this week's raph thread

wasaintsfan · Sat 05 Jun 2010 1:42am

i think hes alot like richo

never know what hes going to do with it....
but hes great =D love the fella

i remember when richo was ff..... and hed get the easiest shot at goal.... and kick it god knows where

Pwoit · Post: # 937240Post **Pwoit** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 2:05am

saint66au wrote:Im just making the point that Lennys disposal was very ordinary IMO tonight, yet its Raph's turnovers that are dissected to the n'th degree

A turnover is a turnover, a target missed is a target missed

Agree totally - Lenny turned it over and was caught a few times - why doesn't he get lambasted for his shocking turnovers and awareness????

The OtherThommo · Sat 05 Jun 2010 3:15am

Yep, butchered it 3 times in mid 20's touches. Shyte, hang him. Christ, Gilbert butchers it that many times in a half. He runs better from defence than anyone we have, goes to places in anticipation that noone else thinks of, and invariably gets it right. Spoils better as the extra than anyone else we have.

Frustrates with the lazy errors but the up is way bigger than the down.

I've come to conclude one thing about Raph. His biggest critics are white, mature women. I've seen them sneer the most, scream the most, tut tut the most and snigger the most.

Seriously, he's a strapping lad, has bravado and doesn't conform to anyone's pallette. I reckon Raph's got a cotton pickin' Mandingo thing goin' on. Good on him if he discomforts the conquering class.

Perhaps some should look to themselves, rather than applying jugements, to quote the Other Boss, Born in the USA.

As for the comparisons to various Geelong types.....FFS, Josh Hunt? Ever seen Raph frightened and turn away from a contest as he went back? Well I've seen Hunt do a double twist with pike (and I emphasise "pike") against us...remember? Ever seen Raph be a two bob smart arse against lesser opposition like Hunt did vs Melbourne a couple of years back, when he stuck the footy into an ex-team mates face with a sneer, then cough it up? That's Josh freakin' Hunt. Built like a Scandanavian dunny, plays like a subcontinental squat.

Taylor can play. Lonergan can't. Cat back half is run by Scarlett and Enright, and Taylor is more than useful. The rest are parasites, and Hunt is King Flea.

Yeah, Raph would get a game at Geelong, in a heartbeat.

SainterK · Post: # 937284Post **SainterK** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 3:19am

Mark him down for a cracker next week against Freo in the wide open spaces of Subi...not sure Etihad suits his play, likes to have a bit of space to run and create.

Stephen Theodore · Sat 05 Jun 2010 7:18am

Not sure he'll be playing next week, hobbled off in the last quarter

saintnick12 · Sat 05 Jun 2010 7:39am

The OtherThommo wrote: I've come to conclude one thing about Raph. His biggest critics are white, mature women. I've seen them sneer the most, scream the most, tut tut the most and snigger the most.

Agreed with a lot of your post, but not the above quote. I don't think that the above is the case at all. Last night was a prime example. I had people all around me abusing him - male, female, young, old, inbetween. ANd I find that most weeks. Myself and my son (15) usually cheer especially loud for Raph (and ZAC), as a direct result of all the negativity towards them.
I don't think its fair to conclude the biggest critics fall into the category you state. A look at any saints facebook update will tell you that too.

Con Gorozidis · Sat 05 Jun 2010 8:19am

bigcarl wrote:
Saint Bev wrote:Seriously, he made some shocking mistakes. Does anyone really think he would get a game at Geelong? Because if he was as good as what everyone says, he would.
he tends to polarise opinion. people either are a fan or think he's hopeless.

i'm a fan.

agree. some people on here are in love with him and some in hate.
hes kind of ok. would i swap him for harry taylor? yep.

i guess his nearest equivalent is ryan hargrave. tallish utility defender. very good player. makes some blunders.

Solar · Post: # 937319Post **Solar** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 9:00am

needs to make that type of game is low level ( and the wce game his high). Get more consistant and a little more hustle. But gives us run and carry. Also very good at reading the play (along side chips and BJ). Leaves gilbo for dead as a natural footballer.

Schillaci · Post: # 937326Post **Schillaci** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 9:16am

Stephen Theodore wrote:Not sure he'll be playing next week, hobbled off in the last quarter

Yeah...this was reported in HS article too.

Solar · Post: # 937328Post **Solar** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 9:18am

anyone know what the injury was? Might explain why stanley went back late.

Hope he doesn't miss cause subi brings out the best in him

Eastern · Post: # 937330Post **Eastern** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 9:21am

Hamstring/Back tightness..............Whatever that means !!

Solar · Post: # 937332Post **Solar** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 9:22am

Eastern wrote:Hamstring/Back tightness..............Whatever that means !!

not good at all

cross fingers it only got tight because he is on a personal training regime to cover for this problem in his back/hammy.

SinCitySaint · Sat 05 Jun 2010 10:02am

I think Ross sees a lot in him because he has remarkable skills. I think also he can be a good footballer with great athletic ability and sweet and precise skills. At times though he has brain snaps and makes some unbelievably poor decisions or misses a target by miles by being too lacsidaisical and that is what frustrates people so much.

saintbob · Post: # 937403Post **saintbob** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 11:00am

Another very good game, well done Raph!!!

saint75 · Post: # 937422Post **saint75** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 11:50am

westy wrote:
Saint Bev wrote:Seriously, he made some shocking mistakes. Does anyone really think he would get a game at Geelong? Because if he was as good as what everyone says, he would.
Why would anyone care if he got a game at geelong!!!!!!!!???????

Would Tom Hawkins get a game with us?

Strange comparison.

Good game Raph, well done. My dream team thanks you also.

To the top · Sat 05 Jun 2010 11:54am

The very simple facts are that Australia is a nation of racists.

Look at forums such as this and look at the refugee "debate" where the culture of the Australian population, pandered to by one side of politics, dictates policy.

Australia is a racist nation and recognised as such globally.

Badlands · Post: # 937428Post **Badlands** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 12:00pm

To the top wrote:The very simple facts are that Australia is a nation of racists.

Look at forums such as this and look at the refugee "debate" where the culture of the Australian population, pandered to by one side of politics, dictates policy.

Australia is a racist nation and recognised as such globally.

All clubs have their 'whipping boys'. I'm not convinced the fact Raph is indigenous has much to do with anything at all. For what it's worth, I thought he was pretty important last night. Particularly in Gram's absence, the run he is giving us off half back is critically important. Just needs to be surer by hand and foot, particularly when under pressure. Skill errors are killing his game and seem to be making a lot of people (fortunately not the coaching staff) overlook all the good things he is doing. Just needs to keep working at it. No way i would contemplate dropping him at this stage.

plugger66 · Post: # 937431Post **plugger66** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 12:06pm

To the top wrote:The very simple facts are that Australia is a nation of racists.

Look at forums such as this and look at the refugee "debate" where the culture of the Australian population, pandered to by one side of politics, dictates policy.

Australia is a racist nation and recognised as such globally.

And the point of this on the raph tread is? Did you type this on the Kosi thread as well. Maybe people think he is struggling because his name sounds German or Russian.

It is a garbage comment and belongs in the bin.

saint75 · Post: # 937434Post **saint75** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 12:10pm

To the top wrote:The very simple facts are that Australia is a nation of racists.

Look at forums such as this and look at the refugee "debate" where the culture of the Australian population, pandered to by one side of politics, dictates policy.

Australia is a racist nation and recognised as such globally.

To be perfectly honest, I have not once heard a racist comment against Raph by people screaming at him during a game (not that many people around me are game to knock Raph anyway.....

). Racists *usually* cannot help themselves and have to make a slur about nationality or skin colour. Not true in regards to most Raph bashers. He is just a whipping boy, end of story. Every club has one.

To make such a sweeping statement about Australians is ridiculous. Have you not been to the US?

SainterK · Post: # 937439Post **SainterK** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 12:16pm

plugger66 wrote:
To the top wrote:The very simple facts are that Australia is a nation of racists.

Look at forums such as this and look at the refugee "debate" where the culture of the Australian population, pandered to by one side of politics, dictates policy.

Australia is a racist nation and recognised as such globally.
And the point of this on the raph tread is? Did you type this on the Kosi thread as well. Maybe people think he is struggling because his name sounds German or Russian.

It is a garbage comment and belongs in the bin.

It's their opinion though...

While I am not sure I agree, I don't profess to know what people are thinking when screaming abuse at Raph.

AnythingsPossibleSaints · Sat 05 Jun 2010 12:16pm

I really liked his application and a lot of the stuff he did last night, especially his attack on the ball, but his passing is still very, very dodgy.
As someone else said, he again had at least 3 disposal "howlers" last night. Really bad clangers/turnovers/missed targets. Those loopy kicks are just dangerous at senior AFL level, especially with the game moving so fast these days. They hang in the air too long and last night, on one occasion, he kicked it way over the head of someone who was only about 15m away from him. Kids in the under 12's are hitting those targets and it wasn't a rushed kick.
We could do worse than getting whoever is going to teach Hunt and Folau to kick to come and give Raph some lessons. Then he could really dominate.

Saintsfan · Post: # 937447Post **Saintsfan** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 12:30pm

Pwoit wrote:
saint66au wrote:Im just making the point that Lennys disposal was very ordinary IMO tonight, yet its Raph's turnovers that are dissected to the n'th degree

A turnover is a turnover, a target missed is a target missed
Agree totally - Lenny turned it over and was caught a few times - why doesn't he get lambasted for his shocking turnovers and awareness????

Lenny Hayes has runs on the board and big runs at that.

Raph doesn't.

Raph played well last night however it is still concerning the time where he completely botches simple uncontested kicks.

AnythingsPossibleSaints · Sat 05 Jun 2010 12:39pm

Saintsfan wrote:
Pwoit wrote:
saint66au wrote:Im just making the point that Lennys disposal was very ordinary IMO tonight, yet its Raph's turnovers that are dissected to the n'th degree

A turnover is a turnover, a target missed is a target missed
Agree totally - Lenny turned it over and was caught a few times - why doesn't he get lambasted for his shocking turnovers and awareness????
Lenny Hayes has runs on the board and big runs at that.

Raph doesn't.

Raph played well last night however it is still concerning the time where he completely botches simple uncontested kicks.

Exactly. Hopefully they'll fix it. It's not too late.
It's funny reading what the "Raph lovers" write each week. You have the "Raph haters", who seem to bag him and abuse him every week (and someone near me was doing that last night) and the "Raph lovers", who, no matter how badly he's playing, will tell you the sun shines out of his ass. It's hilarious. The Yin and Yang.

Moccha · Post: # 937468Post **Moccha** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 1:07pm

He limped off which is not good. Probably doubtful for next week so apart from Dempster who will replace him?

dcstkfc · Post: # 937474Post **dcstkfc** » Sat 05 Jun 2010 1:21pm

SainterK wrote:Mark him down for a cracker next week against Freo in the wide open spaces of Subi...not sure Etihad suits his play, likes to have a bit of space to run and create.

Great call, his best footy has definietly been at the G in the finals, space suits his 'throwing caution to the wind style,' his last three weeks have been very good, I think he may have turned the corner, really enjoying his play of late. GO RAPH!