Israel Folau?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Israel Folau?

You would need someone who lives on the Gold Coast to answer that one as that is where it counts.

I live in QLD and wont be making an effort to watch live what would be possibly the worst gamble in AFL history come crashing down. I mean, these teams are splashing all this cash into guys that will probably play most of the year in the 2nds.

The AFL and more specifically GWS & GC will be a laughing stock over the next few years as any credibility the League has built up in these NRL states will be destroyed. QLD & NSW, where might I add there has been a very positive swing of code support, will be sent back to the 80s mentality where AFL fans were outcasts.
I promise that rugby people will smile to them self when the players that have been poached from their comp fail miserably and support walks away from the AFL.

I don't mean to be harsh on Izzy and Hunt, but they don't know the game at that level and it would take a few years till they are there. By that stage know one will care, no one will watch and no one will notice the clubs of GWS & GC fold. Lets just hope a NBL type domino affect doesn't happen were leagues are restructured?

Maybe in a few years the AFL will capitulate to admitting Tassie should have got one of the new licences?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Israel Folau?

Maybe in a few years the AFL will capitulate to admitting Tassie should have got one of the new licences?

I don't know about Issy and Hunt but I reckon there's more chance of Glenn Lazarus playing 100 games of AFL than for Dimwitriou admitting he got something wrong.

[Mantis]

Re: Israel Folau?

Kevin Sheedy was on SEN this morning to speak of the Folau signing.

He said that from the reported $1.3mil/ year he will receive the 'footy' component of this would be less than $300K. Said he will be used to sell the club over the next 18 months as they aren't allowed to sign an AFL player and they need to get the interest up.

When asked if there is a chance that Folau wouldn't even play a game he denied that thought and said he would because, 'I am the coach and he will play'.

[Mofra]

Re: Israel Folau?

Agree with whats been said on SEN this afternoon. How is it fair that they throw $6mil at one player who has never played the game and is just a marketing ploy that the people of Western Sydney will see right through..

One media estimate is that Hunt alone has already generated over $7m in free advertising for the AFL, and will generate more as his AFL debut nears. Folau must command something similar given the media interest, and in purely marketing terms it is a brilliant coup for the AFL.

After reading the reaction on League Unlimited, people have no idea how scared the NRL is of the AFL. There is more AFL discussion there than NRL discussion.

[mighty_west]

Re: Israel Folau?

Kevin Sheedy was on SEN this morning to speak of the Folau signing.

He said that from the reported $1.3mil/ year he will receive the 'footy' component of this would be less than $300K. Said he will be used to sell the club over the next 18 months as they aren't allowed to sign an AFL player and they need to get the interest up.

When asked if there is a chance that Folau wouldn't even play a game he denied that thought and said he would because, 'I am the coach and he will play'.

Gotta love Sheedy, thats a typical thing for Sheeds to say, and exactly why he was the perfect fit for GWS.

At the very least, turn Israel into a defensive midfilder, he has the run & tackling ability.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Israel Folau?

Gotta love Sheedy, thats a typical thing for Sheeds to say, and exactly why he was the perfect fit for GWS.

At the very least, turn Israel into a defensive midfilder, he has the run & tackling ability.

Sheedy was once asked whether he ever got over ruled at match committee meetings at Essendon.

He said once. The player he wanted to play had to play in the reserves & the player he was given spent the whole game on the bench.

He never got over ruled after that!

[mighty_west]

Re: Israel Folau?

Sheedy was once asked whether he ever got over ruled at match committee meetings at Essendon.

He said once. The player he wanted to play had to play in the reserves & the player he was given spent the whole game on the bench.

He never got over ruled after that!

Love it!...and thats exactly what you want from your coach, his neck is the one on the chopping block if things don't go his way.

[Mantis]

Re: Israel Folau?

At the very least, turn Israel into a defensive midfilder, he has the run & tackling ability.

So he has the ability to run over 15km thru the space of a game? He is pretty much the same size as Barry Hall and I don't think Barry would go all that well in the midfield.

[mighty_west]

Re: Israel Folau?

So he has the ability to run over 15km thru the space of a game? He is pretty much the same size as Barry Hall and I don't think Barry would go all that well in the midfield.

Well, he has 2 years to get fit enough to play AFL, and with his body type, i see it more a Pavlich shape than a Barry Hall shape.

We see rookies come in each year, we know it takes them time to adjust & get fit enough at the levels required, when Cooney first started out, when Griffen first started out, they were no where near the levels of fitness expected, it took them a few years, Israel has that time to adapt, and get AFL fit.

I guess at the end, it all depends on how commited he is to the cause.

Look at Pavlich's body in the under 18's, and he was a porky pie, playing just 3 kg's off his weight right now, and he is what, 10 years older, he was just a forward, but got his body right to play in the midfield, all it takes is alot of dedication.

[mighty_west]

Re: Israel Folau?

Cameron Ling is another player, when you saw him play as a full forward in the under 18's, looked like a fat slob, he goes alright hanging off the best midfielders.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Israel Folau?

So he has the ability to run over 15km thru the space of a game? He is pretty much the same size as Barry Hall and I don't think Barry would go all that well in the midfield.

He's never trained as an endurance athlete. It will take him years to build up the tank to play midfield.

[Mofra]

Re: Israel Folau?

He's never trained as an endurance athlete. It will take him years to build up the tank to play midfield.

If ever. I dragged this up yesterday:

http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/05/04/changing-roles/

Bear in mind this is the Storm's own physical conditioning coach, who would know Folau better than most.

So without showing any disrespect at all to Folau, it’s really a double whammy: no kicking skills and lacking the requisite aerobic capacity.

[chef]

Re: Israel Folau?

I live in QLD

Do you live on the Gold Coast?

As I would be interested to know how much hype is around with Hunt back in town. Maybe Anthony could answer this?

[chef]

Re: Israel Folau?

One media estimate is that Hunt alone has already generated over $7m in free advertising for the AFL, and will generate more as his AFL debut nears. Folau must command something similar given the media interest, and in purely marketing terms it is a brilliant coup for the AFL.
After reading the reaction on League Unlimited, people have no idea how scared the NRL is of the AFL. There is more AFL discussion there than NRL discussion.

It certainly is.