Usain Bolt!

[Offsider]

He probably didn`t hit too many balls into the water then...

You learn to keep your balls safe

 

[Wombat]

How could we forget one of the best, our very own Ellyse Perry! Played for Australia in both cricket and football.

Nova Peris kneebone or whatever her name was. Althete and then Hockey player. Hockey and Football share alot of attributes.

 

[Offsider]

Nova Peris kneebone or whatever her name was. Althete and then Hockey player. Hockey and Football share alot of attributes.

Well??? ........... they both use a round ball and goalposts ................ but I suppose there is a transition there ???

 

[FFC Mariner]

I am reliably informed that Bolt will not ever be a contracted CCM player.
The player we are chasing is far more exciting.

 

[greenlig]

The player we are chasing is far more exciting.

C'mon mate, don't be coy, drop some hints.

 

[MagpieMariner]

Well??? ........... they both use a round ball and goalposts ................ but I suppose there is a transition there ???

In one, you use your feet and in the other you use a lump of 4x2.
Tactics very similar.

 

[Wout Wout]

Yes people have switched sports before...

But let's remember that football is one of THE most technical sports requiring a lifetime of dedication.
I just can't recall anyone switching to football as an adult.

It might have been possible 30+ years ago...
But football today is just too developed and sophisticated IMHO.

If anyone could do it...it's probably Bolt.
However that's the issue...I don't think anyone can do it.
But I hope he proves me wrong, and improves to the level of a pro footballer.

 

[Wout Wout]

One of my favourite sporting heroes of all time, Hazem El Masri, was a footballer originally, and didn't switch to rugby league until late teens I think?

The football background helped him with his legendary kicking, and he picked up the rest relatively quickly.

Rugby league is not anywhere near as difficult as football in terms of technical ability and tactics.

 

[yellowcake]

I am reliably informed that Bolt will not ever be a contracted CCM player.
The player we are chasing is far more exciting.

I too would be well excited if there's a successful and skilled footballer heading our way who will massively improve our on-field performance and fortunes.
However, separately, if there are decisions which have already been made that can filter reliably down to your good self, I hope that Bolt was the first person to be advised of this. Especially as that is at odds with his post-match on Friday and the outline of the "project" from both sides when he first arrived.

 

[style_cafe]

You learn to keep your balls safe

and dry...

 

[yellowcake]

I think the detractors (again, the most extreme typically coming from Australian media and other clubs "purist" fans) have not seen the game in its true context. (Although a guy behind us on Friday night carried on incessantly about Bolt not being on the field and when he came on that he wasn't the best footballer on the park - I mean, do some research and get with the program).

I too was surprised and disappointed by has apparent level of fitness but given that he'd only had 10 days with the squad there was no reason to have high football expectations. It was a night about his introduction to the local fans, not a merit trial (that was just Foxtel's angle). Ten thousand people (despite the cost), the festival atmosphere, Bolt showing his appreciation of that in his post-match and full sideline walk-around for anybody who wanted to see him made it a uniquely special night, no matter what happens from here.

The time for good football is still to come, with or without him. And I'm still not ruling out "with".

 

[Insertnamehere]

I am reliably informed that Bolt will not ever be a contracted CCM player.
The player we are chasing is far more exciting.

CR7?!

 

[sydmariner]

 

[Big Al]

Fox Sports podcast said the ratings were strong for the trial

 

[Offsider]

CR7?!

Mc was quoted in today’s telegraph (woof) ........... he expects to access the 900000 still in the ffa marquee fund when bolt is contracted for 3 million. He said the investment should make us a big club in the a-league etc etc blah blah blah ....... the club needed to think outside the square wtf.

It’s going to be a long season

 

[Coastalraider]

Fox Sports podcast said the ratings were strong for the trial

I’d really like to see those figures compared to last seasons league matches.

 

[tim...]

I’d really like to see those figures compared to last seasons league matches.

It drew 51k on Fox 505, up against two final-round NRL matches (264k and 212k) and the AFL exhibition game featuring old dudes (98k).

Most of our games in the back half of last season from memory drew in sub-40k viewers if I'm not mistaken.

 

[adz]

I missed an AFL exhibition game featuring old dudes?

 

[style_cafe]

I missed an AFL exhibition game featuring old dudes?

Wonder how many people were talking about that game prior to kick-off vs the Bolt game?
Also wonder how many newsreels around the world that the AFL game made?

 

[tim...]

Wonder how many people were talking about that game prior to kick-off vs the Bolt game?
Also wonder how many newsreels around the world that the AFL game made?

That's the thing to consider. The telecast on Foxtel would've had comparitavely little promotion. It's a trial game, the NRL matches it was up against which commanded the primary share that night were final round clashes which both had direct bearing on finals positions.

Then as you say, add in the news coverage it got all over the place (even ABC Offsiders were talking about it on Sunday morning) and the social metrics were ridiculously huge: