2011 AFL Off Season Thread - We are Geelong, the greatest team of all, for now

[The Sad Punk]

Also footy

 

[bono_man2002]

The A-League is shit in standards compared to some of the other leagues in Europe. Gotta be better than MLS in the US though. If Harry, Emerton stay around and the likes of Schwarzer, Cahil amongst others possibly finishing their careers in the A-League, can only mean good things. Is it ever gonna be bigger than NRL or AFL? It'll take a bloody long time.

 

[Axver]

I've said a couple of times already this year that I'm over the whole "my sport is better than your sport" thing (that I probably used to engage in a bit too much), and people should just enjoy what they want to enjoy. It's perfectly possible to follow multiple codes passionately and follow a new sport without discarding your old favourites; I think it'd be great if all the codes peacefully co-existed and we had a whole bunch of highly competitive national leagues without feeling like fans have to be "poached" to do so.

That said, I just don't understand how on earth soccer could possibly gain ground on Aussie Rules, rugby union, or rugby league, or why anybody would go to soccer over those three codes. I know this makes my otherwise healthy relationship with SBS rocky, but I would much prefer it if soccer failed miserably in this country. Sure, it's fun to play, but so are golf and lawn bowls, and most people wouldn't entertain the idea of those as spectator sports. Given the massive transformation in sports popularities from 1911 to 2011, I'd just like to believe that in a hundred years' time, more exciting spectator sports will have made considerable inroads to soccer's global lead. And I sincerely hope that part of any such transformation is Aussie Rules becoming an international sport. Seriously, if it can convert me of all people, it can convert almost anybody.

If there's any sport that needs to become popular in Australia, it's European handball. Hurling too. You know, sports that are bloody exciting.

 

[bono_man2002]

I don't think anyone should have a problem with it either. I know people who love the A-League and don't really support the AFL at all. Different strokes different folks. Its obviously a lot cheaper to go to the lesser followed sports (expect the NBL was offering me $75 seats two weeks ago! mg

 

[Axver]

Haha, there is that perk. I'm disappointed the attempt to create a national rugby union tournament, the Australian Rugby Championship or whatever it was called, failed after just one season in 2007. Australia needs something to rival the NPC and the Currie Cup. Put it this way: if Australia had suffered a catastrophic loss of their first two choices for first five-eighth in the World Cup like New Zealand did, they would've been stuffed. The All Blacks were able to pluck Aaron Cruden fresh and match-fit from the NPC and he was a key figure in last night's game.

And I'm mainly looking forward to the 2012 Olympics so that I can get my quadrennial fix of European handball.

 

[bono_man2002]

Oh yeah, Handball is the best!

 

[Axver]

Let's start a Melbourne team.

... on second thoughts, nobody should ever start a sports team with me.

 

[bono_man2002]

You can be the coach.

 

[Axver]

Me as coach: You were great this game!
Player: But didn't you see me give away three goals? I was only on for about five minutes too!
Me, internally: Shit, they all look like the same blur from a distance.
Me: ... you were still great!

 

[bono_man2002]

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Pretty successful trade week for the Crows, I would have to say. Already excited for the pre-season and next year.

 

[Axver]

I see you got one of ours, Vladelaide.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Yeah, I actually found out that he had his own blog while at Essendon and prior to that had promoted himself on BigFooty!

 

[Axver]

Haha!

And looks like St Kilda's copping it for poor trade decisions.

 

[bono_man2002]

Guy at work played with that Jenkins guy. I "bet" he'll be great for you guys. Vlad

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Can't wait to lol hard at Brogan and Cornes playing for GWS next season.

 

[The Sad Punk]

So we have Josh Hill. Might be able to do something with him, showed potential a few years ago no?

Actually a little surprised to see Setanta delisted.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Pretty maligned player from what I understand, soft. I reckon you can make him into something useful I suppose.

 

[cobl04]

We traded pick 26 for 32 and 34. Genius move, especially given our recruiting guy is obviously the best in the business.

 

[Axver]

Port delisted Daniel Motlop. I thought he was one of their more reasonable players? All things being relative, of course; this is Port.

 

[bono_man2002]

Nah I he lacks attitude, and this has probably been a long time coming. He only played well under Williams, and even then he's been patchy the last few years.

 

[cobl04]

Mark Blake retired after 99 games. Back to the spud factory

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Port delisted Daniel Motlop. I thought he was one of their more reasonable players? All things being relative, of course; this is Port.

One of their most talented players, but despite that, quite useless because he doesn't do shit apart from the token 2-3 tricks every match.

Mark Blake retired after 99 games. Back to the spud factory

Sorry Mark Blake, you cannot into 100-game club.

 

[bono_man2002]

 

[intedomine]

Wouldn't have minded him on the cheap at Tigerland, as an experienced back up to Maric and Graham.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Better just recruit him to wipe the bench of sweat after every match.

 

[Axver]

I'm very confused by inte having a different avatar.

 

[bono_man2002]

Me too. It's taken me a few posts to get used to it.

 

[Axver]

Crows wants US college basketballer as rookie

Don't get too desperate now, Vlad.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Not tall enough.