How well would YOU play if?

[1eyedtiger]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post and first poll so be gentle. I would like people to answer honestly. Personally, I wouldn't bother. I wouldn't play for another club no matter what money was on offer. If the others on this forum are as loyal as I, I would expect the same. This poll may seem simple, but the implications run deep, especially for those who are wondering what happened to the heart of the Tigers. I believe that the Tigers should be recruiting Tiger people. It's one thing to have potential, another to fully realize it. I'm not going to name names or anything like that, the more knowledgeable forum members can do that if they wish.
If anyone can further improve this poll, I am open to suggestions and a new poll may be held in the future.
Please don't abuse this poll, I feel it is legitimate and has it's place.

 

[pokey]

Welcome aboard 1eye.

Kane Johnson and Alex Gilmour are two recent "Tiger" people who come to mind when it comes to recruits.

Kane has given solid service despite the hard time that he's been given recently.

Gilmour seemed to not want it enough which is a shame.

It's a national league now and most young kids just want to chance to play at the elite level, it doesn't matter who for. Having said that, I hope that my two year old pulls on the yellow and black one day.

 

[caspar]

Welcome 1eye.

I have to choose none of the above. I would instead go the other club, aim to have affairs with the coaches wife, the coach himself, the coaches pets, those on the board, president, sponsors, players wives, supporters and aim to cause as much havoc, scandal and disarray on field as well as off it as i possibly could, eventuating in a media frenzy that sees the club playing ALL if it's home games in Tasmania and changing it's name forevermore.

After my tenure was complete, I would return to my rightful place on the other side of the fence with yellow & black beanie, scarf & jumper, and enjoy watching the mighty Tiges as they are meant to be enjoyed.

 

[pokey]

Welcome 1eye.

I have to choose none of the above. I would instead go the other club, aim to have affairs with the coaches wife, the coach himself, the coaches pets, those on the board, president, sponsors, players wives, supporters and aim to cause as much havoc, scandal and disarray on field as well as off it as i possibly could, eventuating in a media frenzy that sees the club playing ALL if it's home games in Tasmania and changing it's name forevermore.

After my tenure was complete, I would return to my rightful place on the other side of the fence with yellow & black beanie, scarf & jumper, and enjoy watching the mighty Tiges as they are meant to be enjoyed.

Troubling, but funny post. :clap

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

If I was an outstanding talent I'll do a Nathan Buckley, and probably regret it for the rest of my life.

 

[tigatam]

unfortunately players really dont get a big say in where they want to play. i did a communication project for school back in 97 and interviewed the seniour players at the time, and they all said that they didnt get a say in where they preffered. And it didnt matter. Just to get the chance to play AFL, no matter where it is, is what they strived for.

Its all good in theory, as players like Judd would be at melbourne, not enticed interstate with the big $$$$.

if it was me:

1. im a girl, so dont think id go to well getting tackled and all.

2. At Richmond, id be to busy 'studying' closely Shane tuck to concentrate.

3. Id give my all no matter what,. no matter where,

Im sure that all players still have a soft spot for who they barracked for, but once you get drafted you have to dedicate your intentions 100% to that club.

 

[pahoffm]

To do anything else but take full advantage of the opportunity of being drafted in good faith by an AFL club would be nothing more than immature & self destructive.

There are many examples of VFL/AFL greats enjoying careers at one club whilst barracking, in their youth, for another one.

Bartlett barracked for Footscray, Sheeds barracked for Essendon. Both had great playing careers with the Tiges.

To be given the opportunity of a "lifetime" means putting your "life" on the line.

 

[Rosy]

I'm with the majority here. I'd give my all.

Then again my all wouldn't be much and I'd cop it bigtime on the forums for being a dud, not being able to kick further than 2 metres, not putting my body on the line, dropping marks, being too old and toos low and being old enough to be my team mates' mother probably for making sure their socks are pulled up and their tags tucked in as well.

Don't know if half a mill a year is worth it.

 

[tigerdave]

I'm with Phantom on this one.Speeking from my home enviroment,the local boy's that have made into the afl system in the last 10 years have grown up loving their own AFL team but wanted nothing more than to play at the top level for ANYONE!

Even though the local comp isn't as strong as it was in the 80's & early 90's,the young boy's getting the oppurtunity at the moment with SANFL teams & under age state sides is terriffic.

You talk these young fella's & all they want to do is emulate the local boy's that have made it.So to knock back such a wonderful opportunity could wreck your head for years to come!

 

[Tigerfan]

i'd need a new room for all my my brownlow's ;D

 

[Tigerfan]

it looks like beau dowler picks option 2 :hihi

 

[Growl]

To do anything else but take full advantage of the opportunity of being drafted in good faith by an AFL club would be nothing more than immature & self destructive.

There are many examples of VFL/AFL greats enjoying careers at one club whilst barracking, in their youth, for another one.

Bartlett barracked for Footscray, Sheeds barracked for Essendon. Both had great playing careers with the Tiges.

To be given the opportunity of a "lifetime" means putting your "life" on the line.

To continue along Phantom's train of thought Wayne Harmes was a Tiger supporter, so too was Len Thompson - didn't stop them playing well against us.

I know I've read of other players' likes before they made it in the VFL/AFL but can't recall any others except Thorold Merrett - who Dyer said was too small to make it! (Prob going back too far for most PREnders.)

 

[poppa x]

I know I've read of other players' likes before they made it in the VFL/AFL but can't recall any others except Thorold Merrett - who Dyer said was too small to make it! (Prob going back too far for most PREnders.)

Despite 50 years of improvement, the game has yet to produce anyone who kicks as well as Merrett's left foot stab passes in the 1950's. A 5 foot 5 inch wingman whose only downfall was playing for the scum. Courageous too.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

I know I've read of other players' likes before they made it in the VFL/AFL but can't recall any others except Thorold Merrett - who Dyer said was too small to make it! (Prob going back too far for most PREnders.)

Despite 50 years of improvement, the game has yet to produce anyone who kicks as well as Merrett's left foot stab passes in the 1950's. A 5 foot 5 inch wingman whose only downfall was playing for the scum. Courageous too.

Read somewhere that he could stab kick a tennis ball through a loop of rope from 50 yards, not sure whether this was fact or the author taking poetic licence.

 

[Growl]

Yep, he was pretty good - nephew of Leo Merrett who recommended him but JD said "too small"!

Just realised that the late, great Norm Smith was a Collingwood barracker as a young'un. Nw that would have thrown the cat among the pigeons after the 1958 GF loss if it had been public knowledge!

 

[1eyedtiger]

It's a bit of a surprise that anyone would admit to it, but some have voted that they would play for the money. Maybe Brad Ottens is a member of PRE after all :spin
First and foremost, I recognize the efforts of all those who have played for the Tigers in the past that followed other clubs in their youth. One of my favourite players, Mathew Knights (f**k**g Frawley) was a great Richmond player in my mind, followed another club originally. I believe it was the Bombers but correct me if I'm wrong. knighters was one player who put in 100% every game, no matter the result. So I'm not saying in any way that recruits that have followed other clubs cannot become champions.
Secondly, I'm the sort of person who believes that if you cannot do a job properly, then don't do it at all. Get someone who can do the job to do it for you. If I was drafted to a club other than the Tigers, I do not believe I could commit to that club 100%. Maybe 90%, 95% or possibly 99%. But not fully. I don't believe this to be immature. It is simply human nature. I wouldn't accept a position if I knowingly couldn't fulfill that position fully. To do so would be a lie. It isn't fair to the club in question or to myself to do so. Therefore, I pass. Get over it and move on to something else.
Aussie rules football and the world have moved a long way since the Tigers were last a football power.
The point I'm trying to get to is that I believe that given 2 otherwise identical players, the player that has the yellow and black in his blood is more likely to become a better player than the one the doesn't. In most cases that is. I also believe that no matter how highly rated a young footballer is, if that player does not want to play for the Tigers, then no amount of money, training, etc will ever correct that. The Tigers will simply never benefit from that player's full potential. This may or may not be the case at other clubs. The list at the Tiger's is so shallow at the moment that there is simply no pressure for our senior list to perform. The only thing left is the commitment of each individual player. That's why players such as Richo stand out. Does anyone on this site even realise why Richo has a "dummy spit" no and again? It's because he cares about the Tigers. He's a Richmond man. Some players don't really seem to give a s**t as long as they get paid. (I won't name them!)
All I'm trying to say is that the Tigers might benefit from recruiting players who have followed to Tigers in the past.
I believe that this is the "passion" and the "X Factor" that some have been asking about on this site.
I have looked at both the Eagles and Dockers web sites recently. A large proportion of their players have come from WA. Most of those players would have to have followed those 2 clubs in the past. At the very least, they are loyal to WA. I don't think this is a coincidence that interstate sides are dominate. The 'national' draft has a lot to answer for in my opinion.