The Swans accused of foul play: once again!

 

Roar Pro

By Bill T, 26 Mar 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

• Tweet this
• Email to friend

2 Have your say

Not a week goes by that the Swans are not accused by the Melbourne football press or the AFL administration of some ghastly sin.

In 2005 the Swans used the technique given the name of flooding to good effect actually winning the Premiership flag. Flooding means that the whole 18 players move up and down the field, total defense and total attack.

No big deal to a follower of football or either of the two rugby codes, since the off side rule prevents attackers from being ahead of the ball.

But it was new thinking to the hide bound AFL administration.

Flooding places a huge emphasis on fitness because an AFL pitch is roughly 200 metres long. But dopes from the AFL dismissed flooding as heresy.

Then early in 2008 the Swans were accused of yet another foul sin. This time it was ‘tanking’, an American word invention given to the practice of deliberately losing games.

Paul Roos, the Swans’ coach, was accused of deliberately losing a trial game and dragged before Judge Winneke of the AFL, only to be exonerated. A week later Carlton, the team accused of deliberately losing home and away games by one of their former coaches, thereby ensuring first round draft picks, were exonerated without any resort to legal theatrics.

Now there are claims about the illegality of the Swans using ‘tunneling’.

We old time followers of the code scratched our collective heads, then a little light dawned. Really high marks or grabs are taken when the player at the rear of the pack uses the ones in front to secure a lift.

Many old time players of note were smallish men who took acrobatic high marks by virtue of securing a ride. It is all in the timing, with the guy at the rear taking off at precisely the right time.

The overriding rule in AFL is “in the back free kick” with the man in front going for the ball being protected.

But when the ball is in the air and players are attempting to gather it, the “in the back free kick rule” becomes ambivalent.

To protect the spectacle of the big ride on someone’s back or purchase secured by a boot in the back, a mark will be awarded if grabbing the ball is the aim. With the eyes on the ball all is forgiven.

So what of ‘tunneling’? A Melbourne verbal invention, it would seem to refer to the guy at the front of the pack in a marking contest having the effrontery to move out of the way, ensuring that his back is not used as as stepladder.

With no back to lean on, the guy at the rear of the pack launching himself willy nilly will stand a fair chance of landing on his head.

Nick Riewoldt of St Kilda, a forward known for his marking prowess, did this last Saturday evening with great aplomb when his Swans opponent moved aside.

Landing of your nut once or twice tends to dampen the enthusiasm for taking the big mark. Rather like commonsense really, and as old as the game.

Just another free swing at the Swans by the AFL and the Melbourne press.

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.