Cousins on Saturday

[BSA5]

Wha? How can you blame Schneider for 2006? Barry Hall was the reason we lost that game and the flag, for failing to convert even one of several very gettable goals. And he was never quite the same player for us after that.

Schneider wanted to stay a Swan. Hall 'quit football' half-way through a season. Then after the season ends and the horse-trading begins, Hall has suddenly rediscovered his passion and wants to play again -- for another club!

Schneider was fired. Hall quit. So did Jolly, but at least he was up front about it and played out the season for us.

Schneider deserves no animosity from Swans fans. Hall deserves as much vocal bagging as Swans fans within earshot are brave enough to deliver. Jolly less so, but given who he plays for now makes it pretty much open season on him too.

If you think Hall abandoned us, you're crazy. Hall was no longer a required player, and it had gotten to the point where he was no longer a good fit for our side, and it was bringing out the worst in him. It was in the interests of all involved that he made that decision, took some time off and re-evaluated where he was. Say what you want about the events leading up to it, but the way he handled his departure from the club, given the circumstances, was nothing but class. I have nothing but goodwill towards Hall.

Jolly, on the other hand, was a required player who bent us over at the trade table mid-contract because his wife wanted to be part of a higher profile WAG set. I wish nothing but poor form (not injury, that would just give him an excuse, and besides, it is actually painful) on Jolly now.

[Plugger46]

Wha? How can you blame Schneider for 2006? Barry Hall was the reason we lost that game and the flag, for failing to convert even one of several very gettable goals. And he was never quite the same player for us after that.

Schneider wanted to stay a Swan. Hall 'quit football' half-way through a season. Then after the season ends and the horse-trading begins, Hall has suddenly rediscovered his passion and wants to play again -- for another club!

Schneider was fired. Hall quit. So did Jolly, but at least he was up front about it and played out the season for us.

Schneider deserves no animosity from Swans fans. Hall deserves as much vocal bagging as Swans fans within earshot are brave enough to deliver. Jolly less so, but given who he plays for now makes it pretty much open season on him too.

You don't actually think Hall left, without being pushed, do you? I reckon his departure was carefully orchestrated by everyone at the club, so both the club and Hall could move on.

[Primmy]

no premiership captain of mine is getting booed near me by swans supporters!

exactly!!!

[Captain]

Gee, if a Swans fan can't boo someone like Cuz at our own home ground, we might as well give up. Give me a break, the SCG crowd needs to be even MORE passionate and uncomprimising IMO, not chastised for having a go at tosser like Cousins.

Next thread should be about our collective shame of how nasty the big bad SCG crowd was to Wayne Carey.

Unfortunatly the Sydney crowds on a whole are soft. Taking a moral high ground doesn't create an intimidating atmosphere.

Having said that I won't be booing Barry.

[Red]

If you think Hall abandoned us, you're crazy. Hall was no longer a required player, and it had gotten to the point where he was no longer a good fit for our side, and it was bringing out the worst in him. It was in the interests of all involved that he made that decision, took some time off and re-evaluated where he was. Say what you want about the events leading up to it, but the way he handled his departure from the club, given the circumstances, was nothing but class. I have nothing but goodwill towards Hall.

You don't actually think Hall left, without being pushed, do you? I reckon his departure was carefully orchestrated by everyone at the club, so both the club and Hall could move on.

We can speculate all we like on what happened behind the scenes, the whys and whatevers. But the facts remain: Hall quit playing for the Swans mid-season and now he plays for another club. Ostensibly all of his own volition.

In my opinion that puts him in the 'I don't wanna play for the Swans anymore' club which entitles him to a solid booooooing when we play the Dogs.

[BSA5]

We can speculate all we like on what happened behind the scenes, the whys and whatevers. But the facts remain: Hall quit playing for the Swans mid-season and now he plays for another club. Ostensibly all of his own volition.

In my opinion that puts him in the 'I don't wanna play for the Swans anymore' club which entitles him to a solid booooooing when we play the Dogs.

There's nothing wrong with not wanting to play for the Swans anymore, if you've got a reasonable reason for it. Hall didn't fit at the club anymore. He was still kicking goals, but we had too rigid a structure with him, and he was getting frustrated. Now, it all came to a head in a messy fashion, but the fact is that there is really no way Hall could have stayed at the club, whether or not we know the details of what went on behind the scenes. I don't think Hall was unfairly pushed, I think it just had to happen, and it was the best for all inolved. It was time for him to move on, and you can see how well both parties are doing.

Jolly, on the other hand, had no reason to leave (that we can see) other than wanting a higher-profile club. He was first ruckman, so it wasn't an opportunity issue. He was getting paid very handsomely indeed, and was mid-contract, so it wasn't a money issue (whether this counts as a legitimate reason is up for debate anyway, personally, unless it's a serious underpayment due perhaps to salary cap restraints, I'd still boo if a player left for money). There appeared to be no personal issues with the club or its staff.

[Go Swannies]

There's nothing wrong with not wanting to play for the Swans anymore, if you've got a reasonable reason for it. Hall didn't fit at the club anymore. He was still kicking goals, but we were to rigid with him, and he was getting frustrated. Now, it all came to a head in a messy fashion, but the fact is that there is really no way Hall could have stayed at the club, whether or not we know the details of what went on behind the scenes. I don't think Hall was unfairly pushed, I think it just had to happen, and it was the best for all inolved. It was time for him to move on, and you can see how well both parties are doing.

Jolly, on the other hand, had no reason to leave (that we can see) other than wanting a higher-profile club. He was first ruckman, so it wasn't an opportunity issue. He was getting paid very handsomely indeed, and was mid-contract, so it wasn't a money issue (whether this counts as a legitimate reason is up for debate anyway, personally, unless it's a serious underpayment due perhaps to salary cap restraints, I'd still boo if a player left for money). There appeared to be no personal issues with the club or its staff.

Eh? Baz was playing like a petulant child since he messed up the 2006 GF. So he was either decking someone or demanding the ball on all occasions whether he had a chance to mark it or kick the goal. And he filled in the rest of the games sooking at umpires. As a person I like Baz but his conduct in our forward 50 was really embarrassing. When it got to the point when he was directly costing us games (3 x 50 m penalty anyone) it was time to drop him from the Swans. So we did - and think the parting was handled with a great deal of dignity by both sides. Especially his treatment with respect at the B&F dinner last year.

Now he's got another chance and I'm glad he's seized it. I feel a bit uncomfortable for our premiership captain having the chance to win another premiership at another club though so I'd now prefer a team other than the Doggies winning it if the Swans can't.

I don't think any of us can take the high ground on whether to boo him or not. Each can use own moral compass on that. Saying you can't express your displeasure is taking the rarified high ground. And he's no longer our premiership captain - he's the CHF for a team I hope we thrash - and if Grundy or B2 or both keep him goalless and preferably possession-less I'll be cheering long and hard.

This week I feel Ben Cousins is being unjustly pursued in the media. The fact he's especially targetted still didn't prevent me from calling out "follow the white line Benny" when he was kicking for goal last week.

It's a game. There's us and them. If they aren't us they are the opposition whether they are coached by Paul Williams or have embraced the Schneiderman to their hearts. I simply go to the ground hoping we beat them and cheering when we do.

[Jewels]

Eh? Baz was playing like a petulant child since he messed up the 2006 GF. So he was either decking someone or demanding the ball on all occasions whether he had a chance to mark it or kick the goal. And he filled in the rest of the games sooking at umpires. As a person I like Baz but his conduct in our forward 50 was really embarrassing. When it got to the point when he was directly costing us games (3 x 50 m penalty anyone) it was time to drop him from the Swans. So we did - and think the parting was handled with a great deal of dignity by both sides. Especially his treatment with respect at the B&F dinner last year.

Now he's got another chance and I'm glad he's seized it. I feel a bit uncomfortable for our premiership captain having the chance to win another premiership at another club though so I'd now prefer a team other than the Doggies winning it if the Swans can't.

I don't think any of us can take the high ground on whether to boo him or not. Each can use own moral compass on that. Saying you can't express your displeasure is taking the rarified high ground. And he's no longer our premiership captain - he's the CHF for a team I hope we thrash - and if Grundy or B2 or both keep him goalless and preferably possession-less I'll be cheering long and hard.

This week I feel Ben Cousins is being unjustly pursued in the media. The fact he's especially targetted still didn't prevent me from calling out "follow the white line Benny" when he was kicking for goal last week.

It's a game. There's us and them. If they aren't us they are the opposition whether they are coached by Paul Williams or have embraced the Schneiderman to their hearts. I simply go to the ground hoping we beat them and cheering when we do.

Very, very good, reasonable and logical post Go Swannies.

[msb]

Wha? How can you blame Schneider for 2006? Barry Hall was the reason we lost that game and the flag, for failing to convert even one of several very gettable goals. And he was never quite the same player for us after that.

Schneider wanted to stay a Swan. Hall 'quit football' half-way through a season. Then after the season ends and the horse-trading begins, Hall has suddenly rediscovered his passion and wants to play again -- for another club!

Schneider was fired. Hall quit. So did Jolly, but at least he was up front about it and played out the season for us.

Schneider deserves no animosity from Swans fans. Hall deserves as much vocal bagging as Swans fans within earshot are brave enough to deliver. Jolly less so, but given who he plays for now makes it pretty much open season on him too.

Couldnt agree more, that was the end of him with the swans after his performance in that game, he was never the same player in 07, 08 (when he wasnt suspended) and 09 (again, when he wasnt suspended!)

[CJK]

Thread is going down in flames

[Red]

Very, very good, reasonable and logical post Go Swannies.

x2

[big bear]

Arrogant little so and so deaserved to be booed. Don't forget the 2006 GF when a drug assisted Cousins team beat us by a point. Never give a sucker an even break.

[BSA5]

Eh? Baz was playing like a petulant child since he messed up the 2006 GF. So he was either decking someone or demanding the ball on all occasions whether he had a chance to mark it or kick the goal. And he filled in the rest of the games sooking at umpires. As a person I like Baz but his conduct in our forward 50 was really embarrassing. When it got to the point when he was directly costing us games (3 x 50 m penalty anyone) it was time to drop him from the Swans. So we did - and think the parting was handled with a great deal of dignity by both sides. Especially his treatment with respect at the B&F dinner last year.

Now he's got another chance and I'm glad he's seized it. I feel a bit uncomfortable for our premiership captain having the chance to win another premiership at another club though so I'd now prefer a team other than the Doggies winning it if the Swans can't.

I don't think any of us can take the high ground on whether to boo him or not. Each can use own moral compass on that. Saying you can't express your displeasure is taking the rarified high ground. And he's no longer our premiership captain - he's the CHF for a team I hope we thrash - and if Grundy or B2 or both keep him goalless and preferably possession-less I'll be cheering long and hard.

This week I feel Ben Cousins is being unjustly pursued in the media. The fact he's especially targetted still didn't prevent me from calling out "follow the white line Benny" when he was kicking for goal last week.

It's a game. There's us and them. If they aren't us they are the opposition whether they are coached by Paul Williams or have embraced the Schneiderman to their hearts. I simply go to the ground hoping we beat them and cheering when we do.

I agree with all of that. Baz was acting like a petulant child at times, and it is a damn shame that's how it was, but that's life. It was a symptom of a bigger problem. The situation was dealt with very well by both parties, Hall's time at the Swans was over whether or not he went on to play for another club, so I see no reason to boo him particularly. Sure, I hope he doesn't fire against us, like a hope any opposition player doesn't fire against us, but I feel no particular resentment toward him, and certainly a degree of fondness for the guy. I hope he does well, just not to our detriment!

[Matty10]

...I saw the other thread on 'booing' before reading this one - but my sentiments are the same.

I'll yell at an umpiring decision if it is poor, yell at a player if he acts the goat - or has a go at one of ours, but to boo a player each and every time he gets the ball just because he decided to leave, or because of a history not related to this game (or the last time we played) is just poor form.

It is a game of sport, and yes, it is us against them, but that doesn't mean we need to collectively bring everything down to the lowest common denominator each and every time. I think it is great when the crowd goes off when an incident occurs on field, but I also think it is great when the crowd collectively applauds spectacular or brave football no matter the colours the player is wearing.

A supportive home crowd does not need to be feral in order to support their team.

I can't quite remember exactly, but didn't the SCG crowd once boo an opposition player when he was carted off on a stretcher?

[-Doogs-]

Baz is playing great footy right now and he looks to be happy. He could be the difference for the Bulldogs this year. You dont think he wants a flag with the Doggies whether he was Captain for the Swans or not?

Everything in the past aside, when he steps up against the Swans it's the right of the supporter to boo him. Taking nothing from him in what he did the for the Swans (and what he didn't do), but as a Bulldog he is fair game! I think you'll find there'll be a mixture of clapping and booing from the Swans fans.

That aside, it might work in reverse with him. The more you boo the better he might play against his old club...?