Opinion Commentary & Media VII

[Liam Boy]

It’s good of the club to state Happy Lunar New Year on its social media platforms. I think all the Chinese players that have represented the club….past, present & emerging would have deeply appreciated it

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic but I'm going to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the first Chinese North Melbourne player, Les Kew Ming:

NMFC Archives: Les Kew Ming

NMFC.com.au delves into the archives again and looks back at an influential Chinese footballer.

www.nmfc.com.au

By Rob Burton

Few people would have heard of Leslie Henry Kew Ming, but in an era remembered for the White Australia policy, he was a pioneer for multiculturalism.

Kew Ming’s father had emigrated from China, while his mother’s parents were Chinese and Scottish.

He was in born in 1897 in St Arnaud, and while historians point to the caution with which the locals treated the Chinese, Kew Ming’s prowess from an early age as a footballer and cricketer helped him fit in.

His sporting ambitions were put on hold when he enlisted for World War I and at just 19 years of age, he was one of 200 men of Chinese descent to fight with the First Australian Imperial Force.

Kew Ming travelled to Europe and it seemed his talents weren’t just confined to sport. Within six months of enlisting, he had been promoted to Corporal and soon after, he was awarded a Military Medal for bravery for leading a team that was building a communication trench under heavy fire.

At 22, he returned to Australia keen to continue playing football. After a premiership at Wedderburn, he was scouted by North Melbourne; then one of the powerhouse clubs in the VFA, which incidentally coincided with the introduction of a new uniform.

George Rawle was captain-coach, and North won 13 of 18 games in the 1922 season, with Kew Ming playing half-back.

Like Wally Koochew, who played for Carlton in 1908, he regularly put up with racial abuse, but simply got on with the game.

Kew Ming was an influential player known for his long kicking, but the team ultimately fell short as Port Melbourne defeated North by 26 points in the Final.

Remarkably, just two of the players that lined up in 1922 were in the team that was runner-up just two years earlier. In 1921, the club had disbanded and virtually rebuilt itself.

Kew Ming’s VFA career was short-lived. He broke his collarbone in 1923 which put an early end to his season. But his impact on breaking down barriers was profound.

In 1925 he won the Shepparton Gift and three years later, he won 50 pounds in a Sporting Globe kicking competition. He amazingly booted a drop kick 66.7 metres and a punt 68.4 metres.

Kew Ming was a key instigator in paving the way for the embracing of the many cultures represented in our game today.

 

[Mcarcherey]

Find me a single example of someone on the "inclusive" side of society who supported Haneen Zreika's decision not to play in pride round.

Old man conservatives ******* love to point to hypocrisy that simply doesn't exist. Nobody on the left supports conservative religious bigotry.

i couldn't find you an example, because they didn't support it...

old man? mate i'm younger than you and it's clear too because you clearly have dementia. inlcusivity means to include all cultures and religions, of which many have beef with eachother. then on top of that religion as a collective don't support homosexuality, not to mention everything else.

i'm far from relgious, conservative or old, i'm just pointing out the obvious.

to return to the original point, either every intersectional group of society is acknowledged by the club, or none. can't have it both ways.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

the military and pharmaceutical industrial complexes and the fact only 2 political factions have been in power for the last century are bankrolled by the richest and most powerful coroporations on earth are facts, not political.

so i'm on the side of facts?

You know the British empire were globalists yeah?

Don’t gaslight with this stuff. For all of you, it’s mainly vaccines and immigrants.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Mcarcherey]

You know the British empire were globalists yeah?

Don’t gaslight with this stuff. For all of you, it’s mainly vaccines and immigrants.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

you seriously can't be comparing the royal family in the 1700's to what globalists are today....the term 'comparing apples to oranges' wouldn't even do it justice....

you're not making any sense now 'it's mainly vaccines and immigrants' - wut?

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

you seriously can't be comparing the royal family in the 1700's to what globalists are today....the term 'comparing apples to oranges' wouldn't even do it justice....

you're not making any sense now 'it's mainly vaccines and immigrants' - wut?

What do you mean by globalist?


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[apollo_creed]

I'm not upset, but you're a fool if you can't understand why others are upset.

You're further proof that you think you're on the correct side and the other is wrong. You're both a stupid as each other.

On Pixel 6 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Nope dude. I have better things to worry about in my life.

You’re the one who is complaining about a harmless social media post, not me.

 

[ferball]

a higher standard of living isn't good?

colonists in comparison to those before them in less developed societies weren't too bad if their are still first nations that exist today. before those times it would've been complete genocide, so it was relatively progressive for the 1700's. you think tribes within australia didn't compoletely wipe out enemy tribes? or do you think australia was utopia before the english arrived?

Standard of living was higher in Australia than Europe when the invasion happened.

 

[Mcarcherey]

Nope dude. I have better things to worry about in my life.

You’re the one who is complaining about a harmless social media post, not me.

nope, i'm responding to all the ppl triggered on here about other complaining - both sides can't see how stupid they look

 

[Mcarcherey]

Standard of living was higher in Australia than Europe when the invasion happened

no it wasn't. many were starving to the point of infanticide. a hunter gather lifestyle isn't a higher standard of living compared to agriculture and farming, it's why so few live that way today when their is a much smarter and easier way of life.

 

[Frank Thring]

As a descendant of Italian heritage I will be pretty pissed off if the club does not acknowledge Prosciutto Day in mid April.

What's good for the goose ..........

That's cancel membership territory

 

[Marstermind]

Anyhoo...In other Commentary & Media matters....

Ralph: Why North needed statement of loyalty from Zurhaar now more than ever​

After being at the front of the line to kick Jason Horne-Francis out of North Melbourne, Cam Zurhaar declining to pledge his future to the Roos puts a target on his back, writes Jon Ralph.


Kevin Bartlett often proclaims that lying is footy’s second language.
From outright lies to vague mistruths, deceit comes easy in football where controlling the flow of information over injuries, trades or tactics is a competitive advantage.
In a game where BS is commonplace, Cam Zurhaar only needed to tell what Richmond great Bartlett called a ‘footy fib’ on Friday to make his life a hell of a lot easier this season.
At a press conference where his future as a free agent was the only real agenda item, he pointedly declined to pledge his future to the North Melbourne football club.
He talked about loving his time at the club and being sick of losing, but never quite uttered the sentence that he wanted to stay.

Cam Zurhaar hasn’t pledged himself to the Roos yet. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
To put it bluntly, Zurhaar kicked Jason Horne-Francis on the way out of Arden Street with a series of Insta posts using the expression “Hornetgone” and commenting “Elite” with a fire emoji when the Roos confirmed their No. 1 pick had been traded.
Zurhaar has every right to postpone his contract talks, field multiple offers and even jump ship like Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

before him as a restricted free agent.
But given his public stance on Horne-Francis’ disloyalty, going through an entire season so obviously undecided about his future only puts a target on his back.
It would have been the tiniest footy fib to state emphatically that he wanted to re-sign at North Melbourne while being vague about the actual timing of his commitment.

A statement of loyalty would have also have shown real leadership at a time when the Roos are crying out for senior players to stand up in what shapes as another season of distraction.
As this masthead reported on Friday, the AFL is set to hand down its finding on Tarryn Thomas

26

Tarryn Thomas

Age

24

Ht

190cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

5.3

2star

HB

5.7

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

3.3

5star

CL

0.9

3star

D

7.8

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

1.3

1star

T

3.2

4star

CL

0.2

2star

D

12.8

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

0.4

3star

’ latest allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women in coming days.
The Roos are bracing for punishment and given how many chances he was afforded by the club and AFL last year, if the allegations are upheld he can expect to be sidelined for some time.

Tarryn Thomas

26

Tarryn Thomas

Age

24

Ht

190cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

5.3

2star

HB

5.7

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

3.3

5star

CL

0.9

3star

D

7.8

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

1.3

1star

T

3.2

4star

CL

0.2

2star

D

12.8

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

0.4

3star

’ future remains unclear. Picture: Brendan Beckett
North Melbourne’s football department and leadership need some clear air to highlight the gains they have made with a new improving list and coaching department.
Instead they have to endure more turmoil while potentially missing an elite player in Thomas who in his final six weeks averaged six clearances, five tackles, nearly a goal a game and 93 ranking points.
That public declaration of faith from Zurhaar wouldn’t have impacted rival offers, wouldn’t have locked him into staying, wouldn’t have set up cries of hypocrisy if he did leave.
Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

repeatedly said all the right things about staying last year then let his contract drift until it was beneficial for both parties if he departed given the compensation pick.
Zurhaar is in an identical position.
If the Roos do finish bottom three he can depart having claimed they didn’t do enough to prove they were on the right track, and North Melbourne would likely secure a top-five compensation pick.

A career year could await for the dynamic Roo. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Securing compensation attached to a first-round pick will be more challenging than last year under new salaries – likely $900,000 per year for the contract of the departing free agent.
But as a powerful mid-forward who can tackle, kick goals and win explosive clearances someone might pay that price in a very shallow free agency pool.

So this is a career year in many ways for 25-year-old Zurhaar given the chance to set up his life post-football like McKay and Jade Gresham

11

Jade Gresham

Age

27

Ht

177cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

7.2

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.8

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.0

3star

G

0.5

4star

D

11.8

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.4

3star

last October.
He might just let his football do the talking then sign a bumper deal to stay under Alastair Clarkson despite huge rival interest.
But fuelling the perception he could be out the door cannot help focus his mind ahead of the most important eight months of his footballing life.

 

[apollo_creed]

nope, i'm responding to all the ppl triggered on here about other complaining - both sides can't see how stupid they look

But that’s entirely the point. People are complaining about the club’s ‘happy lunar new year’ post. It’s pathetic and sad.

 

[Mcarcherey]

But that’s entirely the point. People are complaining about the club’s ‘happy lunar new year’ post. It’s pathetic and sad.

If the club had put out a celebratory post about australia day would you call those complaining about it pathertic and sad?

 

[Kanga Glory]

Anyhoo...In other Commentary & Media matters....

Ralph: Why North needed statement of loyalty from Zurhaar now more than ever​

After being at the front of the line to kick Jason Horne-Francis out of North Melbourne, Cam Zurhaar declining to pledge his future to the Roos puts a target on his back, writes Jon Ralph.


Kevin Bartlett often proclaims that lying is footy’s second language.
From outright lies to vague mistruths, deceit comes easy in football where controlling the flow of information over injuries, trades or tactics is a competitive advantage.
In a game where BS is commonplace, Cam Zurhaar only needed to tell what Richmond great Bartlett called a ‘footy fib’ on Friday to make his life a hell of a lot easier this season.
At a press conference where his future as a free agent was the only real agenda item, he pointedly declined to pledge his future to the North Melbourne football club.
He talked about loving his time at the club and being sick of losing, but never quite uttered the sentence that he wanted to stay.

Cam Zurhaar hasn’t pledged himself to the Roos yet. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
To put it bluntly, Zurhaar kicked Jason Horne-Francis on the way out of Arden Street with a series of Insta posts using the expression “Hornetgone” and commenting “Elite” with a fire emoji when the Roos confirmed their No. 1 pick had been traded.
Zurhaar has every right to postpone his contract talks, field multiple offers and even jump ship like Ben McKay before him as a restricted free agent.
But given his public stance on Horne-Francis’ disloyalty, going through an entire season so obviously undecided about his future only puts a target on his back.
It would have been the tiniest footy fib to state emphatically that he wanted to re-sign at North Melbourne while being vague about the actual timing of his commitment.

A statement of loyalty would have also have shown real leadership at a time when the Roos are crying out for senior players to stand up in what shapes as another season of distraction.
As this masthead reported on Friday, the AFL is set to hand down its finding on Tarryn Thomas’ latest allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women in coming days.
The Roos are bracing for punishment and given how many chances he was afforded by the club and AFL last year, if the allegations are upheld he can expect to be sidelined for some time.

Tarryn Thomas’ future remains unclear. Picture: Brendan Beckett
North Melbourne’s football department and leadership need some clear air to highlight the gains they have made with a new improving list and coaching department.
Instead they have to endure more turmoil while potentially missing an elite player in Thomas who in his final six weeks averaged six clearances, five tackles, nearly a goal a game and 93 ranking points.
That public declaration of faith from Zurhaar wouldn’t have impacted rival offers, wouldn’t have locked him into staying, wouldn’t have set up cries of hypocrisy if he did leave.
Ben McKay repeatedly said all the right things about staying last year then let his contract drift until it was beneficial for both parties if he departed given the compensation pick.
Zurhaar is in an identical position.
If the Roos do finish bottom three he can depart having claimed they didn’t do enough to prove they were on the right track, and North Melbourne would likely secure a top-five compensation pick.

A career year could await for the dynamic Roo. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Securing compensation attached to a first-round pick will be more challenging than last year under new salaries – likely $900,000 per year for the contract of the departing free agent.
But as a powerful mid-forward who can tackle, kick goals and win explosive clearances someone might pay that price in a very shallow free agency pool.

So this is a career year in many ways for 25-year-old Zurhaar given the chance to set up his life post-football like McKay and Jade Gresham last October.
He might just let his football do the talking then sign a bumper deal to stay under Alastair Clarkson despite huge rival interest.
But fuelling the perception he could be out the door cannot help focus his mind ahead of the most important eight months of his footballing life.

The truck , back it up Ralph at it again.
He is just a low feeding looking for a story jurno.
Click bait chunt

 

[Marstermind]

The truck , back it up Ralph at it again.
He is just a low feeding looking for a story jurno.
Click bait chunt

It's a fascinating article where a journalist is basically asking players to lie to them, and the public, when speaking on the record to them.

Mind-boggling.

 

[Gasometer]

In the words of the great one, it’s three days to Valentines Day and everybody should LUB, LUB, LUBbbbb

 

[giantroo]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic but I'm going to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the first Chinese North Melbourne player, Les Kew Ming:

NMFC Archives: Les Kew Ming

NMFC.com.au delves into the archives again and looks back at an influential Chinese footballer.

www.nmfc.com.au

By Rob Burton

Whilst in the VFL, we have Connor Downie with Chinese heritage.

Could a Next Gen Hawk become the AFL's answer to Yao Ming?

Connor Downie is proud of his Chinese heritage and would love to help promote the game overseas

www.afl.com.au

 

[Chadwiko]

Who gives a sh!t about aus day and first fleet.

Australia Day has only been an official public holiday since 1994, and marks the day the First Fleet claimed this Land for Britain.

Since I am not British, I don't really care much about the day to be honest.

 

[Mr_Nyah]

Haven’t been on Bigfooty much because of how unpleasant it’s become. Click on this thread and the first thing I see is a political sh!tfight. Guess I won’t be logging onto Bigfooty for a few more months.

 

[czero]

I mean, we dont need him say anything.

We just need him to perform, and if the team also performs and it looks like the climb has started then I think he and the club will have plenty of reason to do something beneficial for all.

 

[Liam Boy]

Anyhoo...In other Commentary & Media matters....

Ralph: Why North needed statement of loyalty from Zurhaar now more than ever​

After being at the front of the line to kick Jason Horne-Francis out of North Melbourne, Cam Zurhaar declining to pledge his future to the Roos puts a target on his back, writes Jon Ralph.


Kevin Bartlett often proclaims that lying is footy’s second language.
From outright lies to vague mistruths, deceit comes easy in football where controlling the flow of information over injuries, trades or tactics is a competitive advantage.
In a game where BS is commonplace, Cam Zurhaar only needed to tell what Richmond great Bartlett called a ‘footy fib’ on Friday to make his life a hell of a lot easier this season.
At a press conference where his future as a free agent was the only real agenda item, he pointedly declined to pledge his future to the North Melbourne football club.
He talked about loving his time at the club and being sick of losing, but never quite uttered the sentence that he wanted to stay.

Cam Zurhaar hasn’t pledged himself to the Roos yet. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
To put it bluntly, Zurhaar kicked Jason Horne-Francis on the way out of Arden Street with a series of Insta posts using the expression “Hornetgone” and commenting “Elite” with a fire emoji when the Roos confirmed their No. 1 pick had been traded.
Zurhaar has every right to postpone his contract talks, field multiple offers and even jump ship like Ben McKay before him as a restricted free agent.
But given his public stance on Horne-Francis’ disloyalty, going through an entire season so obviously undecided about his future only puts a target on his back.
It would have been the tiniest footy fib to state emphatically that he wanted to re-sign at North Melbourne while being vague about the actual timing of his commitment.

A statement of loyalty would have also have shown real leadership at a time when the Roos are crying out for senior players to stand up in what shapes as another season of distraction.
As this masthead reported on Friday, the AFL is set to hand down its finding on Tarryn Thomas’ latest allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women in coming days.
The Roos are bracing for punishment and given how many chances he was afforded by the club and AFL last year, if the allegations are upheld he can expect to be sidelined for some time.

Tarryn Thomas’ future remains unclear. Picture: Brendan Beckett
North Melbourne’s football department and leadership need some clear air to highlight the gains they have made with a new improving list and coaching department.
Instead they have to endure more turmoil while potentially missing an elite player in Thomas who in his final six weeks averaged six clearances, five tackles, nearly a goal a game and 93 ranking points.
That public declaration of faith from Zurhaar wouldn’t have impacted rival offers, wouldn’t have locked him into staying, wouldn’t have set up cries of hypocrisy if he did leave.
Ben McKay repeatedly said all the right things about staying last year then let his contract drift until it was beneficial for both parties if he departed given the compensation pick.
Zurhaar is in an identical position.
If the Roos do finish bottom three he can depart having claimed they didn’t do enough to prove they were on the right track, and North Melbourne would likely secure a top-five compensation pick.

A career year could await for the dynamic Roo. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Securing compensation attached to a first-round pick will be more challenging than last year under new salaries – likely $900,000 per year for the contract of the departing free agent.
But as a powerful mid-forward who can tackle, kick goals and win explosive clearances someone might pay that price in a very shallow free agency pool.

So this is a career year in many ways for 25-year-old Zurhaar given the chance to set up his life post-football like McKay and Jade Gresham last October.
He might just let his football do the talking then sign a bumper deal to stay under Alastair Clarkson despite huge rival interest.
But fuelling the perception he could be out the door cannot help focus his mind ahead of the most important eight months of his footballing life.

Just straight up lying about the interview. He shut down the questions about his contract by reversing it to be about him wanting to work hard enough to deserve a contract from the club. He took personal responsiblity for the position the club's in with regard to wins, and specifically said he's part of the senior group now and he wants to lead the younger guys forward. He's no Ben McKay. Just fundamentally different people.

 

[Dan]

Anyhoo...In other Commentary & Media matters....

Ralph: Why North needed statement of loyalty from Zurhaar now more than ever​

After being at the front of the line to kick Jason Horne-Francis out of North Melbourne, Cam Zurhaar declining to pledge his future to the Roos puts a target on his back, writes Jon Ralph.


Kevin Bartlett often proclaims that lying is footy’s second language.
From outright lies to vague mistruths, deceit comes easy in football where controlling the flow of information over injuries, trades or tactics is a competitive advantage.
In a game where BS is commonplace, Cam Zurhaar only needed to tell what Richmond great Bartlett called a ‘footy fib’ on Friday to make his life a hell of a lot easier this season.
At a press conference where his future as a free agent was the only real agenda item, he pointedly declined to pledge his future to the North Melbourne football club.
He talked about loving his time at the club and being sick of losing, but never quite uttered the sentence that he wanted to stay.

Cam Zurhaar hasn’t pledged himself to the Roos yet. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
To put it bluntly, Zurhaar kicked Jason Horne-Francis on the way out of Arden Street with a series of Insta posts using the expression “Hornetgone” and commenting “Elite” with a fire emoji when the Roos confirmed their No. 1 pick had been traded.
Zurhaar has every right to postpone his contract talks, field multiple offers and even jump ship like Ben McKay before him as a restricted free agent.
But given his public stance on Horne-Francis’ disloyalty, going through an entire season so obviously undecided about his future only puts a target on his back.
It would have been the tiniest footy fib to state emphatically that he wanted to re-sign at North Melbourne while being vague about the actual timing of his commitment.

A statement of loyalty would have also have shown real leadership at a time when the Roos are crying out for senior players to stand up in what shapes as another season of distraction.
As this masthead reported on Friday, the AFL is set to hand down its finding on Tarryn Thomas’ latest allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women in coming days.
The Roos are bracing for punishment and given how many chances he was afforded by the club and AFL last year, if the allegations are upheld he can expect to be sidelined for some time.

Tarryn Thomas’ future remains unclear. Picture: Brendan Beckett
North Melbourne’s football department and leadership need some clear air to highlight the gains they have made with a new improving list and coaching department.
Instead they have to endure more turmoil while potentially missing an elite player in Thomas who in his final six weeks averaged six clearances, five tackles, nearly a goal a game and 93 ranking points.
That public declaration of faith from Zurhaar wouldn’t have impacted rival offers, wouldn’t have locked him into staying, wouldn’t have set up cries of hypocrisy if he did leave.
Ben McKay repeatedly said all the right things about staying last year then let his contract drift until it was beneficial for both parties if he departed given the compensation pick.
Zurhaar is in an identical position.
If the Roos do finish bottom three he can depart having claimed they didn’t do enough to prove they were on the right track, and North Melbourne would likely secure a top-five compensation pick.

A career year could await for the dynamic Roo. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Securing compensation attached to a first-round pick will be more challenging than last year under new salaries – likely $900,000 per year for the contract of the departing free agent.
But as a powerful mid-forward who can tackle, kick goals and win explosive clearances someone might pay that price in a very shallow free agency pool.

So this is a career year in many ways for 25-year-old Zurhaar given the chance to set up his life post-football like McKay and Jade Gresham last October.
He might just let his football do the talking then sign a bumper deal to stay under Alastair Clarkson despite huge rival interest.
But fuelling the perception he could be out the door cannot help focus his mind ahead of the most important eight months of his footballing life.

Z leaving doesn't excuse or validate Judas.....strange article.

 

[Lomas]

Haven’t been on Bigfooty much because of how unpleasant it’s become. Click on this thread and the first thing I see is a political sh!tfight. Guess I won’t be logging onto Bigfooty for a few more months.

I’m with you, it seems to be getting like this in every thread.
All the ‘non footy threads’, where people actually get along, are moved to purgatory, and the ‘footy’ threads remaining are consistently derailed as soon as someone can attach a bit of baiting to a topic.

 

[RHLK]

FFS, take the culture wars to Twitter/Z, that's what it's there for.

 

[Makeshift Park]

But as a powerful mid-forward who can tackle, kick goals and win explosive clearances someone might pay that price in a very shallow free agency pool.

Compared to the past few years, is it really "a very shallow free agency pool" when you have McCluggage, English, Witts, Battle, Nankervis, McGrath, Henry, and Stengle available, to say nothing of the oldie UFA types like Libba, Haynes and Dusty?