This thread discusses the Content article: Extremely Un-Fremantle

Brilliant Greg.

And every word is true.

Agree with all you say, Greg, but I wouldn't give up hope just yet that Jeff has indeed played his last AFL game or that he won't still make 500 goals.

Were another AFL franchise to offer Jeff a one-yr deal with the option of a further year, it'd be interesting to see how many purple-loving supporters he might take with him. Personally, while I could never barrack against the Freo franchise, I think I might be able to put my support for it on hold for a year or two if The Wiz were playing with another franchise.

And there's one AFL franchise which, if you think about it, just might want him back.

And if we have learnt nothing else out of this - these organisations are indeed franchises!

Maybe we can persuade Jeff to nominate for the pre-season draft and then persaude Harves and Co to have a rethink?

Surely he's worth more than some speculative pick at the end of the draft?

Well said Greg
I feel like we have sold our soul to appease the media.
I have agreed with just about everything Mark Harvey & co have done this year but this decision just doesn't sit right with me.
At the very least he should have had the opportunity for a proper send off like Macca had. They must have known before the last game because nothing that Jeff did in his last game could have influence them to make the decision they did if anything it should have convinced them to sign him up for another year.
I'm going to find it harder to part with my hard eaned for membership next year than any year in our history.
Best of luck with whatever you persue in your future Jeff you were one of the main reasons I showed up every week even when we lost there was always some enjoyment to be had waiting to see what type of magic you would pull out of the hat.
Farewell Champ.

P.S. My disappointment has nothing to do with the bet I lost to my WC loving workmate that the Wiz would play on.

Greg - thanks mate.

Toast followers opinions are invalid.

I had one today tell me that Jeffrey wasn't a respected player at Freo and that draftees parents viewed him as a similar bad influence to Benny Boy. Cited Jeffrey's treatment of young opponents in the WAFL as an example.

Violence in the workplace is frowned upon.

Thanks Greg. You've said it all. I now treasure my words to the Wiz when we were lucky enough to share a flight to Melbourne with the team mid season. It's a disgraceful way to end the career of a flawed genius (aren't they all flawed, these geniuses?) whose like we will not see again for a long long time.

I became disillusioned with the franchise that the club has become earlier this year. When my twin grandboys were born, I signed them up as junior members within days. Their second birthday in April went unacknowledged as did my email asking why. I paid for a birthday card each a year as part of the deal and they couldn't even get that right, so how are they going to get the big things right? They have stopped caring about the members.


Thanks Jeff for the memories. So glad I can say I saw your last (brilliant) game for us. Thanks Greg for the eloquence. (However, Greg, we'll still be talking about the pups (JJ aka dockamama)

Greg summed it up well. I loved the fact that we had Scotty Chisholm, Clive was pure Freo, Willsy's aeroplane, and, yes, even Neesham being a bit different to the 'normal' coaches was something that set Freo apart.

Franchise is a horrible word. By definition all franchises should be the same and I don't want our club to be the same as any other. I want it different and better, but better on our terms. Sure I want success... but I want it as our unique Freo club, not as just another AFL franchise.

Clubs make decisions that we often don't agree with but you should always be able to see the logic and at least understand where they are coming from. But this decision... logic wasn't involved.

No, cookie, logic was involved. A certain, very particular kind of logic.

And that's the whole problem.

Rosich.

I take it that wasn't a sneeze Smiles...

I don't know how I can go to a game knowing that the Wiz should be playing, but isn't. It seems as though the Freo board are trying to give us a squeaky clean image, maybe to poach some more fans from WC. Screw that. Maybe it's the fury in me right now, but I don't want to renew my membership, hell, I'm so gutted I'm almost in bloody tears. I'd rather watch the Wiz play for South's than Freo play squeaky clean footy without him.

He is not too old, he was still playing good footy (better than a lot others that still have jobs), this decision is not about age, it's about pressure. This was caving in because Jeff could occasionally be a PR disaster, and was viewed as a risk.

Fans of other clubs will look and say "finally Freo have gotten tough", I look and see that Freo is less than it was.

I've been holding off on commenting on the Wiz retiring event. Initially I felt shocked, sad then angry. I have read the press releases and watched some of the TV reports regarding this.

Firstly let me say that I will miss watching the Wiz play and I am still sad he has retired. Jeff, all the best of luck for the future and thank you for the years you gave us. You're a champ.

Now that I've somewhat got used to the idea that the Wiz won't be there anymore, I find myself faced with another disturbing issue. That is the reaction of the supporters, fans and members to this. Please, let me try to explain.

What I'm getting from all these posts are that everyone is angry:
i. that the Wiz hasn't been offered a contract;
ii. because the FFC, particularly Harvs and Rosich, have not explained the decision to us;
iii. that Jeff hasn't had the send off he deserves;
iv. that Freo has lost an icon.

This is resulting in people saying:
i. the FFC has sold it's soul;
ii. Harvs has lost their respect;
iii. the FFC is trying to appease the media.

Well, let me tell you there's a lot of déjà vu here. Let's call it Clive.
I can remember all this hysteria pouring out when the Crazy Horse was put out to pasture.
The sad fact is that teams change, players move on, clubs change direction.

Hell, for years people posting on this board have called for strong leadership. It seems to me that is exactly what we now have. We will know in a very short time whether this new leadership has the right stuff or not. Let's hold back judgment till then.

Am I sad the Wiz retired? Yes.

Was I privy to the meeting between the Wiz and the club? No.

Could this have been handled better? Possibly. Freo have poorly managed quite a few things in the past (Drum's dismissal for one).

Do I think they did this to appease the media? Sheit No! I just can't see Harvs kowtowing to the media.

Does the club have to explain in detail their decisions? No. Why should they make all their plans public?

Do I think Freo will have another freakish icon? Hell Yes! We've got Sandi, the biggest bloke to pull on studded boots. We've got Palmer, who's had an unbelievable debut season. There's Chopper, who knows what he can be and do. And let's not forget the Genius, silkier skills have never been seen. In a few weeks we have the draft. Once again this draft has been touted as the best ever.

Am I turning my back on the FFC? Never.

Yes I am still sad the Wiz has retired but for good or bad, better or worse, change happens. It happens all the time. Every day in fact.

Ok, now you can release the hounds.

Time for a cuppa I think.

Was Clive a cripple who spat the dummy and went home? Yes.

Please don't compare him to Mr Farmer.

The comparisons was purely on the points that they were/are both cult figures at the club and their leaving caused hysteria.

No skills comparison was intended.

Well said Freobear. I agree with your sentiments. Nice to see some balance put into the discussion. We all love Wiz. It's an emotional time.
But for the first time I feel quite genuine confidence in our coach. I'll be giving Harves the benefit of time.

I for one am gutted at the decision to cut Jeff; I've stuck up for him for years in countless conversations saying he needs to be dropped. Late this season I have sensed a growing trend from diehard Freo supporters insisting that his contract be not renewed so Harvey and the club management are no orphans in their opinion that Jeff’s time at Freo is over.

Now, whilst I was/still a huge fan of The Wiz, I have a question, and its very valid one. One that all of you seem to be avoiding...

What has The Wiz given the club in last 2 seasons?

Lets look at last year... it was a non-event, he missed more than half through suspension and injury.

Now on to this year... again he missed games through suspension (both AFL and club). He played a handful of games where showed glimpses of his brilliance.

I would've loved to see The Wiz play his 250th and kick 500 goals... but he was given every opportunity and HE blew it himself.

I heard a comment the other day that "Freo was/are a nice club and it seems that Harvey is now making ruthless decisions. Ones that have never been made before, Its a new experience for the club"... I'm in total agreement. We have been nice and we all know where nice people finish.

Now having said that, I do believe that there should be place for veterans of our game (AFL needs to look at extending the lists back out to 52), however with the list restrictions that are in place, sadly there is no place for sentiment.

Instead of criticising the club for letting a club favourite go, lets wish our clubs legends all the very best for the future and thank them for the joyous memories they have given us.

Now in answering the question I posed earlier, the answer is... he didn't give a hell of a lot.

Good-bye Jeff. Thanks for the memories and all the best at Souths

i couldnt agree more with the article.

Farmer was the player that brought you to the game, he always gave that extra effort which really lifted the team!

I was so shocked to hear he was retiring after the last few games he has played really well i thought a contract for Farmer next year was in the bag...