Bazza's hanging up the boots

[ausfatcat]

In my younger days (when barry was still at the saints) I met Bazza on several occasions at a local establishment during the off season and he was nothing but wonderful, I brought him a beer and a month later he remembered my face and brought me one in return

[Dr Spaceman]

Plenty of indications that Barry was a terrific bloke off the field but was, or at least could be, a bastard on the field.

I couldn't give a stuff about him personally. A few years at our club in no way endears him to me.

But what the Barry Hall story does is highlight the oft talked about desire of many to be one club players.

Hall played 88 games for the Saints and 162 games for the Swans. And he will chalk up around 40 for the Dogs when he finally hangs up the boots.

Sure he left the Swans in controversial circumstances. However he played more than 50% of his career in Sydney and was co captain of their premiership side.

The fact that he could consider himself a "Dog for life" (and yes there is a lot of irony in that title ) is, to me at least, beyond belief.

Clearly some of these multi club players have some identity issues when they finally call it quits.

[thejiggingsaint]

I have one happy memory of Hall. Kicking the after-the-siren goal to defeat Hawthorn in round 22 2001. I'd put $10.00 on us to win!

[Dr Spaceman]

I have one happy memory of Hall. Kicking the after-the-siren goal to defeat Hawthorn in round 22 2001. I'd put $10.00 on us to win!

Did Barry tell you he was going to do that?

AFL! AFL!!! Where the bloody hell are they? AFL!!!!!!

[thejiggingsaint]

As a matter of fact..................

[Moods]

So he co-captains the swans to their first flag in 72 years, is honoured by winning 4 AA's selections whilst at the club - as well as a B&F. Has played over 100 games at the swans yet he considers himself a bulldog......After 33 games? Yeah right. All because Paul Roos didn't answer his phone calls after he belted Ben Rutten and was forced to retire from the club.

My lasting memories of Bazza, is of a bloke who the AFL manipulated the tribunal system to allow him to play in the biggest game of the year, when he clearly should have been suspended. He played. He played well and the swans won the flag. He was happy giving media interviews and revelling in all the glory that goes with winning a flag. THEN the following year he played in another GF and played terribly. He barely got near the ball and when he did dropped simple chest marks. Instead of fronting up to the media, he actually refused to talk to them, brooded in front of his own supporters at the aftermatch functions and generally sulked around ALL summer feeling sorry for himself.

This is the real Barry Hall. A person's true character is revealed in times of adversity. Whenever the pressure was ever truly applied to him throughout his career, he either lashed out by doing something stupid/thuggish or sulked. What a fitting way for him to finish his career. A very very good footballer (not a champion as some are saying) who called a media conference to announce his retirement and inadvertently revealed something about himself in the process

[Sobraz]

So he co-captains the swans to their first flag in 72 years, is honoured by winning 4 AA's selections whilst at the club - as well as a B&F. Has played over 100 games at the swans yet he considers himself a bulldog......After 33 games? Yeah right. All because Paul Roos didn't answer his phone calls after he belted Ben Rutten and was forced to retire from the club.

My lasting memories of Bazza, is of a bloke who the AFL manipulated the tribunal system to allow him to play in the biggest game of the year, when he clearly should have been suspended. He played. He played well and the swans won the flag. He was happy giving media interviews and revelling in all the glory that goes with winning a flag. THEN the following year he played in another GF and played terribly. He barely got near the ball and when he did dropped simple chest marks. Instead of fronting up to the media, he actually refused to talk to them, brooded in front of his own supporters at the aftermatch functions and generally sulked around ALL summer feeling sorry for himself.

This is the real Barry Hall. A person's true character is revealed in times of adversity. Whenever the pressure was ever truly applied to him throughout his career, he either lashed out by doing something stupid/thuggish or sulked. What a fitting way for him to finish his career. A very very good footballer (not a champion as some are saying) who called a media conference to announce his retirement and inadvertently revealed something about himself in the process

Very well put... I was abit each way about Hall and his career, but when you look at it as you have explained, he loses alot of credit...