Players that have sucked you in?

[alwaysadog]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

This from the Coodabeens about Sam P

http://www.coodabeens.com.au/samp.html

You know less is more. Brevity is the essence of genius. English playwright Noel Coward once remarked that wit is like caviar. It should be savoured in small quantities not lashed around like jam.

A footballer who had all these qualities was Sam Phillipou. The Western Bulldogs were really keen to secure the big key position player. They traded Darren Baxter to Hawthorn to draft Sam the man with 1992 national draft pick 29. But the Bullies had to wait for the Woodville-West Torrens star to cross the border. Phillipou was a young champion at SANFL level. He was as big and agile as an athlete whose surname has a few more esses. Philippoussis. Super Sam was 189 centimetres tall and tilted the scales at 90 kilograms. Opponents found it difficult to out position him in marking contests. Furthermore his ground game was competent.

The big fellow finally arrived at the kennel at the end of the 1994 season. The Bullies gave their recruit the number 21 guernsey. It wasn't given to just anyone. The jumper had been worn with distinction by such players as Tony Buhagiar and Steven Kolyniuk. His pre-season form created optimism. Though only 20 years old SP had a mature attitude. The new powerhouse was a disciplined and organised bloke who followed instructions to the letter. Also he liked to join Libba for extra gym work.

When the 1995 season started Phillipou got his sea legs in the reserves. He took pack marks like he was leaping at a tennis ball. Also he had a kick like Haile Gebrselassie in the 10000 metres final at the Sydney Olympics. The solid South Australian received a senior call up in round 8 against the Roos at the Whitten Oval. He came off the bench and got involved. Across half back took a pair of power marks in the third quarter. On one occasion he delivered the ball with elegance to Brad Johnson who kept running and goaled. Unfortunately the Sammy debut was not crowned with success. The Kangas won 15.15 to 13.6.

Phillipou was in the starting group the following week against Essendon at the MCG. Lined up at centre half forward. The selection caused an immediate impact. 20 minutes into the first term the P guy marked in the middle of a pack. He goaled from right on 50. Early in the second he made a yard for a diving mark and in the one movement handpassed to Steve MacPherson who ran in a straight line and booted truly from 35. And close to three quarter time the number 21 worked his way to the front of a pack and took a monster grab. Don backmen punching his forearms and attempting to spoil from the back were like throwing cream puffs at the town hall. Phillipou went back and goaled from 40 on a 60 degree angle. In spite of the Phil heroics the Dogs lost 15.11 to 9.13. The bitter pill was the EJ Whitten Cup being presented to Essendon.

Sam Phillipou played in the round 10 game against the Tigers at the G. Appeared at centre half back. Did alright. Doggies down 13.18 to 9.10. Thereafter Sammo had a few injury problems. His intention was to return via the twos. Sadly he was delisted at the end of his one and only season.

Three games. A career that was short and sweet.

[W W Biscuit]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Footscray has had more than its fair share of 'March Champions.' I can remember being very excited about Daniel Hargreaves. Anyone who slots thirteen goals in a reserves match has got to have something going for them. I remember one day at Princes Park in which we received a hiding at the hands of Carlton (a not uncommon occurence in the mid-90s). Hargreaves kicked four goals and was basically our only winner on the ground. A Blues supporting friend of mine agreed that at least we had a young gun that we could build a forward line around. One of the more embarrassing predictions to which I have been a signatory. Eighteen months later he was traded to Freo, for whom I think he played one game.

The player I was probably most disappointed by was Keenan Reynolds. I loved this guy. He had a beautiful pair of hands, and a bit of aggro. I recall one almost single-handed effort versus Fitzroy at Princes Park (truly one of the best individual efforts by a Footscray player that I have ever seen, and yet a performance that few seem to recall). After the game, the tram on Royal Parade was buzzing with happy Bulldogs, sure that Keenan had arrived as the next big thing. His eventual transfer to North Melbourne was a big deal in the papers, yet he barely played a game at his new home. His career fizzled out inexplicably. Was it injury? I've never really been sure.

Footscray seems to have been cursed by a few footy supernovas:

Ben Sexton kicked five goals in his first game (versus Brisbane Bears at the Western Oval). I doubt whether he played another game that was even remotely as good. He looked second-rate in every other game that I saw him play.

Allan Jennings bolted out of football obscurity during one of the leanest times in our history. That period between 1979-82 still makes me angry. Jennings kicked five goals in his first game, five goals in his second game and then quielty slinked back to wherever it was he came from.

Russell Shields played a few games with Hawthorn in the early 80s, then headed across to the SANFL. In 1988, he crossed to the Doggies and made his debut in what was also Terry Wallace's first game in a Footscray jumper - against the Swans at VFL Park. Shields kicked five goals in an impressive 'goal sneak' performance. Two weeks later he was dropped and never played senior VFL footy again.

This is one player that I definitely did NOT see, but from time to time would read his name in the football record whenever a certain head-to-head record was mentioned. I cannot honestly recall the team - it may have been Essendon or Melbourne - but player "A. Rait" was quoted as having kicked the most goals against this team in a single match (10). Funny, I thought. I thought that I was acquainted with all of our past champions. Who was this guy? Further research revealed that Alan Rait was recruited to the Doggies in 1933 from Tasmania. He promptly kicked 12 goals in a practice match, then 34 goals in a run of five matches during the season. In all, he kicked 62 goals in his 19 senior appearances, but was sent packing at the end of 1934 after a few poor performances. Possibly the Bulldog supernova of the century?

[Dry Rot]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

I have to confess I thought Jade Rawlings was going to be great. Then there was that 7 goal haul against West Coast in his first game for us. The rest, as they say, is history.

Yep, he sucked me in too.

I had high hopes for the great Trent Barlett after a couple games v Carlton.....

[dog town]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Was it Allan Thorpe that wore the long sleeves for us in the early to mid 90s? Could do some very freakish things and I seem to remember thinking pretty highly of him.

[southerncross]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Was it Allan Thorpe that wore the long sleeves for us in the early to mid 90s? Could do some very freakish things and I seem to remember thinking pretty highly of him.

Sure was. As good as he was in some of the games I saw him play I never really felt as though he was going to be that good of a player.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Stephen Pitt had been with the Pies list before the Dogs drafted him. He was a reluctant starter though he had to choose between being a footballer or a policeman. He can to the Dogs and kicked a bag of goals in a practice match but then left to head back home. I honestly thought we had landed a good one.
Has anyone got anything else they can add Stephen Pitt?

He played for Norwood as a youngster - the club that I barracked for and used to go watch every week with my grandma and auntie. He was a very good player - tall and athletic, and yes, a very good shot on goal. This was during the years that Collingwood seemed to be pinching just about every good young player we had - names including Scott Burns, Brett James, Stephen Pattison, Craig Kelly etc.

I was surprised that he never made it - I have one very fond memory at the Adelaide Oval, I think in a match against Sturt. I was right alongside the 50M arch watching and Pitt took a great contested mark up against the boundary, just outside 50. A tough shot for goal, and he was looking for other options. I yelled at him to have a shot, he did and it sailed straight through.

He did end up becoming a policemen I believe and returning to SA - I could be wrong, but for some reason I recall his face being on a police force recruitment ad or something similar.

[Mofra]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Ah Daniel Hargraves - had the skills, not the application. The hippie thing was just the tip of the iceberg.

One I did have hoeps for after his debut was Brad Murphy, something like 27 touches against Port in Darwin, a game in which we got flogged. Also liked Keenan Reynalds, who for years (from memory) held the bench press record at the Kennel.

Shannon Corcoran was one I was disappointed didn't kick on, thought we'd found another Leon Cameron type but it wasn't to be.

[alwaysadog]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Footscray has had more than its fair share of 'March Champions.' I can remember being very excited about Daniel Hargreaves. Anyone who slots thirteen goals in a reserves match has got to have something going for them. I remember one day at Princes Park in which we received a hiding at the hands of Carlton (a not uncommon occurence in the mid-90s). Hargreaves kicked four goals and was basically our only winner on the ground. A Blues supporting friend of mine agreed that at least we had a young gun that we could build a forward line around.

Even more intereesting given that he had been at Carlton before coming to the Kennel.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Jade R,
Jesse Wells (Without seeing him and being based on Clayton's assessment of him)
Danny Hargraves
After K-Mac's first game.....
Koops
Michael Martin - He was labelled the best player to come out of tassie ever. Fell a bit short though

Many, many, many.

[alwaysadog]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

This is one player that I definitely did NOT see, but from time to time would read his name in the football record whenever a certain head-to-head record was mentioned. I cannot honestly recall the team - it may have been Essendon or Melbourne - but player "A. Rait" was quoted as having kicked the most goals against this team in a single match (10). Funny, I thought. I thought that I was acquainted with all of our past champions. Who was this guy? Further research revealed that Alan Rait was recruited to the Doggies in 1933 from Tasmania. He promptly kicked 12 goals in a practice match, then 34 goals in a run of five matches during the season. In all, he kicked 62 goals in his 19 senior appearances, but was sent packing at the end of 1934 after a few poor performances. Possibly the Bulldog supernova of the century?

Sure there is quite a bit on Alan Rait in Jack Lack's Unleashed

[LostDoggy]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Michael Martin - He was labelled the best player to come out of tassie ever. Fell a bit short though

I have to admit that I had high hopes for Michael Martin and Simon Cox. I still thought Cox could have become a very good player for us when we traded him.
Kingsley Hunter played a few blinders as well and I thought he was the answer to the CHB position. I still think we gave up too early on Hunter

[Bornadog]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

Jade R,
Jesse Wells (Without seeing him and being based on Clayton's assessment of him)
Danny Hargraves
After K-Mac's first game.....
Koops
Michael Martin - He was labelled the best player to come out of tassie ever. Fell a bit short though

Many, many, many.

Koops never really dissapointed me as a player, he just dissapointed with his constant injuries. I believe in the end he retired for personal reasons

[Bornadog]

Re: Players that have sucked you in?

If Cameron Faulkner doesn't come good this year he will be added to my list of players to suck me in.