life??

Massive respect afl08. That took some serious kahoonas.

Commiserations on your loss.

 

[Nickos66]

Well said afl08, and condolences for your loss.

 

[Arcassius]

Where is Reggie when you need him

 

[Dockernut]

Geez this place has become one big love-in. Good post mate. I've always liked the Steves. That said, I also liked Rick "the hitman" Hart (because I met him once and he was a gent).

Sorry for your loss.

 

[theGav56]

Sacking a coach who has not actually been anything like a basket case was always going to be a hard decision. Took some balls, and they were always going to cop it in the neck from some quarters. Certainly a good decision to have made.

 

[Noddy59]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Good to hear someone giving kudos where it's deserved and I understand some of their decsions are still not popular......I still like the anchor and wharfie.

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

Great post afl08, well done, I hope that being on the board is a bit of a brighter experience for you over the next little while. My condolences for your loss.

Geez this place has become one big love-in. Good post mate. I've always liked the Steves. That said, I also liked Rick "the hitman" Hart (because I met him once and he was a gent).

Sorry for your loss.

Indeed.

Over the last two or three weeks, the quality of posting on this board, and the general atmosphere and standard of behaviour by posters towards one another, has really improved. I actually hope that we can maintain the standard for the next couple of months - well done everyone.

 

[JimDocker]

Great OP. Top thread.

Very sorry for your loss.

It is very difficult to admit being wrong and to do so in such a manner shows great strength.

I personally never change my mind no matter how much somebody proves me wrong, so well done

 

[Rob]

Great thread.

The bottom line with any football club is that everyone, from the coach and president right down to the boot studder, will be judged on the win-loss record. And irrespective of whether you agree with how they went about it, you'd have to admit that the club appears on the right track. And that reflects on the Steves as much as anyone.

I remember at the last derby when some numnut unfurled a banner on the 2nd tier of the 3 tier stand which said 'Heave the Steves'. At 3/4 time. When we were up by about 10 goals. I remember thinking how anyone could possibly have such incredibly pisspoor timing.

 

[andrew99]

Maybe we are misconstruing the meaning of what they meant to say (or maybe i'm just over-thinking things).

the "heave" part could just be part of some jolly tune.

Great thread.

The bottom line with any football club is that everyone, from the coach and president right down to the boot studder, will be judged on the win-loss record. And irrespective of whether you agree with how they went about it, you'd have to admit that the club appears on the right track. And that reflects on the Steves as much as anyone.

I remember at the last derby when some numnut unfurled a banner on the 2nd tier of the 3 tier stand which said 'Heave the Steves'. At 3/4 time. When we were up by about 10 goals. I remember thinking how anyone could possibly have such incredibly pisspoor timing.

 

[Dockernut]

Great post afl08, well done, I hope that being on the board is a bit of a brighter experience for you over the next little while. My condolences for your loss.



Indeed.

Over the last two or three weeks, the quality of posting on this board, and the general atmosphere and standard of behaviour by posters towards one another, has really improved. I actually hope that we can maintain the standard for the next couple of months - well done everyone.

Winners are grinners. Just wait til we win the premiership. Clay and Muff will reconcile, Fyfey will start posting in his downtime under his own name just because of the improved demeanour of posters generally and Gerard Whately will give us the credit we deserve.

 

[Freo Shark]

Over the last two or three weeks, the quality of posting on this board, and the general atmosphere and standard of behaviour by posters towards one another, has really improved. I actually hope that we can maintain the standard for the next couple of months - well done everyone.

Moreso because a few dickheads arent posting here currently apart from the fact we're winning.

 

[yakka man]

Completely agree. They took a massive gamble with their careers in the desperate desire to advance the club. No one can question their passion now.

Nice thread afl08. You may not be the only one with the same thoughts, I'm sure many others will appreciate the work they have done behind the scenes once we taste onfield success on the big stage.

While we are toasting the Steve's, Mr Harris has made an effort many times this year to come down and sit in the cheer squad area in the 3rd qtr. He's not just a suit that will hide away in the corporate boxes and loves to be amongst it all on game day. He has also personally thanked us many times for our loud support for the big games we have won (e.g. Saints and Richmond games).

I didn't know that, thanks for sharing.

 

[Silent Alarm]

The Steves have shown the cut-throat, no-shit approach that we never had. Every other club played by these rules but ours. It's refreshing and pretty exciting to see. I love the new jumper, love ol' Ross, and love our direction. They even tried to rejazz the song. They've really helped the club.

 

[Moo]

Change our ****ing lanyard colour back to purple and then we'll talk.