After more than four years at the helm, The Roar today bids farewell to its longest-tenured editor in Daniel Jeffrey.
Daniel – or ‘Jeffers’ as he’s better known – became Roar editor in February 2017.
He had massive shoes to fill after the departure of Patrick Effeney, who, like Tristan Rayner and the Zavos brothers before him, took The Roar from a blog for Spiro Zavos to a website that reaches more than a million Australians every month.
Despite many big changes over the years, Jeffers has always stayed true to the website’s core values and ensured it has remained a community for robust sporting discussion.
Through the extreme challenges COVID put forth last year, it was his tireless effort that kept things ticking.
Anyone who uses and enjoys The Roar today owes him a massive ‘thank you’ for the work he’s done over the last four years, but especially for his Herculean efforts in 2020.
If you ever met or spoke to Jeffers, you’d know how much he cares about the site and the people who use it.
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He was always happy to take a phone call after hours from a young writer or blogger who wanted some advice or just to double check they were doing everything correctly.
He was always happy to back writers who weren’t afraid to put forth something controversial (so long as they were prepared to back up their arguments with evidence!)
Crucially, he was always on the lookout for promising writers and interns, setting them up for more opportunities with the site and for careers in journalism after writing for The Roar.
While The Roar is a place for all sports, it’s no secret that rugby – thanks to the site’s history – is where our community is most engaged. Jeffers, as a result, put his allegiances with Wests Tigers and the Sydney Swans to one side and immersed himself in everything rugby.
(Let’s face it, he hasn’t missed much with the Tigers in that time anyway.)
He’s become an astute watcher of the game thanks in no small part to education from the likes of expert writers Nick Bishop, Geoff Parkes and Brett McKay.
The sign of a good editor is catering to your audience and knowing what will work before it even goes live. Jeffers was always two steps ahead on that front and his organisation and planning for events will be sorely missed.
He steered the ship for Melbourne Cups, grand finals, State of Origins, World Cups and, of course, Wallabies Tests. He was at his happiest when the website was humming on high traffic days – a sign that you, our readers, were loving the content.
We’ll always remember how calm he was even during those high stress events, which helped put us all at ease.
Thanks to Jeffers’ service and hard work, we have a structure in place to carry on his legacy. Many of the ideas he implemented will continue and The Roar will go on thanks to its most important asset. You.
We wish him all the best for whatever the future holds and hope that we continue to see him around, even if it’s just in the comments section for some banter.
Jeffers, it’s been an absolute blast working alongside you and we’ll miss you more than you can imagine.
If you thought the list of people you needed to thank was long, we can guarantee the list of people who want to thank you is much, much longer.
All the best,
Benjamin Conkey and Stirling Coates.
matth
Roar Guru
Good luck with your next endeavour Daniel. You have made The Roar better for being here, which also means by extension you have made Australian sport better for us all.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I'm not crying, you're crying
JamesH
Roar Guru
Cheers for all your work making the Roar a great community, Dan. All the best!
peter chrisp
Guest
Good luck to you & your family your knowledge has been outstanding & a great sense of humour all the best 4 your future endeavours
Boo
Guest
All the best Daniel be proud of your time with the Roar through this tedium of Covid restrictions the articles on these articles helped fill in my day .Whatever you do next reflect on your role in helping make the Roar the best forum for old sports " junkies " like me .Cheers .
Carlin
Roar Rookie
All the best in what the future holds for you Daniel mate. We really appreciate your efforts with ensuring The Roar is a high quality sports site.
Jarrod Murray
Roar Rookie
Congrats on a great four years Daniel! Wish you all the best in your next endeavour.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Thank you Daniel. I’m very pleased The Roar was able to support Australian sport & their fans who write articles. Enjoy the A-League grand final this weekend. Cheers again. - Brendan
ChickenGeorge
Guest
Daniel, thanks for the memories, just a few words I’ve penned for you before a dignified exit: Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. All the best mate :thumbup:
Clay
Roar Pro
Thanks Daniel, and congratulations on a great 4 years. Greatly appreciated the feedback you gave last year while I was writing - I've kept it in mind ever since. Best of luck for the future.
Machooka
Roar Guru
:thumbup: Yep... a big thumbs-up all round on that one! :silly:
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Thank you, Mr Tragic, you are most welcome.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
It's been my pleasure Tony, thank you for all your contributions.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Cheers Christo
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Thanks EFF
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Thank you, Sinclair. Glad you enjoy the site
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
I thought we'd been talking rugby for even longer than that... In all seriousness, been an absolute pleasure working with you mate, and I appreciate this message to no end.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Thanks Peter. I do miss the podcast, was good fun (but an awful lot of work to put together!). Thanks for being such a great member of the site
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Cheers Robbo. Unfortunately there were a few travel plans in the works... scuppered for now, I'm afraid
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Thanks Doran