| Extremely Un-Fremantle | | Print | |
| Written by Greg | |
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Go back and show me a club that has been so bare of success yet has not only retained its substantial memberships but continually increased them through some horrendous years of football. You will only come up with the Fremantle Football club searching on that criteria and the club can largely thank one man for the financial gains it has achieved through the membership base. People turn up to watch Jeffery Farmer, warts and all. Does the club believe, whoever is currently running it, that Jeff himself and the fans don’t deserve better treatment? After all that we have been through since 1995 and after everything that the Wiz has had to cop, it causes a gut wrenching deep seated feeling of nausea upon hearing the gutless move which has been made.
I was struggling for interest after half way through this year but I never missed a game largely because of the Wiz. This is what this guy has done, does and would still do. You’re too scared not to watch in fear you might miss something freakishly sensational Farmer might do. Sure he has had his minor troubles, which were constantly and unfairly made major catastrophes by the media, on and off the field but that is the Wiz. In comparison to many of his opponents and team mates for that matter, his indiscretions barely raised a ripple. Chocco Williams said during the week when talking of Peter Burgoyne, along the lines of ‘These types of players are going to have these minor problems but
On field and off it he never backed down and usually had to endure a lot of pain to get the slightest look in of a free kick. As the photo to the right suggests and as Dockerlander Chinaman said “As for his fights and misdemeanours on the field; well most were against larger opposition and under the considerable duress of the above average forward.” And more times than not the Wiz was out-numbered.
Fremantle Football was to me about the whole package. It was about turning up not knowing what to expect yet confident that whatever the result we would be entertained through certain periods throughout the game. It was about embracing the individual character and celebrating it rather than instilling the sheep like robotic mentality which football has become. It was about ignoring the perfectionists and the purists in the media who constantly complained about and insultingly criticised Farmer and denying them of their wants. With this one ridiculous heartless decision the Fremantle Football Club has caved in, sold out and become a part of what we long fought against and most despise.
Sure I want success but if it comes at such an enormous price then, to me, it’s suddenly lost a great deal of its worth. What good is a premiership without the entertainment along the way? If they can still cut it on the field I
We’ve backed the club in every decision they’ve made. Rightly or wrongly we’ve all supported the club through thick and thin and none of us have jumped off. I was a huge fan of Mark Harvey’s until yesterday. To see him on Channel 7 telling Baz that we should remember Wiz for all the good things in his career and being a stellar footballer was the biggest insult of all. The fact he could stand there with a straight face telling us in the end the decision was mutual and the parting was amicable fresh after showing Wiz the door saying your services are no longer required, does not sit well with me at all. He said age was a factor and it remained to be seen if that’s a right or wrong move. Well stand up and be counted Harvs! Buck the trend and show some individuality and prove it shouldn’t be a factor.
I got it wrong.... I thought Harvey knew what Fremantle Football was about but in terms of understanding it, he’s not even close to being in the same Fremantle ball park.
This magnificent top liner of a footballer Jeffery Farmer was not even given the chance at a true send off. Farmer has done more for this club and the fans than any of those who had a hand on his axing will ever do and I hope they feel the backlash as they obviously don’t have a feel for what his contribution was to the club and the fans. Fremantle has robbed Jeff Farmer of being known as a 250 gamer, a 500 goal kicker and of a thoroughly deserved top shelf send off year. They have also robbed all us fans of a chance to experience him for one more year to celebrate his career with him.
This is a tragic and dark time in the Fremantle football club. If the Wiz was on one leg and wouldn’t be of any value next year then, despite still not getting the chance to send him off in style, it would be a little easier to accept. But watching him play on Friday night there was no doubting that the magic is still there. His still existing top level ability, influence on the game and versatile value to the team was highly evident and it’s a tragedy he has been made hang up the boots against his will. On Friday night just gone, if that’s how he played trying to earn one more year, imagine how he plays next year knowing it’s definitely his finale.
To Jeffery Farmer, there will never be another one like you for more reasons than one. You stand in a league all of your own with an unrivalled ability. You’re magic and antics continued to thrill and frustrate us until the end and if we had our way you’d be signed back up. But sadly there will never be another Jeffery Farmer because the AFL, its clubs and their hierarchies have buckled and will never allow it.
Dockerland message board poster Pussy said it beautifully, “Footy just got a little less fun.”
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
purple33 Sep 04 2008 13:58:31 Gloved one, I'm still trying to get my head around what he meant when he said that this outcome is a 'compromise' between the club and Jeff.
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
Maj Sep 04 2008 14:04:20 Gloved one, Harves was not the one who suspended Jeff for six weeks. Harves has always spoken up for Jeff.
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
gloved one Sep 04 2008 14:07:07 No. Harvey, Senior Coach of Fremantle Football Club, was perpetuating a myth.
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
Flag_2005 Sep 04 2008 14:18:49 Isn't the point that the club is having a clean out and rebuilding? You can't do that and leave your oldest player on the list. You especially can't do that when your oldest player has the 'potential' for the odd indiscretion when a new group of young players come under Harvey's tutelage.
The Wizz will not be around when we win our first premiership. The club made a decision that was the obvious one to make. I love the Wizz - he was a reason to go and watch footy. He was skill, chaos, charisma, quirkiness and craziness all wrapped up in a package. I'll miss watching him play but I don't doubt for a minute that this is the way forward for our club. |
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
Dolphin Sep 04 2008 15:08:07 Greg, Wizfan is 50% right, you don't need to apologise regarding the tragedy remark. I objected less to that than it came accross. Thanks tho.
Wizfan, be careful about putting words in to my mouth, its a skill you don't have. I bought up the tragedy remark simply to offer some perspective on what has happened. I had no intention of colouring anyone in any light in the ridiculous way you stated. Read my post again without the hysteria and you'll see I pronounced noone pro-club or anti-Harves. I was objecting to the personal attacks that I felt were unjustified. Make your arguments but don't pretend you know what I am thinking. To further explain the tragedy controversy, my point was that Jeff has played 249 games when many get to play none. He is idolised by many, many people as a result of his extraordinary talents and personality. He is loved to the point that me and many others who are complete strangers to him would gladly stand up to any amount of public ridicule or worse in order to defend him against all "outsiders". Tonight he is at home with his family and with memories many of us would kill to have. His career is over but his life is not, nor has anyone's life been destroyed by this. That being the case, in my opinion, this is no tragedy. However, if you or anyone else feels this is a tragedy, then you certainly have the right to say that and you don't need my permission, nor does Greg or anyone else. If this feels like tragedy then I'm happy for you, I hope this is as close as you ever get. |
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
pollyanna Sep 05 2008 00:02:42 Why link mortality with tragedy? It's baseless - the word can adequately describe a range of situations where there isn't a loss of life. Yet 'loss of life' could adequately describe the football the Docker fans are facing in the future without Jeff.
Why bother trying to mince words, distend allegorical associations and attempt to defend the indefensible - from any perspective of the word, Jeff's dumping was a tragedy and it was shameful. |
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
FREOPREM Sep 05 2008 02:30:56 My thoughts on Jeff are prior 2006 he was a very good player. Past two years he has been more of a burden.
Jeff was to slow for the midfield. Yes at times he did rack up touches though he could not sustain a four quarter effort and he lost his goal kicking ability. He gave away too many stupid free kicks and was a poor role model to many younger players at the club. The Club could no longer tolerate such attitudes from anyone. Thats is why Black was also moved on. Jeff was never going to win a premiership for Freo and was more likely to lose a Grand Final. His role was a small forward and he wasn't doing his job. We are better off recruiting a Ballantyne from Peel or Richardson from Claremont who could fit in and kick potentially 40+ goals per year. I have faith in what Harvey is doing. We had to many footballers who accepted mediocrity. Harvey is trying is best to change that attitude. Lets go with the future as our history has been very average. Nothing less than a premiership will do now. Hopefully within 5 years. |
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
TheTaco Sep 05 2008 06:21:10 FREOPREM, how can you question Jeff's pace? His closing speed was and is incredible. Jeff's runs in the midfield this year showed he could get the pill and do something with it even when the rest of the team refused to lead. He may not have the huge tank of Palmer but Farmer still looked one of the quickest players in the team.
Jeff's goal-kicking is still excellent; remarkable even. Maybe Farmer was a ticking time-bomb on the field or maybe, just maybe, he was in inspirational player whose every move was over-scrutinised by officials and the media. |
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
golden touch Sep 05 2008 06:42:34 We heard a rumour last Wednesday that Friday night would be Jeffrey's last game. We weren't going to go to the game as we were in the middle of moving house, but I just couldn't risk not seeing Jeffrey the last time he wore purple.
It was obvious to me at the end of the game that Jeffrey suspected it was his last and I am really proud that he chose to acknowedge the fans and in his own way say goodbye. That being said, I am still furious with the club for treating Jeff like this. They must have known what the decision would be long before Friday night and I cannot believe they wouldn't give Jeffrey the same respect awarded Macca. He was robbed of the whole experinece of playing his last game in front of his home ground, the cheers everytime he got the wall and all of the emotion that went with it. I can accept the decision for his retirement but I am disgusted with FFC club at the moment and how this was handled. |
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Re:Extremely Un-Fremantle
Bella1956 Sep 06 2008 09:22:38 You’ve said everything I feel Greg. I’m so disappointed with the FFC. And I worry at the direction we’re heading in. To say our history has been very average is an insult. We may not have won a flag, but this club, I thought, was about more than win at all costs, I thought that’s what set us apart. Of course I prefer a win to a loss, I’m not a masochist. And I look forward to a flag as much as anyone.
Apart from his brilliant goals in that final game last Friday night, what I’ll also never forget is Jeff finding the footy at the end of the match and giving it to Mark Johnston. All Class. FFC take a lesson. The more franchise we become, the more I head back to the WAFL |














