I currently live in the Netherlands but used to support Ajax many moons ago - along with Chelsea - before the Abramovich take-over finally persuaded me that soccer as a sport was just one massive crock of [censored]: sportsmen as a dynamic visual representation of arrows on a spread-sheet. Anyways, I thought there were some interesting and uncanny parallels with Ajax's current resurgence and the MFC related in this article - in general philosophy and on-field approach. A worthwhile sporting read regardless.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/may/10/ajax-johan-cruyff-peter-bosz-europa-league-lyon

The basic assumption is that: after focusing on in-house development and again rising to some prominence, Ajax will nevertheless have their players raided at season's end and that soccer's capitalistic imbalance will prevail. Yet, while it is true that Ajax won't likely overcome the 'big club' status quo, they will receive some decent compensation for lost personnel to continue building on steadily into the future. And this has got me thinking . . .

We still think of the salary cap as the primary equalisation measure in the AFL. Yet, the draft and ability to develop (based on functions outside of the cap) are massive - as this is where you get a free injection to your bottom line. The GWS equation has driven this home. We haven't just fluffed selections as potential on-field saviours in the past, we've lost serious market currency; e.g. Toumpas for basically nought.

The thing is now - we've assembled a seriously talented list of youngsters, and while we may be concerned we can't keep them together, we've got ourselves into a position where we'll be compensated enough to keep the momentum rolling. Kudos to Jackson and Roos. This is the real 'money-ball' at play.

 

Isn't Ajax toilet cleaner?

2 hours ago, Josh said:

Isn't Ajax toilet cleaner?

I thought it was the Jewish team in the ammos where Whispering Jack threw his elbows around in the 60's.

 

Hi Skuit, I used to enjoy watching Ajax (I-ox if I remember correctly) when living in Europe many years ago. Johan Cruyff was my favourite player, the Robert Flower of soccer i.e. graceful and elegant.

I certainly remember Ajax as a powerhouse in those days.

ps: how's the weed over there (no, not him, it!)

1 hour ago, Biffen said:

I thought it was the Jewish team in the ammos where Whispering Jack threw his elbows around in the 60's.

 

It was one Under 19 practice match and, apart from a magnificent goal (kicked when I was 40 metres clear of any opposition player), it wasn't so auspicious and I never threw any elbows. I was too smart for that!

Since there's no MFC game on in town today, I will probably get down to the old Brunswick Street Oval where Ajax is playing Fitzroy. Yes, that's Fitzroy which used to play VFL in the 60's. The ground looks magnificent these days with one grandstand (a little rickety) still intact, a magnificent atmosphere where you can close your eyes and imagine the likes of the late Lou Richards and Butch Gale running around - and taste the delights of one of the best canteens in the VAFA. Why would anyone want to go to Adelaide?

There were too Ajaxes (Ajaxs? Ajaxi?) in The Iliad. Couple of Burly Brutes, Ajax the Greater was physically the mightiest of the Achaeans. Ajax the Lesser was really only 'lesser' next to Ajax the Greater. Sucks to be him, I guess. Bit like being Alexander the Pretty Good.

Also, I support Whispering Jack's sentiment - I've had an embarrassing kick around or two on quiet afternoons at Brunswick Street Oval and it really is quite picturesque. And you can always visit the little bourgeois-ironic shopping nearby. (Oh, I'm so poor, all I can afford is this old desk lamp from the 80s which I paid $40 for. #bargainhuntwins #authentic)

58 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

It was one Under 19 practice match and, apart from a magnificent goal (kicked when I was 40 metres clear of any opposition player), it wasn't so auspicious and I never threw any elbows. I was too smart for that!

Since there's no MFC game on in town today, I will probably get down to the old Brunswick Street Oval where Ajax is playing Fitzroy. Yes, that's Fitzroy which used to play VFL in the 60's. The ground looks magnificent these days with one grandstand (a little rickety) still intact, a magnificent atmosphere where you can close your eyes and imagine the likes of the late Lou Richards and Butch Gale running around - and taste the delights of one of the best canteens in the VAFA. Why would anyone want to go to Adelaide?

Great Oval WJ .

The last time I was there was for a wedding.

The Grandstand is a beauty.

When I'm there I imagine Kevin Murray or Roosy running around for the Roy boys.

Sadly, the area has been over run with hipsters and pseudo royalty such as Earl Hood.

4 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Since there's no MFC game on in town today, I will probably get down to the old Brunswick Street Oval where Ajax is playing Fitzroy. Yes, that's Fitzroy which used to play VFL in the 60's. The ground looks magnificent these days with one grandstand (a little rickety) still intact, a magnificent atmosphere where you can close your eyes and imagine the likes of the late Lou Richards and Butch Gale running around - and taste the delights of one of the best canteens in the VAFA. Why would anyone want to go to Adelaide?

The Fitzroy (Brisbane Lions) team of the century poster is a beauty, set against the backdrop of the old Brunswick Oval grandstand, with Butch, Murray, Bunton, Quinlan, some bloke called Roos.

 

3 hours ago, Biffen said:

Great Oval WJ .

The last time I was there was for a wedding.

The Grandstand is a beauty.

When I'm there I imagine Kevin Murray or Roosy running around for the Roy boys.

Sadly, the area has been over run with hipsters and pseudo royalty such as Earl Hood.

Picturing Old Kev Murray running around for the Roy Boys on the hallowed turf at Brunswick Street is fine but Roosy - definitely not. 

It was a dark day in 1966 that the Fitzroy Football Club moved its home ground to Princes Park before heading off to the Junction Oval in 1969 and later spending time at at Victoria Park and back to Princes Park from whence it was banished to a place far north of the border so Roosy never played on the ground.

Back on topic (well, sort of) to Ajax, the Royboys have opened up an early three goal lead and if you're holding out for the replay ... look away.

5 hours ago, Biffen said:

 

Sadly, the area has been over run with hipsters and pseudo royalty such as Earl Hood.

The technical term is Fitzroyalty

9 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

The technical term is Fitzroyalty

another gentrified struggle town

Ajax is what my brother named his cockatoo many years ago; sadly Ajax is in no longer with us, but when i saw the name i thought i would share that little [censored]-bit.

This thread is the definition of 'association' football.

12 hours ago, Josh said:

Isn't Ajax toilet cleaner?

Could never understand why they named a cleaning product after an ancient Greek warrior. Then realised the agency must have misinterpreted the 'tough on grease' copy-brief as 'tough in Greece'.

1 hour ago, Moonshadow said:

The technical term is Fitzroyalty

Fitzroyalty only applies to Old Fitzroy. 

The Standard is Fitzroyalty.

18 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Could never understand why they named a cleaning product after an ancient Greek warrior. Then realised the agency must have misinterpreted the 'tough on grease' copy-brief as 'tough in Greece'.

Fair enough, didn't know Ajax was a Greek warrior. You learn something everyday

Hot-damn: I knew there was a connection.

Check out the current Champions League semi-finalist Ajax's twitter scroll from April 17 for an appearance of our own Big Max: https://twitter.com/AFCAjax?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Or from gawndog37 himself who now appears to be a fan: https://twitter.com/gawndog37?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Jack Fitzpatrick thinks it's 'huge'.

Also, Goody recently stated that soccer was one of the sports he has been drawing from, as well as field hockey, interestingly.

 

Great to see Ajax back up and competing at the top end, even if it is only temporary. I’m in a similar boat that I’ve lost interest in football/soccer as the ridiculous amounts of money took over.

As for the premise of the thread, I agree, and it’s why I believe GWS will stay strong for a while yet. They might lose players but due to the quality of those players, they will always be at the pointy end of the draft. They can just keep brining in elite talent, like for like.

Strange I always aligned Spurs (see avatar) with the Dees, big in the 50's and 60's and a dusty trophy cabinet since. Good Luck Skuitt for the semi finals and you know who I'll be supporting COYS....COYD's

Anyone but Spurs, anyone. Come on Ajax.

 

P.S Spurs have never been big, ever.

Edited April 20, 20195 yr by danielE288

23 minutes ago, Demon_spurs said:

Strange I always aligned Spurs (see avatar) with the Dees, big in the 50's and 60's and a dusty trophy cabinet since. Good Luck Skuitt for the semi finals and you know who I'll be supporting COYS....COYD's

Similar story to Nottingham Forest (see username). And in both cases, I’m too young to have been around for any of the successful years

!

Edited April 20, 20195 yr by Redleg

Seeing the title i was expecting a grudge match between the Greek Hero Ajax and his mighty axe against the MFC players.

disappointed again