Ablett or Thompson

[Archangel]

Who are you more disappointed with?

Personally, I would say Thompson, not just from what he said earlier in the season about loyalty but also his attitude and persona during our finals campaign, where he didn't look like he gave a shit

Obviously both of them were in talks with their new clubs well before the end of the season and in my opinion are both 'DOGS' but I think Thompson is the bigger Dog

 

[TMS]

Disappointed to lose both, but probably more disappointed in the way the AFL forced the Ablett fiasco to play out.

Can't say without a doubt that Bomber's exhaustion and change of mind about coaching wasn't brought about by the Ablett/GC circus. For all we know, had things gone differently with Ablett earlier this year they may have also gone differently with Bomber.

Having said that, we move on - new coach, new ideas. Bring on 2011.

 

[BangBangBang]

Thompson... dont blame Ablett for setting himself up financially for life after all he gave us.

 

[silent butcher]

definately thompson the liar,so much for burnt out.Should of just told the truth and ablett just got a offer he couldnt refuse,money talks bullshit walks!!

 

[year of the cat]

I can understand why Ablett took the cash but was very disappointed that he took this path. I am over it now.

I can understand why Thompson finished up at Geelong if he was "exhausted".

I can't understand why Thompson would during 2010 publicly challenge Ablett's loyalty, resign with a year left on his contract, and jump to an assistant role at Essendon depite repeatedly denying that he would move there.

Although I am in no doubt that it is best for GFC that Thompson finished up this year, the manner in which he handled this was misguided at best.

I am most disappointed that a man who has steared us to the only two flags in my lifetime will now have his reputation and standing within our football club tarnished when it could easily have been avoided.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I am more disappointed with Bomber. Here's why:-

1) Ablett was out of contract, Bomber wasn't:- Gary Ablett did not walk out on a contract, he just didn't sign a new one with Geelong. He took another option instead. Like it or not, Gary Ablett fulfilled the conditions of his contract, but decided not to renew. Thommo was still under contract, but quit before meeting his full committment.

2) Ablett gave his all, even up to the last game, Bomber didn't:- Gary Ablett, even in the PF against Collingwood, tried his hardest, and was one of our better players. Despite knowing that he was leaving us, he still played well enough to finish second in the Brownlow. Bomber looked like he pulled the pin emotionally heading into the finals, and didn't give his all in the finals, I believe, meaning that he couldn't even make an effort to give his all up until the end of the season.

3) Ablett's defection wasn't a total surprise, Bomber's was:- It was speculated all season that Ablett may become a Sun, and as time went on, and he hadn't signed, it seemed more likely to most. No-one knew that Bomber would get out early, and the club thought that he would be coaching us in 2011.

4) Ablett didn't preach loyalty, Bomber did:- It wasn't Gary Ablett banging his chest and talking about staying loyal, and not letting down your club. It wasn't Ablett that went to the media and singled out Bomber for not being a "team man". Say what you want about Ablett, at least he wasn't a hypocrite.

5) Ablett was put into a position where he couldn't tell the truth, Bomber wasn't. Ablett wasn't able to say what he would do until after the season. He didn't decieve the club, and say he was staying, and then went. He just didn't say anything until his press conference. Bomber gave every impression that he would remain coach, and used a "burnout" excuse to get out of his contract, so that he could join Essendon. This is even worse if the story about having a "get-out" clause is true, as he could have invoked that and been honest, instead of lying.

6) Ablett put himself up to scrutiny, Bomber didn't. Gary Ablett announced his intentions at a public press conference, and put himself up to be criticised by Geelong fans for leaving. Bomber hasn't publicly announced anything, but has quietly slipped into Essendon, not facing the media or the club about why he joined Essendon, or putting himself up to possibly be criticized. Bomber took the coward's way out.

 

[vinum coupe]

More disappointed in Wells and Balme.
Where are the delistings !!!!!!!!!!!!

2 more needed for the retirement village.

 

[Reklaw]

As cut as I am that Bomber so blatantly lied to the executives in Geelong that supported him through the tough times, nothing can be gained from slagging him. He's the one that has to live with the choices he made and people will judge him for those choices.
In my mind, we are now better off with Scott then we would have been with Bomber.

 

[winty]

I chose Thompson, for basically all the reasons D_Henderson listed in his/her post.

 

[AM]

definately thompson the liar,so much for burnt out.Should of just told the truth and ablett just got a offer he couldnt refuse,money talks bullshit walks!!

And Ablett told us the truth? You're kidding! All that crap about being tormented about his decision for yonks then the revelation came while looking over the ocean after the season was over. It was then he heard the word, and the word was 'Suns' so he heeded the word. Makes me want to puke. He pulled the wool over our eyes (to use a Balmism) all year.

 

[alfy!]

Ablett. I don't really care about Thompson, he has to make a living I suppose.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

More disappointed with Thompson leaving in the way he did as it seriously damages his legacy at Geelong, but we needed Ablett more than we need Thompson.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I chose Thompson, for basically all the reasons D_Henderson listed in his/her post.

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It's in HIS posts.

 

[d_henderson1810]

And Ablett told us the truth? You're kidding! All that crap about being tormented about his decision for yonks then the revelation came while looking over the ocean after the season was over. It was then he heard the word, and the word was 'Suns' so he heeded the word. Makes me want to puke. He pulled the wool over our eyes (to use a Balmism) all year.

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You know for sure that Ablett signed with the Suns pre-season? Were you at the contract signing, or is it just blind loyalty to those "clarvoyant" media hacks with no agenda, like Sheahan and Wilson etc?

Maybe you can forsee the Tatts number for next week too, and then tell me what they are.

 

[randyzany]

The 2 are not even remotely alike.

Has Bomba moved to an equivalent position to a club and sold himself like a high-class whore for millions of dollars?

An amount 2 to 3 times more than any other club can realistically pay anybody else in a similar position.

Monies that actually belong to the all clubs in the league and not just immorally and unethically used to lure a money-hungry campaigner to a plastic shithole, who couldn’t wait to sing on the dotted line before some other player beat him to it that he quickly contacted GC Khunts officials within weeks of being part of a Premiership winning side.

Has Bomba tried to make out that it took him almost a year to come to a decision through weekly paper columns insisting how torn about it he was all the way through?

Has he insulted every Geelong player/supporter and their respective intelligence by claiming he had to accept this “new” challenge at GC so he could finally come out of his father’s shadow because everyone at Geelong supposedly constantly gave him stick about it? Oh and the obscene amount of money didn’t hurt but that was just an afterthought.

Etc, etc, etc…

Thank God the AFL decided to start up the GC hey GAJudas? Or else you would’ve have to kept suffering in silence playing for Geelong. Pheew what a relief that must have been!

F^ck off you ungrateful goofy smiling campaigner. You’ll get your just desserts sooner rather than later kiddo.

 

[Maydok]

I guess morally Thompson did the dirty on us, but practically, and emotionally, having the best player in the league, with the great Geelong name of Ablett leave us, cuts a lot deeper than Bomber doing 10 years then heading back to the club he grew up at.

One left his home.
The other returned to it.

I'd rather Gary back than Bomber.

 

[AM]

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You know for sure that Ablett signed with the Suns pre-season? Were you at the contract signing, or is it just blind loyalty to those "clarvoyant" media hacks with no agenda, like Sheahan and Wilson etc?

Maybe you can forsee the Tatts number for next week too, and then tell me what they are.

You see Hendo, you have this ability to verbal people. Where did I say 'signed'. Anyone who believes in the "revelation", probably also believes the earth is flat. Ablett took us for a ride. You didn't have to have any special insight to see it. All you had to do was follow the word trail of people in a position to know. Throw in a few things like flogging off the Ablett Geelong paraphernalia mid season while it still had some value and the picture was clear. But you're so besotted by him you can't see the wood for the trees.

 

[Archangel]

Be interesting to see his first press conference and how he handles himself

 

[darren forssman]

All you had to do was follow the word trail of people in a position to know.

the fact that he didnt want to sign and put it all off til the end of season knowing full well what geelong could/could not pay him with their restricted cap also made it pretty obvious.

 

[STC]

They both negotiated in secret behind the club's backs while they were supposed to be fully committed to Geelong. I am more upset about Ablett but I see no distinction between their conduct. Of course the biggest difference is that Ablett left his club that he had supported and played for all his life/career, while Thompson left to go to his club.

 

[re cat]

Ablett. I don't really care about Thompson, he has to make a living I suppose.

 

[Mooney_d'King]

FWIW, I feel that the biggest loss is Gary, but that the biggest disappointment was Bomber. Gary never lied about what he was going to do or really sent any mixed messages, whereas Bomber's statements about loyalty etc etc are hypocritical.

I still greatly appreciate Bomber's contribution to the club, but his messaging over the last year is now, in hindsight, wildly conflicting, which damages his integrity in the future.

 

[Conan Troutman]

For me it boils down to that Ablett left for more money, Thompson didn't.

I can understand someone leaving for money if you can't live comfortably in your current situation, but where I don't understand it is when you are already making very good money, and are set to make even more by staying. 800k vs 1.5M (or whatever) - I think when it gets to that stage (long before that stage), other priorities would be the main factor, for me anyway. It seems to me that he didn't see past the dollar sign.

Along with that, is that others had already sacrificed money. Not only with their contracts, but also their own earning potential by playing a lesser role in the team, which in turn helped Ablett to build his brand. So it's like a slap in the face to those people, who would have been on even less than Ablett, and still did it.

So yeah, for me, more disappointed with Ablett.

 

[Rustybugles]

As cut as I am that Bomber so blatantly lied to the executives in Geelong that supported him through the tough times, nothing can be gained from slagging him. He's the one that has to live with the choices he made and people will judge him for those choices.
In my mind, we are now better off with Scott then we would have been with Bomber.

Not the first time he has been dishonest. Jake Niall gave him a serve in today's Age - remember how much Bomber detested Caroline Wilson (regardless of your opinion of her) because she all but called him a liar in 2007 about his lack of accountability in 2006 and his refusal, initially, to be part of the review of the whole club - and he was in total denial!
Good riddance to him. We can appreciate his contribution to two flags but Geelong will survive and thrive without him.

 

[hamG]

Bomber has bent everybody so wrong that in my opinion Ablett almost looks like a victim ... even though of course him leaving more than likely had 0 to do with the coach at all. It's just the way perspective twists things around.