Gws

[unconfuseme]

Can't compare Israel with LRT - LRT was All Australian AFL u15's Schoolboys, so calling him a "rugby convert" as the media loves to do is rubbish.

However, I think Israel is a size and has physical attributes similar to one Mike Pyke, and has played a similar role in league as Pyke did in union. Israel is probaly a superior athlete, and if he has the same dedication, you would have to think he could easily fill a similar role.

If not, GWS and AFL got $10mill worth of media coverage very cheap!

[Adelaide Swan]

Can't compare Israel with LRT - LRT was All Australian AFL u15's Schoolboys, so calling him a "rugby convert" as the media loves to do is rubbish.

However, I think Israel is a size and has physical attributes similar to one Mike Pyke, and has played a similar role in league as Pyke did in union. Israel is probaly a superior athlete, and if he has the same dedication, you would have to think he could easily fill a similar role.

If not, GWS and AFL got $10mill worth of media coverage very cheap!

The thing that GWS sympathisers keep on banging on about that @@@@s me is that keep banging on about giving players who aren't playing league another game to play.

The thing worth noting here is that GWS seems to be target the Hills District and Concord areas.

I can tell you right now that is not a league territory but a strong union territory.

The Eastwood club gets a lot of it's support and juniors from the Hills.

It has rugby(union for our Victorian members) fans extremely pissed off.

They are built a new stadium for the team around the corner from ANZ Stadium. I must question whether this is neccessary, as ANZ Stadium was designed for thegame, what's the point of having it as a circular stadium if they have their own stadium 400 metres away.

Seems a waste of tax payers $$$.

Coupled with the fact they are also hijacking the Sydney Showground at Homebush as well.

The thing that has rugby fans pissed off is that GWS seems to be hellbent on trampling their game into the ground while gaining free publicity from the NRL.

[Big Al]

Gws

Coupled with the fact they are also hijacking the Sydney Showground at Homebush as well.
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I don't understand this. How are they hijacking the Showground? I'm an RAS member and the upgrade to the showground is great news for us. If we are to have a second team it make sense to play some games at a 25,000 seat stadium instead of the cavernous ANZ stadium so the upgrade is a win-win for all the stakeholders.

[Adelaide Swan]

I don't understand this. How are they hijacking the Showground? I'm an RAS member and the upgrade to the showground is great news for us. If we are to have a second team it make sense to play some games at a 25,000 seat stadium instead of the cavernous ANZ stadium so the upgrade is a win-win for all the stakeholders.

Doesn't GWS already have Blacktown Olympic Park as their home ground though?

It seems like a massive waste to taxpayer dollars to upgrade the Showground when they could've given BOS a 30K capacity in the first place.

[AnnieH]

Doesn't GWS already have Blacktown Olympic Park as their home ground though?

It seems like a massive waste to taxpayer dollars to upgrade the Showground when they could've given BOS a 30K capacity in the first place.

I think Blacktown is their training ground - and the showground on game day.
I could be wrong (but I'll never admit it!!).

[Grady1993]

To all those people saying LRT/Kieran Jack can do it Folau can too, that's 100% not true. Everytime I hear anything about Kieran Jack especially those clowns in Victoria, they think the Swans took Jack straight from RL. He was paying for Pennant Hills since he was 14!!!! he is not an instant convert from League straight to playing for Sydney he went through the junior ranks just like LRT and every other playing going around (with the exceptons of Pyke, Kennely etc)

[cos789]

If you researched rugby league history, rugby league only got off the ground because Dally Messenger widely acknowledged as the best player in rugby union at the time, decided to back the new league giving it an instant credibility to the sport.

And DM originally played AR . The irony !

[cos789]

Doesn't GWS already have Blacktown Olympic Park as their home ground though?

BOS is their training ground .

It seems like a massive waste to taxpayer dollars to upgrade the Showground when they could've given BOS a 30K capacity in the first place.

All to do with the politics of the wc . ""They" wanted to upgrade BOS as a rectangular stadium thus strangling AR just like they built SFS right next door to the SCG .

.

[Ken Oath]

However, I think Israel is a size and has physical attributes similar to one Mike Pyke, and has played a similar role in league as Pyke did in union. Israel is probaly a superior athlete, and if he has the same dedication, you would have to think he could easily fill a similar role.

If not, GWS and AFL got $10mill worth of media coverage very cheap!

But there's one huge difference which is why it can't work. Pyke, or even Kennelly, or any convert over 18, have had years to convert, without pressure, without media glare, and none of them have the profile and circus surrounding them that Falou does.

Falou would need years to break in to any other team. But such is the hype surrounding him, which is the only reason they bought him in the first place, means he HAS to play from game one. HAS to.
If not, then he has to play within the first 2 months, or else what was the point of buying him? It's a double edged swored this one, they will have to play him and he will be terrible. Will end up in the 2's where he'll still be rubbish and the whole concept of bringing him to AFL will be laughed at by the very people he's supposed to win over.

[cos789]

But there's one huge difference which is why it can't work. Pyke, or even Kennelly, or any convert over 18, have had years to convert, without pressure, without media glare.

"years" - not really .

none of them have the profile and circus surrounding them that Falou does.

So is he still in the media spotlight ?

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[Ken Oath]

Are you serious? Of course it takes years.

I would compare Falou to O'hAilpin at Carlton.
Both were young superstars in their respective sports before crossing to AFL.

O'hAilpin is still struggling to get a game at Carlton 5 years on. At least Carlton don't feel oblidged to play him if they don't think he's up to it.

And as for where's the hype, we've been discussing him in this thread...

[cos789]

I would compare Falou to O'hAilpin at Carlton.

Wouldn't Michael Pyke be a better example . RU per rl ?
Falou is a professional Vs amatuers .

And as for where's the hype, we've been discussing him in this thread...

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLL yeah - lot of pressure there .

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[Ken Oath]

Wouldn't Michael Pyke be a better example . RU per rl ?
Falou is a professional Vs amatuers .



LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLL yeah - lot of pressure there .

.

No o'hAilpin would be a closer comparison to Falou's situation than Pyke. Both won premierships in their respective codes before crossing. Professional vs amatures has absolutely nothing to do with understanding the game, learning the skills, especially when they're 20, and in this situation I would argue the professional has the bigger mountain to climb by trimming weight. And Pyke, took 2 years to break in to firsts, which was extraordinary, so yes I stand my my "years" comment.

As for the hype, I'm not getting in to an aruement with you if you telling me there's no hype around Falou, when that's the whole reason he was signed. Everytime GWS is mentioned he's the first player to get mentioned cos he's they're only known player. And this thread had Gws written in it's title somewhere I'm sure.
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL look I'm laughing really really hard too.

[cos789]

I'm not getting in to an aruement with you if.

No , you're running away .

If you can't see comparing two rugby players is better than comparing a roundball player is fairer .
Then it absolutely pointless debating further .

If you can't see that all the media has died down for Foloau
then it's absolutely pointless debating further .

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[Heavs]

No , you're running away .

If you can't see comparing two rugby players is better than comparing a roundball player is fairer .
Then it absolutely pointless debating further .

If you can't see that all the media has died down for Foloau
then it's absolutely pointless debating further .

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O'Hailpin was a hurler. Much harder transition than a gaelic convert.