Docker Debacle

[Mug Punter]

Not sure what the final score but if ever the mercy rule should have been adopted it was today at Drummoyne. Fail to see how anyone down there can put a positive spin on today's efforts.

A complete and utter debacle. Unlike the first home game where they had competitive patches today they were not at the races. Worryingly, Davis looked very disinterested and was totally outplayed by Physick, can't see Davo seeing the season out on today's body language. He's clearly their best player and really is wasted at FF getting 4 or 5 touches a game, why not throw him a bit closer to the action?

Fosdike looked very much at half-time like a man who had been sold a pup. Think I am right in that he didn't even give the half time speech today. Assume it was that he couldn't be bothered as he didn't really look that angry. Assume he will continue to pick up his paycheck for the rest of the season.

The Tiges had a couple of decent players though. Thought their young defender Number 2 looked good though clearly too young at this stage and their nippy little 11 looked OK. A few injuries won't help their cause either wiith the Fat Schmidt look-a-like (24) busted as well as the gobby bald bloke (13). BIGSHOW toiled tirelessly albeit aimlessly and was rather wasteful in front of goal.

Definitely one of the most one-sided displays I have seen at SFL level over the last 20+ years. Struggling sides tend to deteriorate as the season goes on as injuries, deserters and lack of interest kick in. It will certainly be interesting to see how they bounce back next week against North Shore because I would rate them as the form team of the comp at the moment.

Funniest moment - the silly old Tiger fools trying to wind up Bowley calling him a traitor etc. Don't think he'll be having too many regrets somehow fellas.....

The Docker Bandwagon rolls on....

[Tubzy]

Will there still be a Balmain Footy Club in 3-5 years time?? By the look of their numbers in the 18's today (16 from memory), they don't have a lot to look forward to.....wonder how far that $8mil will spread?? Can't see Fosdike/Schmidt x2/Davis/Fletcher/Saddington hanging around getting pumped by 34 goals every week....

[Mug Punter]

Will there still be a Balmain Footy Club in 3-5 years time?? By the look of their numbers in the 18's today (16 from memory), they don't have a lot to look forward to.....wonder how far that $8mil will spread?? Can't see Fosdike/Schmidt x2/Davis/Fletcher/Saddington hanging around getting pumped by 34 goals every week....

If that figure of the Dockers trousering $8M is accurate then that is a disgrace. There was a bowliing club there for decades and generations and they went in and stacked the members and suddenly it's a club serving the Australian Football Club. It seems as nothing short of theft if you ask me and I can't see how it is legal or ethical.

It would be a crying shame if they weren't around and I can't see them folding but surely there needs to a change there instead if just wasting money on the issue. With three junior feeder clubs properly nurtured (North Ryde, Drummoyne and Glebe) and perhaps a few local private schools there is surely a rich seam of talent to develop. Get rid of the ridiculous Dockers moniker that insults their heritage and everyone associated with it. Drop down a division and rebuild. Certainly that side today would have beaten most of the Div 1 sides, they just looked like an absolute rabble and that must be coming from the top.

I know I bag them but I'd hate to see a club with Balmain's proud history drop from the face of the Sydney football map. They're not at that stage yet but a season of thumpings like today and there may not be many bolkes left there....

[shearer]

they went about this season the whole wrong way, instead of forking out ridiculous money on guys like Davis who havent played for a few years, they could of recruited good footballers from within the sydney afl for a lot less.

e.g. Davis = $1k a game, you could get Dugmore($400) & Beardsley($450 plus flights) for the same amount and you know those two will give you a hell of a lot more.

[mountainsofpain]

I've got to admit I was amazed when I saw the score from yesterday, that is the sort of scoreline you wouldn't expect to see in the top level of Sydney footy.

And it's not as if it is only the Senior Grade is battling, their Ressies and Under 18s are also winless with equally poor percentages. It's not that long ago that the club won a couple of flags in the top league I think (late 90s?) - things sure have changed.

Given the current situation, you'd hope that Balmain has a longer-term plan in place, at the moment things do seem to have a bit of the quick-fix smell about them.

[bustamove]

What are these guys doing? Paying delisted, unfit, overpaid hacks so much money...
Most of the team this year were struggling in the magoos last year.. And here they are turning out in prem div! haha
They obviously didnt take into account that most of these 'gun' afl players didnt have a pre season and tired, unfit bodies going into a season should of sent alarm bells ringing.
There was obviously a reason behind them being 'ex afl' players...
Shmidt - delisted because of injury
Fosdike - retired because of injury
Davis - Lazy, injured and delisted because hes a goose
Fletcher - delisted and injured

Saddington is the only decent one their in my books. Can anyone see them winning a game this year?

[Mug Punter]

Can anyone see them winning a game this year?

At this stage a huge question mark has to hang over them finishing te season - to get tanked by 200+ points after spending so much money is just ludicrous.

If Davo is getting $1,000 then that is the most obscene waste of money I have ever heard. $1,000 for touching the ball half a dozen times and looking disinterested. Agree totally with Shearer in that they could have gotten 8 or 9 decent seasoned campaigners from the Sydney scene that they could have built the club around for the money they are wasting on these washed up mecenaries.

Next week will the key I fear. Anything under 20 goals should be a good result but it could be a massacre as the Bears are a pretty ruthless outfit.....

The U18s must also be a huge worry. If they only got 16 there on the weekend then to look atwhat followed would hardly be encouraging. You could hardly blame them. At least under Hall they seemed to have a plan and had some decent youngsters coming through. Now it is just aimless.

[Rafters]

Sounds like ECE didn't enforce the follow on.

[Tubzy]

Speaking if struggling Prem Div clubs....Campbelltown are in a bit of bother as well. Their two's are currently struggling in Div 3 at present and their 18's had the bare minimum players for a game today against Wests (14 players). I have also heard that a few of their 1st grade side are not too happy with Moller and WILL be moving on from there next year.....where will that leave them?? Because at present, their 1's are carrying that club like you wouldn't believe.....on top of that, they are struggling for blokes to run boundary and water and volunteer at home games, let alone away from Monarch for their Div 3 and 18's sides.....just putting it out there, that if C'town are not too careful there are a few clubs in Western Syd that would LOVE their spot in Prem Div in a few years time (Moorebank/Penrith/Parramatta/Norwest)

[unconfuseme]

It was ironic seeing the Balmain score (was the wicket left uncovered overnight?) and then seeing the great result for St George over Penno!

St George player payroll .... $ZERO!

I'm sure the Dragons would love to have all their gun former juniors back, but it's been proven again and again that the money spent on mercenaries in Sydney football never provides a sustainable culture for a club.

It will also be interesting to see how the "second tier" of the Premier Div ladder sorts itself out as the year goes on ... for the sake of credibility for the game in Sydney, i would like to think that Balmain's players get fit and competetive ... or else learn to win the toss and bat first!!!

[Pace To Burn]

Speaking if struggling Prem Div clubs....Campbelltown are in a bit of bother as well. Their two's are currently struggling in Div 3 at present and their 18's had the bare minimum players for a game today against Wests (14 players). I have also heard that a few of their 1st grade side are not too happy with Moller and WILL be moving on from there next year.....where will that leave them?? Because at present, their 1's are carrying that club like you wouldn't believe.....on top of that, they are struggling for blokes to run boundary and water and volunteer at home games, let alone away from Monarch for their Div 3 and 18's sides.....just putting it out there, that if C'town are not too careful there are a few clubs in Western Syd that would LOVE their spot in Prem Div in a few years time (Moorebank/Penrith/Parramatta/Norwest)

I would hardly say that being two from four is struggling, including one loss of only 14 points. Anyone who knows Radlee wouldnt need to be convinced that he is a quality bloke with plenty of footy experience, so if anyone wasnt happy with him maybe its a case of "the truth hurts". I have been at each home game this year and havent seen a lack of people helping out, maybe you should come out next home game and introduce yourself and give us a few pointers

[Tubzy]

I would hardly say that being two from four is struggling, including one loss of only 14 points. Anyone who knows Radlee wouldnt need to be convinced that he is a quality bloke with plenty of footy experience, so if anyone wasnt happy with him maybe its a case of "the truth hurts". I have been at each home game this year and havent seen a lack of people helping out, maybe you should come out next home game and introduce yourself and give us a few pointers

Couldn't rustle up any boundaries or runners/water boys when you blokes played Penrith at Monarch a few weeks back....or maybe you missed that week?? You blokes are in trouble mate, and it's going to take a huge effort to get back to where you belong and have been in the past

[boroboy]

Davis looked very disinterested and was totally outplayed by Physick, can't see Davo seeing the season out on today's body language. He's clearly their best player and really is wasted at FF getting 4 or 5 touches a game, why not throw him a bit closer to the action?

Because the word from other players is that he only agreed to play if he was guaranteed to play Full Forward every game. Also not helping is that he rocks up for each game 30 minutes beforehand carrying nothing but his boots and doesn't bother training.

If any players / admin staff have the audacity to collect their fees from the weekend then they should hang their heads in shame....

[Pace To Burn]

Couldn't rustle up any boundaries or runners/water boys when you blokes played Penrith at Monarch a few weeks back....or maybe you missed that week?? You blokes are in trouble mate, and it's going to take a huge effort to get back to where you belong and have been in the past

Actually was playing that day and had a few diff people give me some water so i must have been imagining things. Didnt help having our 18s not playing that day i suppose for a boundry. Dont worry about us mate will be alot longer than a few years before you and the other clubs you mentioned would be anywhere near ready to take our spot, nothing against them but if you think a couple of blokes leaving our ones would make us fold than you obviously dont watch player movements in sydney footy very closely, we have had many go over the last few years and although our junior numbers are low at the moment we have remianed competitive at senior level and will continue to do so

[beameup]

Don't know what you blokes are worried about. I have a mate over the mountains and Bathurst beat Dubbo 304 to 19 on Saturday. Now that is a flogging for a team that were premiers 3 years ago.