The Roar
The Roar

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Less is more, let's just enjoy AFL in its current form

Roar Rookie
15th February, 2015
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Roar Rookie
15th February, 2015
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AFL is arguably the biggest sport in Australia, with teams in most states around the country and a code that has been a core component of Australian culture for the best part a century.

So why is such a successful sport constantly looking to change the foundations of the game that made it so popular?

First, let’s clear up one thing. Natural progression of the rules in any sport is understandable. For example, 30 years ago the goal review system wasn’t possible because of the level of technology, but as technology has progressed so have the rules to incorporate such advancements. Other rule changes are associated with advancements in player safety, and obviously therefore most of these changes are understandable.

But the question is, where do we stop? Changing the game to make it safer or to incorporate modern technology is perfectly reasonable, but changing the game simply for the sake of it is not. Unfortunately, it’s becoming the common practice of AFL management to constantly try and alter the game.

Last year an idea was floated that absolutely shocked me – zones.

The AFL were examining the idea of implementing zones into the game, just like netball, in an attempt to make the game a more open, free-flowing spectacle. Thankfully, at least so far, this idea has been scrapped.

But the scary thing is that crazy ideas like zones are not an isolated incident by the AFL. It seems like almost every year they get a study done, presumably by somebody that has never seen a minute of football, in which outlandish ideas are suggested.

To me an old saying sums up the whole situation, ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’. Football in Australia is and will remain highly popular, as long as the core components of the game aren’t lost through the modern fascination with constantly changing.

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The game is great, let’s just sit back and enjoy it.

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