Well done Francis Leach - defender of Raph
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mustangjack
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doris,
we have heard it week in week out, in fact there are times where gwilt would turn it over and raph was not even playing and a person would yell out "bloody raph".....
If ross had his time again I think raph on the speedy byrnes would be something he would have changed. Bad match up. On the other hand we were able to match him up against hawkins which highlights his ability to play "tall" when needed.
He has had some very good games (some in finals), some average games and some bad games. Same goes for any player wih 57 games to their name.
but the hatred he gets is beyond the pall, hell I'm suprised he was not blamed for the weather, climate change and earth quakes
Guess what kiddies, get used to seeing him in the side because he is only going to improve and will be part of this side for a long while yet.
we have heard it week in week out, in fact there are times where gwilt would turn it over and raph was not even playing and a person would yell out "bloody raph".....
If ross had his time again I think raph on the speedy byrnes would be something he would have changed. Bad match up. On the other hand we were able to match him up against hawkins which highlights his ability to play "tall" when needed.
He has had some very good games (some in finals), some average games and some bad games. Same goes for any player wih 57 games to their name.
but the hatred he gets is beyond the pall, hell I'm suprised he was not blamed for the weather, climate change and earth quakes
Guess what kiddies, get used to seeing him in the side because he is only going to improve and will be part of this side for a long while yet.
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The Peanut
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... This is Australia ... you know the place ... it's that big island where a State Premier needs to go overseas to sprook that we aren't racist ... the place where Gollywogs are still a joke .... a place where a hard working player of our team gets outrageously abused by his own supporters for no apparent reason ... well, the reasons are apparent to this little wally.
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markp
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One has an Indian background... tell me what degree of skin pigmentation is required, or how close does your ancestral land have to be to Africa before you can automatically be absolved from being racist?... or are they just 'all the same'?BallBanger wrote:??markp wrote:They are the same breed of folk who think that atrocious Hey Hey skit was just a bit of fun.... freakin morons one and all.
I thought the majority of the skit were indian students?
Maybe if the jackson 5 were white and bald everything would be ok
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markp
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And this big one....The Peanut wrote:... This is Australia ... you know the place ... it's that big island where a State Premier needs to go overseas to sprook that we aren't racist ... the place where Gollywogs are still a joke .... a place where a hard working player of our team gets outrageously abused by his own supporters for no apparent reason ... well, the reasons are apparent to this little wally.
This is spot on. unfortunately rational debate will be countered with - he is crap - is slow of mind - is lazy - turns it over followed by one or two examples like - he gifted Geelong the first goal in the GF.Solar wrote:doris,
we have heard it week in week out, in fact there are times where gwilt would turn it over and raph was not even playing and a person would yell out "bloody raph".....
If ross had his time again I think raph on the speedy byrnes would be something he would have changed. Bad match up. On the other hand we were able to match him up against hawkins which highlights his ability to play "tall" when needed.
He has had some very good games (some in finals), some average games and some bad games. Same goes for any player wih 57 games to their name.
but the hatred he gets is beyond the pall, hell I'm suprised he was not blamed for the weather, climate change and earth quakes
Guess what kiddies, get used to seeing him in the side because he is only going to improve and will be part of this side for a long while yet.
When pointed out like about all you get is - oh he only broke even in the PF (when he virtually saved the game along with Roo).
You cant argue with small minded idiots who feel better about their self worth by flagrantly abusing a player.
The last two post above - if you mention this you get the usual coming on saying you are playing the race card. Not all critisism of Raph is from that position but much of it would be.
From the same people likeBallbanger who thought it is Ok to paint your face black and mock African Americans.
What are you gunna do? Cant educate bigots. Cant educate fools.
Lance or James??
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
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Saints43
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I don't remember any other player on this forum receiving the constant abuse Raph has copped in their first 57 games. Even the whipping boys of the past got a break if we had won. It happened virtually every week - unless he played an excellent game which passed with little fanfare.
While Raph has been around a while he is a really inexperienced player at AFL level. 57 games. And he expected to stop an opponent as a defender and engineer skillful attacking play - it's a big job.
I'm sure the coaching staff and experience will sort out the issue of having to work himself into games.
While Raph has been around a while he is a really inexperienced player at AFL level. 57 games. And he expected to stop an opponent as a defender and engineer skillful attacking play - it's a big job.
I'm sure the coaching staff and experience will sort out the issue of having to work himself into games.
Sorry..dont mean to hijack the thread, but I just wanted to point out that the guys who did this skit raised the potetial racism issue when they were invited back onto the show to recreate the skit they did 20 years ago. They were told by the shows producers that it was would all be OK..markp wrote:One has an Indian background... tell me what degree of skin pigmentation is required, or how close does your ancestral land have to be to Africa before you can automatically be absolved from being racist?... or are they just 'all the same'?BallBanger wrote:??markp wrote:They are the same breed of folk who think that atrocious Hey Hey skit was just a bit of fun.... freakin morons one and all.
I thought the majority of the skit were indian students?
Maybe if the jackson 5 were white and bald everything would be ok
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Yes that may be Saint66au - I wouldn't put anything past the incredibly incompetence of ch9 nowday - however there men are educated professionals who should have known that this type of behaviour is totally out of line.saint66au wrote:Sorry..dont mean to hijack the thread, but I just wanted to point out that the guys who did this skit raised the potetial racism issue when they were invited back onto the show to recreate the skit they did 20 years ago. They were told by the shows producers that it was would all be OK..
WTF was ch9 thinking. My effing god
Lance or James??
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
I’ve sat back and watched the Raph debate rage on for many months now without really getting involved. Time to weigh in with my 2 cents worth:
1. I like Raph.
2. Raph with his confidence up is clearly in our top 22.
3. How the hell is the bugger supposed to get his confidence up when his own supporters are sweating on his every mistake and flooding talkback radio and yelling abuse at him at games?
4. I don’t subscribe to the theory (often raised on here) that Raph’s vocal critics are in any way racist.
5. While I certainly don’t condone it, I have a theory on why Raph cops disproportionately more stick for his mistakes than his teammates.
6. I think it’s due to his laconic running style, the way he can look a bit like a ‘deer in the headlights’ when he runs into traffic, and that when he fires off an errant handball, well… they can be quite errant. I think this means that his clangers can perhaps be more accentuated than others. Again, not saying I condone it.
7. Raph plays best when he plays on instinct and takes the game on.
8. This style of play is, by its nature, going to produce turnovers from time to time.
9. I hope it’s not the case, but you get the feeling watching him at the moment, that he knows ‘supporters’ are sweating on his every move just waiting for an error.
10. Give the kid some breathing space, embrace him as a sainter, and let him strut his stuff. When he’s at the top of his game, it’s beautiful to watch.
1. I like Raph.
2. Raph with his confidence up is clearly in our top 22.
3. How the hell is the bugger supposed to get his confidence up when his own supporters are sweating on his every mistake and flooding talkback radio and yelling abuse at him at games?
4. I don’t subscribe to the theory (often raised on here) that Raph’s vocal critics are in any way racist.
5. While I certainly don’t condone it, I have a theory on why Raph cops disproportionately more stick for his mistakes than his teammates.
6. I think it’s due to his laconic running style, the way he can look a bit like a ‘deer in the headlights’ when he runs into traffic, and that when he fires off an errant handball, well… they can be quite errant. I think this means that his clangers can perhaps be more accentuated than others. Again, not saying I condone it.
7. Raph plays best when he plays on instinct and takes the game on.
8. This style of play is, by its nature, going to produce turnovers from time to time.
9. I hope it’s not the case, but you get the feeling watching him at the moment, that he knows ‘supporters’ are sweating on his every move just waiting for an error.
10. Give the kid some breathing space, embrace him as a sainter, and let him strut his stuff. When he’s at the top of his game, it’s beautiful to watch.
"I'm in the middle of a long conversation with my audience. It'll be a lifelong journey for both of us by the time we're done." - Bruce Springsteen.
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markp
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I thought the guy on the far left looked vaguely familiar!...saint66au wrote:Sorry..dont mean to hijack the thread, but I just wanted to point out that the guys who did this skit raised the potetial racism issue when they were invited back onto the show to recreate the skit they did 20 years ago. They were told by the shows producers that it was would all be OK..
It took appalling judgement from many people for that act to go on air.
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gringo
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I heard Francis' rant and was proud of him standing up for raph. The guy was an idiot and he won't be ringing again.
I have re-watched the GF and Raph was far from our least productive player.
My feeling was after the PM against the Bulldogs, we tried to clear the ball out of defence with long kicks that would come straight back over and over. If not for Raph this could quite easily have continued.
I actually think most would agree that the forward line completely misfired.
Raph was probably instructed not to blaze away , and to make sure there was a player on the end of clearing passes from the backline.
I feel he was probably playing to instruction and got caught out when noone lead or got into space.
Shannon Byrnes turned Raph inside out a couple of times but that is because he is ridiculously quick- not Raphs fault. Thats why we recruited some quick backs.
Same people that booed T schwartz started to attack raph early on and it is a contagion. As F. Leach said once it starts it gathers momentum. People look for every mistake he ever makes.
The guy is no different from Gram or any other player that is harshly analyzed by our fans, he is highly regarded by the coaching staff and will keep getting games because they are the best player available to us for that game.
I have re-watched the GF and Raph was far from our least productive player.
My feeling was after the PM against the Bulldogs, we tried to clear the ball out of defence with long kicks that would come straight back over and over. If not for Raph this could quite easily have continued.
I actually think most would agree that the forward line completely misfired.
Raph was probably instructed not to blaze away , and to make sure there was a player on the end of clearing passes from the backline.
I feel he was probably playing to instruction and got caught out when noone lead or got into space.
Shannon Byrnes turned Raph inside out a couple of times but that is because he is ridiculously quick- not Raphs fault. Thats why we recruited some quick backs.
Same people that booed T schwartz started to attack raph early on and it is a contagion. As F. Leach said once it starts it gathers momentum. People look for every mistake he ever makes.
The guy is no different from Gram or any other player that is harshly analyzed by our fans, he is highly regarded by the coaching staff and will keep getting games because they are the best player available to us for that game.
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The OtherThommo
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Ross The Boss plays Raph because he fits our game style and executes it well. For the philistines who live in the glory days of one on one contests, made by pairs of blokes who spent a lot of their day standing around waiting for the pill to be propelled into their part of the ground, it's over and it ain't coming back.
The reason our defence is so successful is because we have a number of players who are flexible enough to contest against different types within the flow of the game. To make this work you have to have players who can read what's unfolding AND be decisive enough to act. There ya go - the Raph knockers reckon he's indecisive, and I reckon RTB likes his method because he is very decisive and acts on what's unfolding as he sees it. The quitessential modern, attacking defender.
Generally, with us, the act is to push up to make a contest higher up the ground i.e. don't wait for the ball to arrive in your "zone". Read it and go. This is what Raph does better than most, it's what RTB wants him to do and precisely why he is in our best side. Even GT said Raph was the best reader of the game on our list. So, RTB uses him to that strength.
If people actually watched the game (and not just get mesmerised by staring at the ball), they would see the number of times Raph commits himself first to be the bloke who pushes up to make a contest. And, he gets there most of the time. It's precisely what he did in the last 1/4 against the Dogs - most of his work was done pushing up onto opponents who'd got into advantageous positions.
He doesn't play safe, defensive football - he plays the way RTB needs him to play to suit our team defensive game style. By pushing up, he plays a significant role in stopping sides having high numbers of deep, threatening entries into 50. IT IS WHAT WE DO.
He takes personal risks by doing it, because sometimes he will be caught out not quite making it. But, RTB is a numbers man - it works often enough and puts pressure on the opposition, to continue that game style.
As for the Rooke run down in the GF - Raph got the pill with Fisher between him and Rooke. Fisher peeled off, gave Rooke access and Raph got run down. Anybody'd reckon Raph was the only bloke to get run down from behind since Clint ran down Buddy in '08. It was Fisher's job to block and protect the ball carrier, end of story. Cause and effect. As for all this rubbish about Fisher talking to him is an afterthought. When you have 100K screaming heads at the G on GF day, you do not rely on "talking", you protect the ball carrier with your body. How many players have commented on it being nigh on impossible to hear anything out in the middle?
Raph has an extremely solid platform to play footy as it is played today. He has weaknesses and he will work his arse off to improve. He's obviously very coachable because he is doing what our game style demands of him. And, as in the PF, he can do it when the real heat is on. Of his 57 games, about eight of them have been in finals. Remember '05 in Adelaide, when Goose and Max were injured? Remember last year? How about this year's PF? At 57 games he's already shown he can stand the heat of finals, his method holds up and he can play significant roles in big games. At 57 games???
Like I said, the Raph knockers should either learn how to watch the modern game (with an objective eye) or drag out the B&W Telly and watch reruns of old games.
The reason our defence is so successful is because we have a number of players who are flexible enough to contest against different types within the flow of the game. To make this work you have to have players who can read what's unfolding AND be decisive enough to act. There ya go - the Raph knockers reckon he's indecisive, and I reckon RTB likes his method because he is very decisive and acts on what's unfolding as he sees it. The quitessential modern, attacking defender.
Generally, with us, the act is to push up to make a contest higher up the ground i.e. don't wait for the ball to arrive in your "zone". Read it and go. This is what Raph does better than most, it's what RTB wants him to do and precisely why he is in our best side. Even GT said Raph was the best reader of the game on our list. So, RTB uses him to that strength.
If people actually watched the game (and not just get mesmerised by staring at the ball), they would see the number of times Raph commits himself first to be the bloke who pushes up to make a contest. And, he gets there most of the time. It's precisely what he did in the last 1/4 against the Dogs - most of his work was done pushing up onto opponents who'd got into advantageous positions.
He doesn't play safe, defensive football - he plays the way RTB needs him to play to suit our team defensive game style. By pushing up, he plays a significant role in stopping sides having high numbers of deep, threatening entries into 50. IT IS WHAT WE DO.
He takes personal risks by doing it, because sometimes he will be caught out not quite making it. But, RTB is a numbers man - it works often enough and puts pressure on the opposition, to continue that game style.
As for the Rooke run down in the GF - Raph got the pill with Fisher between him and Rooke. Fisher peeled off, gave Rooke access and Raph got run down. Anybody'd reckon Raph was the only bloke to get run down from behind since Clint ran down Buddy in '08. It was Fisher's job to block and protect the ball carrier, end of story. Cause and effect. As for all this rubbish about Fisher talking to him is an afterthought. When you have 100K screaming heads at the G on GF day, you do not rely on "talking", you protect the ball carrier with your body. How many players have commented on it being nigh on impossible to hear anything out in the middle?
Raph has an extremely solid platform to play footy as it is played today. He has weaknesses and he will work his arse off to improve. He's obviously very coachable because he is doing what our game style demands of him. And, as in the PF, he can do it when the real heat is on. Of his 57 games, about eight of them have been in finals. Remember '05 in Adelaide, when Goose and Max were injured? Remember last year? How about this year's PF? At 57 games he's already shown he can stand the heat of finals, his method holds up and he can play significant roles in big games. At 57 games???
Like I said, the Raph knockers should either learn how to watch the modern game (with an objective eye) or drag out the B&W Telly and watch reruns of old games.
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