Jeff Wells

[robbieando]

Looking back at all the reply's in the original thread, I believe Wells is making something out of nothing. 3 or 4 posters said they didn't like Wells, either because as Charlie put it "but he uses so many bloody anecdotes, analogies and cliches that he is unreadable. I've yet to actually get through one of his articles." or as Mike put it "IMHO Wells doesn't deserve respect from anyone - the guy is paid to write negative nonsensical crap and I wouldn't use the page his column is written on to wipe my bum." Really two extreams, most other fell in between those two posters views.

Really Jeff, your attacking an entire messageboard of over 300 members, on the words of 2 posters who are as equally entitled to their opinion as you yourself are and are at pains to point out in todays article. Yet at the same time you have a poster like Go Swannies who wrote in praise "At least Jeff can write well while most footy experts seem to be producing an early exercise in remedial writing." He went on to say that a Jeff Wells article is "Kinda the same appreciation of craftsmanship as watching Bazza run into a barely discernible lead and take a perfect chest mark." and not even acknowledge that they are some who like what you write. Heck within the same thread a debated started up with people defending you, yet no menton of that. You just paint us with the same brush.

Basically most people who replyed to the article, in fact supported the article because as hemsleys put it "HARSH!!, but sadly very true." While others who prised the article at the same time made valid points, such as your claims that the Eagles are a bunch of bums, DST said that in doing so that "actually belittles what he is trying to get across as he comes off as a novice" and "Anyone with a midfield quartet of Cousins, Judd, Kerr and Fletcher on their home turf are not bums"

Again I don't even know what the fuss is about and to be honest, the article was just a poor excuse of taking the higher ground. Because what Wells complained about in today's article is basically what he did in response to our views on the old article and Wells himself.

[Rob-bloods]

I have to admit even in the dark old times when the Swans received almost no coverage whatsoever, I never did read the the 'Tele', although it frankly seems unlikely to me that Jeff Wells was a torch bearer for us for years!

Hacks like Wells are failed 'serious' writers, who end up writing for a 'comic' like the Tele, greatly value their own opinion and see the world through the bottom of a glass.

What he writes and thinks of us is immaterial. But if he can get paid to write this twaddle, you guys can certainly respond.

Methinks the old grubstreeter protest too much!

[swan_song]

I wouldn't worry too much about what the tabloid press has to say. It was only a few years ago that they showed so little regard for australian rules football that the dinkus (that's a graphic device) they used on the results page was of a set of rugby goal posts. So much for the press...

[NMWBloods]

I assumed he was using the article to have a dig at those chardonnay-sipping supporters that we don't like who have little interest in the team and clap even when we're doing badly. Not sure whether he read the board or whether someone told him about it, but he may have misinterpreted what was on here or perhaps simply using it to have a chance to have a dig at those fair-weather Sydney supporters who aren't really passionate (which basically excludes pretty much most people here).

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by monopoly19
He is the only name I can come up with when I try to recall a Sydney-based AFL columnist. That says something, I think.

I always find his columns entertaining (Just Barry Hall!) and today was not really any different, though I was surprised he would care enough to even consider writing what he did in regards to this board.

He's getting the Swans out there - that's all that matters, IMHO.

We all know journos have very fragile egos. Kinda of like artistes but with sub-editors multilating their "creations" on a daily basis.

I enjoy Jeff Wells' posts. I generally find myself agreeing with a lot of what he writes. Yeah, he bags the Swans when they are crap. But don't we do that here? It also shows he cares for not only footy but the Swans by bothering to give them constant attention.

He is a Sydneysider yet has been brought up on following football. I respect him far more than I do Tim Morrissey, who's idea of football is very limited. Several of us spent a whole flight from Brisbane saying that Saddington wasn't a loss to the team after injuring himself at the Gabba. Then the very next day in the Terror he basically said that Saddington was a waste of space anyway. Hmm.

Even if he has a go at RWO (can somebody PLEASE post a link?), I enjoy the fact that even when we ARE crap he is giving us attention, which even when we aren't going well is the most important thing in this choosy sports market we live in.

Here we show once again the importance of unofficial websites like RWO. Not only do we have the journalists of this world sniffing around here to check out the latest issues but the way us supporters react to them.

And as mentioned previously, we have club board members lurking on RWO reading what we write every day. Hence if a club staff member acts unprofessionally (as sadly HAS been the case over recent weeks), the RIGHT people get to see that it has happened, so that it NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN!

Jeff Wells is coming HERE for his possible next story. Judging from the fact that my post about Peter's trip to WA by car hit the SMH, I know others are reading RWO. We should be chuffed. It brings a smirk to my face, I can tell you. I can feel the power oozing through my fingers like sand at Bilgola, LOL.In giving us a public blast he has given us free advertising. So get to it Jeff, you pea-eyed mysogenist myopic whinging thin-skinned sexist pig? We hate you, rot in hell!

JF

PS:- Things could be worse, you could be the ever-stunning shemale-from-hell Caroline Wilson!!!

[Schneidergirl]

Swans' rat pack

Here we go my fellow chat rats. I've just typed out the part about RWOnliners. Enjoy
"....
But there is one group of fans I would like to see crawling away, preferably over broken chardonnay bottles, like a bunch of smug mugs who have suddenly copped rabid ferret reality bites on the bum and learned what being a football fan has to be like at times. I call them Collingwood North.
They are arrivistes who suddenly know everything and treat their players like untouchable darlings. I would invite them to go live in bleak Geelong, where they haven?t won a flag since 1963. Or some American city where the fans sit with paper bags over their heads- because it just isn?t good enough.
I was altered to them on a Swans fans website, where I have copped a hammering for daring to criticise anything about the lovely little Swannies.
Since the mid 80s, when Tom Hefey has the team and only 6000 blood- stained wretches came to the games, in Sydney papers I have given the Swans hectares of space that would have gone to rugby league, because I desperately wanted the code to flourish.
What a waste of time and effort on so many boofheads. Some are just plonkers who can?t distinguish a column from a news report. But for the seriously twisted and over- caffeinated turkeys the Swans are now beyond criticism, even when they disappoint their coach.
They get applauded for losing quarters. One hard word and, the chat rats rant, you have no RIGHT to be given space in a newspaper. You know nothing about the game. You must be a News Limited rugby league stooge hired to put Aussie rules down.
These drongos ought to try being a rugby league fan in Melbourne and see how many pages a week they get in the press. But, at the risk of deluding these clowns even further, can Sydney match up to St Kilda right now?
..."

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Re: Swans' rat pack

Originally posted by Schneidergirl
Here we go my fellow chat rats. I've just typed out the part about RWOnliners. Enjoy
"....
But there is one group of fans I would like to see crawling away, preferably over broken chardonnay bottles, like a bunch of smug mugs who have suddenly copped rabid ferret reality bites on the bum and learned what being a football fan has to be like at times. I call them Collingwood North.
They are arrivistes who suddenly know everything and treat their players like untouchable darlings. I would invite them to go live in bleak Geelong, where they haven?t won a flag since 1963. Or some American city where the fans sit with paper bags over their heads- because it just isn?t good enough.
I was altered to them on a Swans fans website, where I have copped a hammering for daring to criticise anything about the lovely little Swannies.
..."

Gee Jeff, I give you a rap and you write dribble like this rot. Gee, no wonder society is so screwed, sweeping statements galore, yet trying in some twisted way trying to link drinking chardonnay and associating this with "Collingwood north". Um, mate I'm from Sydney so I know nothing about football you see. Bt I thought that Collingwood supporters drank moonshine not white wine.

But it kind of strikes me as the typical scenario you get in the football culture (outside of the one in the press box, with its freshly-cut sandwiches and cups of Twinings at the click of a mere finger). If I abuse my team and players, then that is ok because they are my team. But if Jeff Wells does is as a supposedly detached position as a columist, he is seen as the anti-christ, even if he is thinking very much exactly what we are thinking. It is exactly the same when opposition footy supporters abuse your team; your sub-consciously try and defend them, even if you have been rubbishing them only minutes before.

All this proves that at somebody reads the Terror. Just wish I could rip it up and use it at the footy like Cheer Squads of yesteryear used to.

JF

[Captain]

I agree with Jeff that so many on this site never have a bad work to say about a player.

I have commented on the performances of Saddo, Fosdike, Maxfield and Mathews this year and ever time I'm shot down in flames for having a go at someones favourite little player.

Most of the time, those doing the shooting were nowhere to be seen during the 80's and early 90's. Wells has it right and understandably so considering those with the strongest opinions are post 96 chardonnay sippers.

[stellation]

Originally posted by Captain
I agree with Jeff that so many on this site never have a bad work to say about a player.

I have commented on the performances of Saddo, Fosdike, Maxfield and Mathews this year and ever time I'm shot down in flames for having a go at someones favourite little player.

Most of the time, those doing the shooting were nowhere to be seen during the 80's and early 90's. Wells has it right and understandably so considering those with the strongest opinions are post 96 chardonnay sippers.

Matthews has annoyed me a bit this year... I realize he looks to have taken a next step and is picking up a lot of disposals, but I just don't know how smart a lot of his disposals are.

[mja]

Prior to this article I always thought Jeff Wells was a great journo. In fact his work in following the old Commonwealth Bank cycling classic was very best of breed... ie good insights in an obscure sport.

I am not sure that I have changed my opinion that much... And hey he is writing about the Swans ... there (almost) 'aint no such thing as bad publicity...

Save the agro for those "Saints" today!

At least the match should be better than the 2nd worst gave I have ever seen ie that Telstra Dome debacle a few years back

[Charlie]

What amuses me is that there isn't a genuine 'chardonnay-sipping' fan who only goes when they're winning here.

Jeff - I know you'll be reading this thread. You do an ok job of hyping the games. I don't personally like your work, and I'd probably prefer if you left the match reports to someone else. But stick to what the others like, and don't go ranting and raving everytime you get some negative comments on a website. You're a big boy, you can handle it.

[DST]

My two cents worth:

Jeff living in Melbourne I don't get access to your column all the time, which means I am not in a position to comment more broadly on what you do and have done to contribute to Australian Rules in Sydney, But I do know you have been a loyal and strong supporter of our club and the game in Sydney over many years.

While you make some valid points and ask the questions that should have been asked in the mentioned article, your tone and style relating to the West Coast Eagles did nothing more than belittle them and void your arguement as a whole as you sounded like a novice.

I am sure if you had your time over again you would have selected your tone and style differently when referring to the Eagles.

Why not write about that in your column and leave us alone. Unless you are man enought to sign up and contribute to this great forum.

DST

[dawson]

Unless you are man enought to sign up and contribute to this great forum.

Its funny that you say that. Just spoke to Jeff - he finished writing columns in a few weeks and there after will sign up.

[chammond]

Originally posted by dawson
Its funny that you say that. Just spoke to Jeff - he finished writing columns in a few weeks and there after will sign up.

Are you saying he's retiring soon?

[dawson]

Originally posted by chammond
Are you saying he's retiring soon?

According to him - Yes.