I know this is all in good fun, how does a goalie not get sick of this and just toss out a poke check on one of these clowns?

The only time I've ever had Fernet is when it was given to me free from a bartender, or bought for me by a friend... who is a bartender. It's like the Secret Society of Bartenders decided they needed an insider drink and settled on whatever was in the dustiest bottle on the shelf.