On the field, Israel Folau’s AFL career can be described as a flop, an abject failure, a horror show, a waste, a disaster … you name it.
After just 13 games and an almost nonexistent highlights reel, these adjectives are 100% on the money.
But there’s a few – or more precisely, a lot more than a few – people willing to brand Folau’s entire AFL career as these things.
Both the on- and off-field aspects, apparently, have been a flop or failure or disaster.
Some of it is part of the senseless cross-code point-scoring that goes on these days. Some, though, is from fans of other AFL clubs who never took the time to understand why the game would go after an NRL player.
Either way, to brand the entire experiment a failure is wrong.
Folau had already repaid what the AFL invested him in with the publicity his signing generated. If the league were to take out advertisements on all the property media outlets gave to Folau and the Giants in the ensuing couple of days, the total cost would equal if not exceed Folau’s contract.
The publicity, be it good or bad, did not stop after two days, either. There was a lot of the bad, it’s true. “$6 million, 80 minutes … 3 touches,” was The Australian‘s headline after … wait for it … a NAB Cup game.
But let’s be honest, in what other circumstances would a NAB Cup game generate anywhere near the same kind of attention?
There were other advantages to having someone with that profile, too. School visits that would’ve otherwise had kids scratching their heads or counting down to recess were instead massive occasions that had kids in awe and prompted more interest in the Giants.
Sending a couple of first-year players no one in the assembly hall had heard of before would not have made the same kind of impact.
There were commercial benefits, too. Given the Giants were unable to land a big Gary Ablett-type fish, Folau was a player that many fans latched on to.
Kevin Sheedy tweeted the following in September: “Interesting fact – 72 per cent of Giants jumpers sold this year have number 4 on the back. That would be Israel Folau.”
This proves Folau’s off the field impact was so much more than just the publicity he generated those first two days of wearing a charcoal media polo.
It doesn’t cover up what happened on the field. Folau scored two goals in his 13 AFL games as a forward. Even Karmichael Hunt scored one in his debut year, and that was as a defender.
In truth, there were a number of factors that held back Folau on the field. His size meant he was always going to take longer to develop than Hunt. Think how long it took another big man, Mike Pyke, to transition from a similar sport.
There was the footy “nous” that was lacking and a struggle to grasp some of the game’s more fundamental skills.
The other glaring concern was his passion for the game which, as Folau admitted yesterday, wasn’t there.
An underrated factor is that he entered the competition, just like Jack Watts, at a time the game moved away from the “key forward” towards the “power forward”. The shift made Watts, the best junior for his age, look woefully out of his depth on an AFL field. It even made a champion, Nick Riewoldt, go from 9-10 marks and 2-3 goals a game to looking decidedly more human (he averaged 7 marks and just 1.6 goals in 2011 and took even less marks in 2012).
Folau is the same height as Watts and Riewoldt and even though he’s a bit heavier than them, it’s clearly not because of his arms.
But this was just one factor along the journey. The significance of it was that it was one that couldn’t be foreseen.
That it would be a long transformation was always evident. That passion for the game would need to develop goes without saying.
Ultimately, though, while Israel Folau may have been an on-field flop, that shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of how this experiment is measured.
He played a big part in ensuring the Giants’ media relations efforts weren’t a flop.
He played a big part in ensuring many community or school visits weren’t a flop.
He played a big part in ensuring guernsey sales weren’t a flop.
Frankly, he even played a big part in ensuring people knew who the Greater Western Sydney Giants were. Ensuring they simply had a presence.
If the Giants failed to at least tick these boxes, we’d all be talking about a much more significant flop than the one we are today.
For that, the game has a lot to thank Folau for.
Kohagen
Guest
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. At its root, Demetriou. An act of bastardry against a rival code that brought down a champion player and tainted him forever in eyes hundreds of thousands of sport lovers. I fear it speak volumes about the insular mentality and ignorance of Victorians, generalising of course. But... Western Sydney has a team already, they are much loved...The Swans. So the GWS is doomed to fail is it lacks authenticity. By the way, Rugby League is as Australian as Aussie Rules, it began here only 6 or so years after in England, and in England there where Australians playing it from the very start..I guess Melbournites don't watch cricket either, since its a foreign english sport? Another point, in the northern states the same schoolboys play in both the Rugby and the Rugby League teams, some even play Rugby on a saturrday and League on a Sunday. And some others even play Australian rules on the same weekend. In fact, I know of an NRL referee who was a champion schoolboy aussie rules player, then was an NRL player with six clubs. What would you think if the NRL payed Buddy Frankiln 3 million a season just to watch him get destroyed by tougher, more experienced players?
what a laugh
Guest
Typical of the "sydney is the greatest city in the universe"! BS You people need to get out a bit more - ever heard of the Australian Open Tennis,F! GP,Melbourne Cup,Moto GP, Bells Beach surf carnival and yes the massive AFL GF week ( the game itself had at least 5.03 Million viewers nationwide ) NONE of which is held in Sydney! So dont give me the shit about Sydney being better that anywhere else in the Nation because its NOT!
oikee
Guest
Believe what you like Joe, it was the NRL, Australian national rugby league winning the award for multi cultural endevours in London this year, not afl. You will never win a argument on indigernous players, rugby league had the first captain ever to lead a National team. OUr highest paid players are indigernous players. The largest communities in NSW and Queensland happen to be these 2 states, we also work with the Alice and Darwin, you dont own Darwin mate, dont ever think that you do. The Cowboys are as well known in Darwin as any AFL team. Plus they also support our other large indigernous group, the Torres Straight Islands. Islands of Origin rugby league is part of there culture. Joe, maybe you need to travel or do alot better research before you post. Rugby league in PNG is there national sport, and that is 7 million people. You would not walk in there and say anything bad about rugby league, they still eat people in the highlands. :) Mal Meninga is God. Prince Charles is only Pippaninni nubwa one sun of Kwin. :)
oikee
Guest
Nobody is saying that Queenslanders cant do or play any sport they like. Take a brave man to say Queenslanders are hopeless, look at The Croc and Horse Whisperers. What is wrong is paying a superier sportsman like Falou millions to join a sport he never played, even in his early years. It is plain wrong, and the AFL are now being punished. Rugby Union had done the exact same thing nearly a decade earlier, and that venture failed as well. League will always endure, mate the hints are right in front of you, on your tellie. Cockroaches and Canetoads, they will still be around in 2 million years. :)
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
and hes not the only one. Shaun Hampson at Carlton didnt start playing AFL until he was 18 and hes coming along ok. (he was a soccer player and athletics dude before that). One of the gold coast ruckmen was a soccer guy as well before transferring over to the AFL late in life. And those guys are Queenslanders.
cos789
Guest
ah, but there is also a distinction between being aware of something and feeling positive about it. Currently, people in Sydney are aware of the GWS Giants, but there is an overwhelming NEGATIVE conotation/association with them. Fighting that negative public image is the real battle for the GWS Giants over the next 5 years - it took the Swans a long time on that front, and in the end required a serious bail out, some star signings, a premiership and the Super League war to give them a chance in the lime light. It will take a long time before we see the Giants truely established, if it happens at all.
cos789
Guest
An even break? The Sydney media gives the AFL a very healthy share of publicity given the lack of interest in it. Its up to the AFL to make people interested in AFL, not the media. The media is there to report to an audience events the audience is interested in. The media markets simply reflect the interest that exists. Sydney doesn't really care for AFL, so it will struggle for column inches. Rugby League has an even harder task in Melbourne.
bryan
Guest
Glory does pretty well with the ones they have! Dockers!,Glory!---Purple for ever!! shame about Melbourne Storm,though!:(
db swannie
Guest
Joe please use some facts when posting. Johns had no issue with Izzy. Go check the Racist incidents in the AFL for 2012( far ahead of any other code). Because they like to chest beat & pronounce how great they are ,doesnt mean its true. As for other discrimination..Maybe one day a gay player will be able to not hide his sexuality away. There is a very homophobic culture (see 1950s) in the AFL & hopefully one day players can be openly gay ,just like other codes. Wow a Fijian.. We have had them & plenty of other races playing in RL for yrs.(Uate is one of the most famous now,before him Petero & Lote .)
joe b
Guest
Israel jumped at the chance to take the big bucks for a different challenge...it is very lazy and unintelligent to suggest the AFL is some evil monster that forced him against his will to kick a football for a million dollars a year. Also, wasn't Issy the subject of racial comments from Andrew Johns (as was Greg Inglis) in 2010 the year he left league? Are you aware of the great lengths the AFL has gone to stamp out discrimination, of all sorts, from the game and it is roundly applauded for it's efforts and successes to date. Do you know who is arguably one of the most recognised names and faces of the AFL today is? it is Nic Natanui, a Fijian Australian, playing for west coast eagles.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Most Aussie Rules supporters didn't know who Folau was 3 years ago.Well, they may have heard his name when he played for the Storm, but even that's arguable. They know more now, but it still matters nought. His failure is no great surprise to anyone. The whole scheme was destined to fail. The poor bloke had no idea from day one. But, back in the real world, it will be a frosty day in hell when Rugby League has the ammunition on any level to place a second team in Melbourne. Thanks again to Oikee for his dazzling insights, that, as per usual, are bloody minded rubbish.
mick h
Guest
the mistake gws has made is involving canberra it may be a commercial success but convincing pure western sydney people is a battle the afl have underestimated.all clubs and codes have inflated crowds but being a RAS member i have to question the posted crowds at the showground.
jamesb
Guest
Folau is now a past player of the Giants. You can have a debate or go around in circles to figure out what sort of legacy Folau has given to GWS and AFL. But like I said, Folau is a former player now, the "Poster Boy" is gone. People need to start debating about the future. What do the Giants do now?
oikee
Guest
Not really has to be questioned, most in Queensland and New South Wales know that a Draft system is wrong and wont work for a cultural society with Indigenous and Island cultures. Rugby league has dealt with these indigenous and Islands for nearly a century and know exactly how to cultivate and move players around, as little as possible until they are ready. Israel's return will now improve our Islands assualt which has been 100 years in the making, unlike the AFL who again had no regard to tradition or culture but tired to use Israel like a wet rag and push their cause on the Islanders. With cash flowing like the mighty Brisbane river into rugby league, with Israel now hoime with his proper family, you will again start to see him smile. Something that has been missing for 2 years now. Its a cultural thing, a island thing. Cheers.
Fitzy
Guest
Okie whatever your smoking cut back mate, your talking crap. AFL has been in Sydney since the late 1800's. Sydney is not the centre of the universe and RL is not going to disapear! But neither is AFL! GWS when their young players are up to 50 games will perform, lets see what happens then when their winning games.
Fitzy
Guest
Here it comes bringing soccer back into it, when will you pathetic little people ever let it go. You dont want a fair go for soccer you want world domination. You may not like aussie rules but people do, at least its AUSTRALIAN, if you dont like it dont watch!
jeznez
Roar Guru
Fair enough mate, am mostly playing devils advocate. Am curious what names would be thrown up of the guys who might make not just succesful cross-overs but great cross-overs. I don't think Folau given the aerobic requirements of the game was a great option, despite his size and leaping/catching ability.
Steve
Guest
“Interesting fact – 72 per cent of Giants jumpers sold this year have number 4 on the back. That would be Israel Folau.” He played a big part in ensuring many community or school visits weren’t a flop. He played a big part in ensuring guernsey sales weren’t a flop. Frankly, he even played a big part in ensuring people knew who the Greater Western Sydney Giants were. Ensuring they simply had a presence. If the Giants failed to at least tick these boxes, we’d all be talking about a much more significant flop than the one we are today. -----> my question is, what about tomorrow? If Folau was responsible for so much, aren't GWS in a world of trouble now?
Swampy
Guest
Regardless of how much money it span - the Israel Folau experiment was a failure. He was no good at footy. The Michael Jordan baseball experiment was a failure also - he was no good at baseball! However, nearly everyone on the planet knows he went and played minor league baseball. Not unlike how most NRL fans know Issy played AFL. No matter what way you put it the awareness of AFL was raised regardless of the performance. It's all the AFL was after. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
yewonk
Guest
His return game to the NRL should see a spike in the audience in non-traditional areas, as will his return to Origin. It’s just logical that people are more likely to tune in if they are familiar with the participants and know their story. rubbish no one in wa or sa will flinch as folau going back to league.