Discussion 2024 General AFL Discussion

[Rogue Warrior]

Not really the point though.
He earns what someone is willing to pay him and should be able to make whatever decision he wants.

That’s his luck.

I have no doubt the afl is aware of widespread rorting of the cap by various clubs (Geelong being the best) and the gradual creep of external benefits clubs are providing to players. It’s not in their interest to expose it. The AFL don’t care for equality. They care for generating revenue and protecting the brand.

As such, the saints need to leverage wealthy benefactors and sponsors as best they can within the same parameters other clubs do. So long as we show what we’re doing is no different to other AFL love child clubs the afl won’t stop it.

 

[Joffaboy]

you need to feel sorry for him, once you take out the 46% tax he is only left with $432k per year. its obviously not enough to live on.

If he is paying the top marginal rate he should sack his accountant.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Joffaboy]

Congratulations Joffa. That’s a great achievement. Any chance you can talk her into playing for the Saints?

Lol, whole family are mad Bulldogs supporters and she literally lives across Geelong Road from the ground.
Essendon and Freo tempted her with big offers but she refused. Best mate is Issy Grant and she couldn't tell her that she was leaving .
Not just saying this but she plays like a female Bont, even wears no.4. Great extractor, beautiful long left foot. I am no wrap for AFLW, but she is one of the good players.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Diehard Saint]

I have no doubt the afl is aware of widespread rorting of the cap by various clubs (Geelong being the best) and the gradual creep of external benefits clubs are providing to players. It’s not in their interest to expose it. The AFL don’t care for equality. They care for generating revenue and protecting the brand.

As such, the saints need to leverage wealthy benefactors and sponsors as best they can within the same parameters other clubs do. So long as we show what we’re doing is no different to other AFL love child clubs the afl won’t stop it.

No argument with any of that.

Was replying to the post - it doesn’t matter how much he earns ( even though it’s way, way higher than the average person) , it’s his choice whether or not he goes somewhere for additional benefit. Yes, we can say he should be able to afford childcare - or whatever - but that’s a moot point. It’s hos decision.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Seems somehow Joshy's got wind of the bigfooty disapproval of his free daycare, here's his message to Saints fans. Towards the end he seems to get a little confused, even angry, hope he's ok.

View attachment Whipper .mp3

 

[Saints4ever]

Seems somehow Joshy's got wind of the bigfooty disapproval of his free daycare, here's his message to Saints fans. Towards the end he seems to get a little confused, even angry, hope he's ok.

View attachment 2182270

another ripper.

 

[L_W_P]

All the Battle stuff in here is a touch incelly tbh.

He’s “whipped” because he decided that a club willing to give him free childcare and that made his family (wife included) feel important.

Okay.

I assume most of us see the family stuff as a pretty poor smokescreen for: "The Saints aren't going great and the Hawks played finals. I wanna jump on that bandwagon and be carried by a 'better' team."

He just can't come out and say that so they use the wife/kids/inclusive stuff to explain why he lied to his teammates about his decision and then took less money to move clubs.

Josh being 'whipped' is just how the story, as presented, reads.

Josh had told the boys he was staying.
Mrs Mitchell has a chat with Mrs Battle.
Mrs Battle has a chat with Josh.
Josh takes a pay cut to move clubs.

I'd be more concerned with he idea that Mrs Mitchell wouldn't be friends with Mrs Battle if Josh wasn't a Hawk.

Maybe Mrs Battle isn't that strong a woman after all if she's so desperate for friendship that she'd ask/demand her husband move to a new company just so she can get 'in' with the 'right' social circle...

At best it's manipulative and at worst it's pretty ****ing toxic TBH.

 

[phantom13]

I assume most of us see the family stuff as a pretty poor smokescreen for: "The Saints aren't going great and the Hawks played finals. I wanna jump on that bandwagon and be carried by a 'better' team."

He just can't come out and say that so they use the wife/kids/inclusive stuff to explain why he lied to his teammates about his decision and then took less money to move clubs.

Josh being 'whipped' is just how the story, as presented, reads.

Josh had told the boys he was staying.
Mrs Mitchell has a chat with Mrs Battle.
Mrs Battle has a chat with Josh.
Josh takes a pay cut to move clubs.

I'd be more concerned with he idea that Mrs Mitchell wouldn't be friends with Mrs Battle if Josh wasn't a Hawk.

Maybe Mrs Battle isn't that strong a woman after all if she's so desperate for friendship that she'd ask/demand her husband move to a new company just so she can get 'in' with the 'right' social circle...

At best it's manipulative and at worst it's pretty ****ing toxic TBH.

If it’s the first bit (the smoke screen stuff) then just say that. Personally that doesn’t really bother me, players do stuff like that all the time but that’s not the very specific criticism being levelled here.

If it’s not a smoke screen then what I’ve said remains. Mrs.Battle isn’t a strong woman because she’d demand Josh leaves the saints to make friends. Is that what happened is it?

Maybe, radical thought, Josh was grappling with both options and spoke to his wife who in turn checked the hawks out, liked what they were offering then they had a conversation about what was best for their family (including kids). Almost like a normal healthy relationship making a decision for the betterment of their family as a whole.

All the toxic masculinity fragility being projected with this “he’s got pussy whipped into leaving” is sad.

The only really toxic thing I’m seeing is the reaction we as supporters have had to a guy leaving our club.

 

[beside the seaside]

If it’s the first bit (the smoke screen stuff) then just say that. Personally that doesn’t really bother me, players do stuff like that all the time but that’s not the very specific criticism being levelled here.

If it’s not a smoke screen then what I’ve said remains. Mrs.Battle isn’t a strong woman because she’d demand Josh leaves the saints to make friends. Is that what happened is it?

Maybe, radical thought, Josh was grappling with both options and spoke to his wife who in turn checked the hawks out, liked what they were offering then they had a conversation about what was best for their family (including kids). Almost like a normal healthy relationship making a decision for the betterment of their family as a whole.

All the toxic masculinity fragility being projected with this “he’s got pussy whipped into leaving” is sad.

The only really toxic thing I’m seeing is the reaction we as supporters have had to a guy leaving our club.

Tend to agree.

He's gone to his childhood club and we got a fantastic return. Clearly he burnt some bridges on the way out but shit happens. Time to move on, hopefully Tauru becomes a star in which case we'll probably remember Josh quite fondly.

 

[gringo2011]

I assume most of us see the family stuff as a pretty poor smokescreen for: "The Saints aren't going great and the Hawks played finals. I wanna jump on that bandwagon and be carried by a 'better' team."

He just can't come out and say that so they use the wife/kids/inclusive stuff to explain why he lied to his teammates about his decision and then took less money to move clubs.

Josh being 'whipped' is just how the story, as presented, reads.

Josh had told the boys he was staying.
Mrs Mitchell has a chat with Mrs Battle.
Mrs Battle has a chat with Josh.
Josh takes a pay cut to move clubs.

I'd be more concerned with he idea that Mrs Mitchell wouldn't be friends with Mrs Battle if Josh wasn't a Hawk.

Maybe Mrs Battle isn't that strong a woman after all if she's so desperate for friendship that she'd ask/demand her husband move to a new company just so she can get 'in' with the 'right' social circle...

At best it's manipulative and at worst it's pretty ****ing toxic TBH.

It sounds like Josh was hurt because the club identified him as a potential out to gain FA compensation. SOS is a pretty brutal operator but up-front about it. Part of being pragmatic about fluid player movement is going to involve players getting hurt feelings and wanting out because of it.

We can say what ever we like about him as a person but when a human feels undervalued it rarely goes back to how it was before.

The Hawks are a momentum side who play a fun exciting brand. I can see the appeal I moving to them. They feel like they have the kind of energy and momentum of the GT Saints. It could all wash off next year but that's beside the point.

 

[L_W_P]

If it’s the first bit (the smoke screen stuff) then just say that. Personally that doesn’t really bother me, players do stuff like that all the time but that’s not the very specific criticism being levelled here.

If it’s not a smoke screen then what I’ve said remains. Mrs.Battle isn’t a strong woman because she’d demand Josh leaves the saints to make friends. Is that what happened is it?

Maybe, radical thought, Josh was grappling with both options and spoke to his wife who in turn checked the hawks out, liked what they were offering then they had a conversation about what was best for their family (including kids). Almost like a normal healthy relationship making a decision for the betterment of their family as a whole.

All the toxic masculinity fragility being projected with this “he’s got pussy whipped into leaving” is sad.

The only really toxic thing I’m seeing is the reaction we as supporters have had to a guy leaving our club.

Maybe.

The reality is we will never know how it played out.

Which is why it's weird for you to be slagging off other posters and trying to make them feel bad by calling them incels/toxic/fragile for posting their thoughts.

It's a quick race to the bottom of we all start going down that path...

 

[phantom13]

Maybe.

The reality is we will never know how it played out.

Which is why it's weird for you to be slagging off other posters and trying to make them feel bad by calling them incels/toxic/fragile for posting their thoughts.

It's a quick race to the bottom of we all start going down that path...

It is toxic to be running the wife made him do it line.

Its pathetic to be perfectly frank, that whole line of argument is incelly/toxic/fragile masculinity, if you feel bad about it maybe reflect on that.

Youve gone with Mrs.Battle isnt a strong woman because she felt included by Hawthorn, pretty shitful line itself.

 

[L_W_P]

It is toxic to be running the wife made him do it line.

Its pathetic to be perfectly frank, that whole line of argument is incelly/toxic/fragile masculinity, if you feel bad about it maybe reflect on that.

Youve gone with Mrs.Battle isnt a strong woman because she felt included by Hawthorn, pretty shitful line itself.

Ahh the old "If I've hit a nerve it must be true" angle.

Does Josh do what his wife tells him? Maybe. Did they have a conversation where she manipulated him? Maybe. Did they have a conversation that was genuinely 50/50? Maybe. Did Josh make the decision to move because he barracked for the Hawks as a kid? Maybe.

We are all free to speculate on things (and make jokes) because, as I said, we will never know the truth.

But only one of us is trying to bully people by calling them toxic and fragile...

Maybe you should reflect on that?

 

[phantom13]

Ahh the old "If I've hit a nerve it must be true" angle.

Does Josh do what his wife tells him? Maybe. Did they have a conversation where she manipulated him? Maybe. Did they have a conversation that was genuinely 50/50? Maybe. Did Josh make the decision to move because he barracked for the Hawks as a kid? Maybe.

We are all free to speculate on things (and make jokes) because, as I said, we will never know the truth.

But only one of us is trying to bully people by calling them toxic and fragile...

Maybe you should reflect on that?

Swing and a miss.

Im calling out specific speculation that hes whipped and that his wife is a weak woman.

Im not commenting on anything else and im not having a go at anyone speculating about anything else.

All the other scenarios being presented (boyhood club, move for success, move cause he prefers the colors) arent showing the kind of toxic masculinity and hatred of women that the bullshit im calling out do, hence they dont really warrant a response.

If its bullying to point out chauvinistic and anti women rhetoric then buy me a shirt with it on cause im happy to wear that label.

 

[L_W_P]

Swing and a miss.

Im calling out specific speculation that hes whipped and that his wife is a weak woman.

Im not commenting on anything else and im not having a go at anyone speculating about anything else.

All the other scenarios being presented (boyhood club, move for success, move cause he prefers the colors) arent showing the kind of toxic masculinity and hatred of women that the bullshit im calling out do, hence they dont really warrant a response.

If its bullying to point out chauvinistic and anti women rhetoric then buy me a shirt with it on cause im happy to wear that label.

Its not anti woman though?

If Josh was gay and his partner told him to move so they could hang in a different circle I'd still make fun of them.

You're the one jumping in to make it about "toxic masculinity" and "anti woman".

You'd probably call people homophobic if they called out a gay man though.

We're obviously not changing each other's positions, so this back and forth is basically for whoever comes along to read it but I hope people can read it all for the joke that it was.

On a serious note:

Can we get Nas a strong headed, family oriented, bayside based life partner? Someone that really loves him but also needs to live within walking distance of her parents place in Elwood?

 

[phantom13]

Its not anti woman though?

If Josh was gay and his partner told him to move so they could hang in a different circle I'd still make fun of them.

You're the one jumping in to make it about "toxic masculinity" and "anti woman".

You'd probably call people homophobic if they called out a gay man though.

We're obviously not changing each other's positions, so this back and forth is basically for whoever comes along to read it but I hope people can read it all for the joke that it was.

On a serious note:

Can we get Nas a strong headed, family oriented, bayside based life partner? Someone that really loves him but also needs to live within walking distance of her parents place in Elwood?

Fair enough, Ive perhaps missed the distinction between jokes and serious criticism (although i think even if it was jokes some are in poor taste).

 

[gringo2011]

It is toxic to be running the wife made him do it line.

Its pathetic to be perfectly frank, that whole line of argument is incelly/toxic/fragile masculinity, if you feel bad about it maybe reflect on that.

Youve gone with Mrs.Battle isnt a strong woman because she felt included by Hawthorn, pretty shitful line itself.

It's a coping mechanism. We can all still love the traitor as long as it's his ball and chain leading him by his balls and not disloyalty to the club.

 

[pebblesofsand]

AFL players spend about 10 to 15 hours a week at the club training - I would have thought that would give a player heaps of time to look after their treasured little darlings themselves rather than shunting them off to child care.

I suppose it better than having an ankle biter annoying you when all want to do is sit around in your trackie pants and play the latest video games online with your mates.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

It just didn't seem like a determined decision by Josh, he was acting a bit torn in the end, and strange things like wanting his kids to run out. It just seemed like part of him didn't want to go.

 

[phantom13]

AFL players spend about 10 to 15 hours a week at the club training - I would have thought that would give a player heaps of time to look after their treasured little darlings themselves rather than shunting them off to child care.

I suppose it better than having an ankle biter annoying you when all want to do is sit around in your trackie pants and play the latest video games online with your mates.

10-15 hours a week, not even close, VFL guys would be 10-15 hours a week.

 

[Armoooo]

Fair enough, Ive perhaps missed the distinction between jokes and serious criticism (although i think even if it was jokes some are in poor taste).

Nah you're spot on, the level of cope is insane.

We have no idea how Battle left the club, the text message stuff could be all as rumours.

We don't know exactly how much St Kilda or Hawthorn offered, or when St Kildas best offer was made.

We've got people ignoring the fact that St Kilda have made it very clear he was expendible in their view.

The idea that a players wife shouldn't be involved in these discussions is absolutely insane. It's his job, it's their family's future, what sort of pig would just tell his missus to keep her opinions to themselves.

The jokes and comments about Battle being whipped just make the posters on an internet forum look pathetic. You're seriously questioning the masculinity of Josh Battle, he'd eat anyone on here for breakfast.

He got offered a job by another employer that he wanted more, so he took it. End of discussion. He owed St Kilda absolutely nothing.

 

[L_W_P]

AFL players spend about 10 to 15 hours a week at the club training - I would have thought that would give a player heaps of time to look after their treasured little darlings themselves rather than shunting them off to child care.

I suppose it better than having an ankle biter annoying you when all want to do is sit around in your trackie pants and play the latest video games online with your mates.

Maybe deep down Josh & partner just hate children?

They know the "in" crowd would shun them if they put the kid up for adoption though so they go with the 'family' club to get all their childcare services sorted and free up time for parties?

That or the Hawks are paying for an Au Pair? Could be more to this than meets the eye if Mrs Battle was sold on the idea...

 

[L_W_P]

Nah you're spot on, the level of cope is insane.

We have no idea how Battle left the club, the text message stuff could be all as rumours.

We don't know exactly how much St Kilda or Hawthorn offered, or when St Kildas best offer was made.

We've got people ignoring the fact that St Kilda have made it very clear he was expendible in their view.

The idea that a players wife shouldn't be involved in these discussions is absolutely insane. It's his job, it's their family's future, what sort of pig would just tell his missus to keep her opinions to themselves.

The jokes and comments about Battle being whipped just make the posters on an internet forum look pathetic. You're seriously questioning the masculinity of Josh Battle, he'd eat anyone on here for breakfast.

He got offered a job by another employer that he wanted more, so he took it. End of discussion. He owed St Kilda absolutely nothing.

Breathe Armo.

The bad people can't hurt you.

What I will say is that your paragraph about including a partner in a conversation shows why these jokes/comments/speculative thoughts rile people up so much.

The idea that is has to be black or white. That people would either have a conversation or tell their partner to "shut up" is so far off the mark.

Any number of situations and variables come into play.

Did the Saints low ball Josh and push him out the door? Who knows?

Did Josh just want to pull on the Brown & Gold, no matter what? Who knows?

How much say did his partner have? Who knows?

He could have easily told her to shut up so that he could feel masculine enough to make the decision on his own and not because she asked/told him.

Maybe Josh Battle is so masculine that HE is actually the toxic one?

Maybe the Saints will be better off not having that woman hating bully influencing our younger group?

Maybe it's all just words and a bit of a piss take because we don't know what happened and it's funny to speculate?

At the end of the day Josh plays for the Hawks now so, with all respect and love, he can GAGF.

That's not bitter. It's banter.

 

[phantom13]

Breathe Armo.

The bad people can't hurt you.

What I will say is that your paragraph about including a partner in a conversation shows why these jokes/comments/speculative thoughts rile people up so much.

The idea that is has to be black or white. That people would either have a conversation or tell their partner to "shut up" is so far off the mark.

Any number of situations and variables come into play.

Did the Saints low ball Josh and push him out the door? Who knows?

Did Josh just want to pull on the Brown & Gold, no matter what? Who knows?

How much say did his partner have? Who knows?

He could have easily told her to shut up so that he could feel masculine enough to make the decision on his own and not because she asked/told him.

Maybe Josh Battle is so masculine that HE is actually the toxic one?

Maybe the Saints will be better off not having that woman hating bully influencing our younger group?

Maybe it's all just words and a bit of a piss take because we don't know what happened and it's funny to speculate?

At the end of the day Josh plays for the Hawks now so, with all respect and love, he can GAGF.

That's not bitter. It's banter.

Just pure coincidence that all the “banter” is about Josh’s wife wearing the pants and him being whipped.

Barely a single other joke about him preferring the colors or being childish for wanting to go to his boyhood club etc etc.

This one particular is a cracking gag.

“He could have easily told her to shut up so that he could feel masculine enough to make the decision on his own and not because she asked/told him.”

Why stop there, could have even given her a slap and told her to get back in the kitchen while he made the decision? After all, it’s all just bantz with the ladz anyway right? No harm done.

Anyway, Battle is now a hawks player, surely we can just graciously wish him well and move onto our own club yeh.

 

[L_W_P]

Anyway, Battle is now a hawks player, surely we can just graciously wish him well and move onto our own club yeh.

Agreed.

I'm sure he will do well with Barrass, Hardwick, Sicily etc carrying he load for him so that he can play 6ft off his man as a glorified Jason Cloke wannabe.