Footy lingo - especially for newbies

[sharp9]

Don't forget that if you are no good you will go "back the the Magoos where you belong." Mr. Magoo was a kids TV character (I think) who, conveniently rhymes with "twos" ie the reserves (not the ones!)

[royboy42]

Twos also the 'dew kickers'.
Even further back, the 'seconds'. In those days there were also the 'thirds'!
Every game in 50s , and well into the 60s had the 3rds at 8 am or so, then the 2nds and the firsts at 2ish.
Often the seconds would be coming off the field as the firsts ran on..
You sure got bang for your buck back then.

[dejavoodoo44]

OK, another one, probably with a clearer answer. What does flying the flag mean? Best I can gather it is when teammates retaliate after the opponents get some cheap shot on a player. Has it gone out of vogue? Did it used to be considered strategic or honourable? Has it become less common? And is that because coaches and teams consider it is smarter not to retaliate (just be "professional" and "disciplined") or for a different reason? Is there a contrary view that there is still a place for it or is this just a view held by fans?

Yes, "flying the flag" generally means making it obvious where your true allegiances lie. Which can often be as part of a melee. I'm pretty sure it has it's origins as an old nautical term, possibly from the 18th century. That is, it comes about from hostile ships sailing under false or neutral flags, and then hoisting their true colours when in reach of their target. For instance, a pirate ship sailing with a British flag and then changing to a Jolly Roger.

[56-14]

My understanding of "Flying the Flag" is not the retaliation or part of a melee thing.
Rather - let's hang in there - down & out, but don't capitulate, don't throw in the towel.

[sharp9]

My understanding of "Flying the Flag" is not the retaliation or part of a melee thing.
Rather - let's hang in there - down & out, but don't capitulate, don't throw in the towel.

No, flying the Flag is always in reference to the physical stuff...as in soldiers planting the Flag at the Top of Iwo Jima....Richie Van den Berg anyone....he also marked a "Line in the sand"....(See the Sands of Iwo Jima)

https://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgu...50&vet=1&w=602

[Nico]

A player was said to be a "weak reed" if they were an outside player who didn't like the hard stuff. Also a player who "pulled out" of a contest was said to have "shirked the issue". It was said they were a "shirker".

[56-14]

Any posters see Ken Boyd in action?
"Flag Flyer" or just a tough b...... ?

[Nico]

I saw him when I was fairly young. I was at Carlton ground when knocked out John Nicholls and at Collingwood when he went toe to toe with "Hooker" Harrison. Kenny was more likely to be the aggressor in an era when the likes of Carlton and Colingwood had outright thugs. A rarity at South. The story goes that in his first Under 19's game playing in the ruck, he left a trail of bodies in his wake as the ball moved up and down the ground. Off the field he became a respected insurance agent and manager for National Mutual. I think he suffered white line fever, or what may have been an intense dislike for some of the dogs of the game. Before the Nicholls incident I recall he was seen as tough but fair for the times. Nicholls kicked him in the family jewels at a centre bounce and he chased him to the forward pocket, knocking him out and I think fracturing his skull. He wasn't reported but I believe Sun journalist Kevin Hogan lagged him in an article, the VFL called an inquiry and he got 12 weeks. A travesty because the trail was cold. Most reporting at the time was heavily slanted to Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne and Essendon. He feared no one.

[bloodspirit]

Another one I was fuzzy on: a 'Joe the Goose' goal.

I found this definition on the web: A Joe the Goose is a handball over the top of an opponent's flailing arms to a teammate who is standing on his own in the goal square. The teammate then casually turns around and pops it through for the easiest of goals.

So, a subset of the goals 'out the back' or 'over the top'. Does everyone agree this is what a Joe the Goose goal is? Any idea where the expression comes from? Nico?

[bloodspirit]

Can someone explain what is a 'power forward'? How are they different to a 'full forward' or even a centre half forward, all of whom are tall forward positions. CHF plays higher than FF and is presumably more mobile and better at leading? Whereas I think the FF is the burly beast (like BBBBH or Plugger) and good at winning the ball one on one and, perhaps, out marking their direct opponent. But the 'power forward' loses me and often seems to be referred to as distinct from the others.

Just having a quick look on Wikipedia and I get the impression that a power forward can be either FF or CHF and they specialise in crashing packs.

[Bloods05]

Your last paragraph sums it up. It's just a big powerful guy who plays forward and uses his size and physicality to outmuscle opponents. Can be FF, can be CHF. People like Gunston and Westhoff are marking forwards, but not power forwards. Plugger was the archetypal power forward. Others would be Jonathan Brown, Wayne Carey, Taylor Walker and Travis Cloke. Sam Reid is not one yet, but looking at the size he has put on he might just move into that category in the next year or two.

[dimelb]

I don't know whether there is an official or semi-official definition, but I think of the power forward as the very desirable combination of size and speed, especially over the first 20-30 metres. Other desirable attributes include strong safe hands and timing the run. Plugger would have to be about the best of all time, as one of our members reminds us; others would include Baz as you mentioned, Alastair Lynch, Tom Hawkins and others of that ilk.