WOOF Update

[lemmon]

Re: WOOF Update

As one of the prodigal posters that dropped off and came back, WOOF's been the reason I've engaged with footy again this year. For me, 2016 felt like it ticked a box and I've never really had the same kind of engagement with the game since Bevo, Murphy and Wood held the cup up.

Coming back to WOOF and being part of this community again has helped me rekindle a passion for the Dogs. I wouldn't be watching games if not for this forum. Life's happened all around it over the last few years - an interstate move and some serious family illness - but having a Dogs game to chuck on TV and chat about with people who also care has been a genuine highlight that I've looked forward to each week.

I joined WOOF as a 15-year-old, so have been here for half my life - whatever you do end up going GVG, I'm sure we're all so appreciative of the little community that you've fostered.

[1eyedog]

Re: WOOF Update

Is there some way to help lighten the load Gary? Would it be possible for someone to step in and take over not only moderating the page but perhaps also taking over admin of the site?

You've carried the baton for a long time and reading back over the thread it's pretty clear that the site means alot to alot of people.

[The Pie Man]

Re: WOOF Update

So what our/woofs greatest hits:

PM Gillard showing off her The People?s Beard Scarf?
The March to the G - the club then ran with - for the Hawks Semi in 2016?
Pushing the idea for unwanted merchandise to go into community campaigns, the club ended up taking on?
Prime position in the Lego MCG?
Getting everyone a GF ticket in 2016?
Player sponsors? (Can?t recall them all now)

Now there?s a time in my life I?ll never forget?standing on the Docklands concourse with a bag of 20ish scarves for WOOFers to collect like a dodgy geezer as strangers approached asking me if I had any extra for sale

[mjp]

Re: WOOF Update

...his goals dont count might've been hanging in on MJP ?

I'm liking that my 'Crap goals against crap teams' post has been given new life by the now 2-time Coleman Medallist (C. Curnow).

20 goals in 2-games vs West Coast, 2 goals in 2 finals...is there any danger of a key forward standing up in a big game??

Well...not for Melbourne of course. They don't have anyone.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: WOOF Update

I'm liking that my 'Crap goals against crap teams' post has been given new life by the now 2-time Coleman Medallist (C. Curnow).

20 goals in 2-games vs West Coast, 2 goals in 2 finals...is there any danger of a key forward standing up in a big game??

Well...not for Melbourne of course. They don't have anyone.

We never got to see Schache play!

[GVGjr]

Re: WOOF Update

Is there some way to help lighten the load Gary? Would it be possible for someone to step in and take over not only moderating the page but perhaps also taking over admin of the site?

You've carried the baton for a long time and reading back over the thread it's pretty clear that the site means alot to alot of people.

We do have a few people who help the forum and set-up regular threads which without that assistance I tend to think there wouldn't be the level of participation we have now.
Eastdog does a lot of work preparing weekly threads during the season as does YHF, BulldogJoe, Scraggers and The Doctor and it all helps.
MJP starts a lot of threads particularly through the footy season which drives conversations. Axe does a lot with news articles and links and GG has often offered to help the site along as well.
We also have a very good participation with BT and the Doc leading the charge on draft and list management conversations and Smads, DogTown and I did a bit with the training reports during the off season. Smads often posts a lot of VFL updates as well.
This all helps keep the site vibrant and giving others reasons to log on and hopefully participate in discussions.

If we could get a few more willing to take on generating new threads of footy or any sport for that matter that would be a huge positive for the site.

[DOG GOD]

Re: WOOF Update

Woof has also been my go to place, especially during the season. I understand what you are saying, but it will be a sad day. Most will probably be glad to see me disappear anyway haha. But in all seriousness, woof has helped me when I was going thru my 2 months of Covid last year, and am now getting over my 2nd bout. We all have opinions, but that’s what makes WOOF great. We aren’tsheep. I enjoy everyone’s posts because I get to see a slice of that person in their postings. Like MJP, living outside of Melb and unable to go to games is heart wrenching at times, especially when we are doing well, and WOOF made me feel part of the red, white and blue family, even though I’m the black sheep haha
Whatever happens to WOOF down the track, I want to thank Garry and anyone else involved for keeping it afloat for this long.

[Bornadog]

Re: WOOF Update

Woof has also been my go to place, especially during the season. I understand what you are saying, but it will be a sad day. Most will probably be glad to see me disappear anyway haha. But in all seriousness, woof has helped me when I was going thru my 2 months of Covid last year, and am now getting over my 2nd bout. We all have opinions, but that?s what makes WOOF great. We aren?t sheep. I enjoy everyone?s posts because I get to see a slice of that person in their postings. Like MJP, living outside of Melb and unable to go to games is heart wrenching at times, especially when we are doing well, and WOOF made me feel part of the red, white and blue family, even though I?m the black sheep haha
Whatever happens to WOOF down the track, I want to thank Garry and anyone else involved for keeping it afloat for this long.

I love reading your take on games and wining and losing as it is different to others and makes you think.

[EasternWest]

Re: WOOF Update

Woof has also been my go to place, especially during the season. I understand what you are saying, but it will be a sad day. Most will probably be glad to see me disappear anyway haha.

No way.

[Grantysghost]

Re: WOOF Update

Woof has also been my go to place, especially during the season. I understand what you are saying, but it will be a sad day. Most will probably be glad to see me disappear anyway haha. But in all seriousness, woof has helped me when I was going thru my 2 months of Covid last year, and am now getting over my 2nd bout. We all have opinions, but that’s what makes WOOF great. We aren’tsheep. I enjoy everyone’s posts because I get to see a slice of that person in their postings. Like MJP, living outside of Melb and unable to go to games is heart wrenching at times, especially when we are doing well, and WOOF made me feel part of the red, white and blue family, even though I’m the black sheep haha
Whatever happens to WOOF down the track, I want to thank Garry and anyone else involved for keeping it afloat for this long.

I love your work mate. Not sure about your taste in music though

[SonofScray]

Re: WOOF Update

Not a thread I had on my bingo card!

Off the bat, I want to acknowledge GVGjnr for your efforts in facilitating this space. It’s an excellent one. Regardless of what’s next, I will respect your choice and maintain that appreciation.

I’ve been posting regularly across forums since back in the day when the Club had its own one, then there was a board Dogs in Space, my own Geocities page Mount Mistake, then BigFooty, then the short lived Bulldogs Barking which I was helping run, there was an invite only predecessor to WOOF and then of course, here. Would have been 15/16 and still had two working eyes!

WOOF has proven to be the best quality, most interesting and resilient one of them all.

For me, when Plough said “have your showers and I’ll see you back at the social club,” that means get home, watch the replay and joint the discussion here. It’s as synchronous with going to the footy as seeing the Hyde St Band, peanut man, the cartoon Dog on the screen at Colonial Stadium etc.

Forums are an interesting, increasingly niche space. I still prefer them to reddit and broader social media. It’d be a loss to see WOOF go.

[Scorlibo]

Re: WOOF Update

Wow my heart leapt into my throat reading that first post Gary. It's since been warmed by the many touching responses. Thank you so much for everything you do to keep the forum running. It must be hard to do so much only to feel like the discussion is dwindling, but hopefully some of the responses in this thread make it clear just how much WOOF means to the many who remain active.

Seeing as we're all sharing our WOOF love - I joined WOOF in my late teens having grown up in Canberra, with very few people to talk footy with IRL. Being Bulldogs obsessed was the result of crafty and persistent indoctrination from my grandfather, who lived in the Western suburbs all his life. He'd mail me clippings out of the Herald Sun and The Age every week, then we'd have hours long phone conversations to discuss them and any other ground we thought worth covering. He's long since passed, and to a large extent WOOF has been to me a continuation of the tradition we once kept. The discussion means every bit as much to me as the game itself.

As others have said, while the social media juggernauts might be stealing potential forum members, there really is no comparison. The nuanced, respectful discussion on here is the best, and I feel so grateful to the regular posters who keep the flame lit. I'll be making my best effort to post more often, as I'm sometimes guilty of only reading when logging on.

[dadsgirl16]

Re: WOOF Update

Guilty as charged.. I am a reader..BUT I will sorely miss this family of posters that are my go to after every win loss or draw
Love reading the good the bad and the ugly
Hope like hell it continues.. understand if it doesn’t
My very favourite time was when everyone pitched in to make sure we all got to the Grand Final

[Dry Rot]

Re: WOOF Update

Just saw this thread now.

Shame it has to come to this but I see G's POV. He has flagged low levels of posting and participation before.

What am I about to say does not apply to most of people who have replied on this thread.

If you think about it, you spend something like 2 1/2 to 3 hours watching each Dogs game on the TV, and I assume something like 4 to 5 hours travelling to watch a game, watching it and going home.

There are multiple game related threads such as player awards, 3 things I've learnt, bankers and anchors etc. If you spent all that time watching and/or attending a game, it is really a small amount of extra time and effort to post on those threads as an example.

However, unfortunately many people didn't.

I have had many years now being the primary carer for an old guy with terminal cancer and on top of that this year after decades living in my unit my Landlord threw me out of my home, and then had months of fun navigating the appalling rental market.

Yet I still found the time to watch most games and post in the match threads at least. I also tried to post a few new threads, some for some flew, others didn't.

So if you're reading this thread and you have enjoyed what you read on WOOF but rarely made the effort to post here, then I suppose you're the reason that this site may close.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: WOOF Update

Also only just seeing this now.

In 2007 when I joined I was living in Adelaide, finishing uni and a long suffering Dogs fan in a ?Crows? family still haunted by 1997 and 1998 preliminary finals losses. I certainly had a lot more time to contribute back then compared to now (and had too many rowing related references in my younger years I?m sure) and I suspect (reading this thread) some of the generational changes with technology and social media mean that there aren?t the same levels of younger folk <25 who have interest in joining discussion forums like this. It?s a shame.

I?ve loved this site for a long time. The knowledge and my understanding of the game has materially improved as a result. I?ve learned a lot of details about the history of our club and what those living through it and attending games from well before I was born (1985) have experienced. The insights into junior footy (which I once had the bandwidth to frequent) the trade period etc are all highlights. Training updates a must to consume for any genuine Dogs member over the long summer months. Met a few folks from the site in person over the years (but not nearly enough) and managed to get a few Dogs mates I picked up along the way to join albeit they never became active members.

We?ve seen some shocking periods of players leaving, coaches leaving? superstars being drafted and emerging, the game itself continuing to change and evolve. We climbed bloody the mountain! Like many here, I never thought I?d see a prelim win in my lifetime let alone a grand final triumph.

Life has changed a lot personally too. Moved to Melbourne in 2013 - Dogs games in person every week, brilliant! Career got serious and full on. Family and a young child with another not far away. Finding a spare 10 minutes to conjure a meaningful post becomes harder and harder.

Whatever you decide Gary, it?s been a wonderful journey. This community is unique and has offered so much to so many. I?d really like to be able to continue the connection with the community in some shape or form if it comes to that.

Long live WOOF.

Cheers, Ed