Roar Rookie
Joined May 2014
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After three days of finger pointing, note taking, laborious submissions, men in wigs chuckling at jokes we mere mortals don't understand, and plenty of…
Now that the ‘Buddy will destroy the Swans culture' and COLA debates are nearing exhaustion, the focus is squarely back on the Swans Academy…
I love all sport and this is not a ridicule of other codes. I'm a member of my local NRL team, have travelled to…
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and the inevitable annual outcry that the game of AFL is being ruined. The primary, though…
One of my favourite sayings is "too much sport is never enough". Coincidentally, it's one of my wife's least favourite. Over the next six…
At the 1974 Football World Cup, the world was captivated as Holland unleashed a style of football never seen before. 'Total Football' introduced the…
My focus wasn’t on ASADA, simply the whole mess this has turned into with no end in sight – many people are sick of it (apart from the lawyers).
Though I agree that a number of individuals at Essendon were certainly to blame…
Much ASADA'bout nothing
Absolutely – and proud of it 🙂 But – I repeat – my life is generally consumed by every kind of sport. For 35 years my passion was soccer – both watching and playing and I still love the game to death. I support my local NRL team, really enjoy top class Union and am currently suffering from more sleep deprivation thanks to the Tour. Maybe the title of my article should have been ‘the greatest game according to Mick’ but it wouldn’t have the same ring to it…but my sentiments are genuine, AFL is a wonderful sport.
Australian football: The greatest game in the world
May I ask why – I’m genuinely interested and I think its a shame the sport loses such a good supporter. My figures are more or less exactly the same as yours, yet I just seem to enjoy the game more and more each passing year…
Australian football: The greatest game in the world
I’m not surprised – Australian football, unlike soccer / rugby never translates well on to the TV unless you know what you’re looking at – the oval ground, movement in all directions and 36 players just looks odd. The other codes are perfect for TV – rectangular ground and movement predominantly in a forward direction that can be easily followed (note – not saying the other codes are ‘simple’)!
Over the years i’ve taken many people to an AFL game. Not everyone falls in love with it like i did – in fact some just aren’t interested. But – every single one of them has commented to the effect of that ‘they understand it far better’ and would be far better placed to watch a game on TV (if they ever chose to). It was in fact part of my argument with my mates – where I was insistent they had to see a game live…
Australian football: The greatest game in the world
Sorry to be pedantic but Aussie Rules ‘existed’ before soccer – the first agreed rules were written in 1858, 5 years prior to the FA’s first soccer rules drawn up in 1863. Prior to those times ‘football’ was played in many guises, generally determined by what university / part of the world the game was being played – each had their own set of ‘rules’ which varied considerably….
Australian football: The greatest game in the world
Plenty of cold beer in Boro, also plenty of good CAMRA pubs serving great cask ale, which may be accurately described as ‘warm’….
Of course its a subjective argument, and I prefaced the article by saying I love all sport, and this was not an attack on other codes (most of which I watch, and enjoy every week). It was an attempt to put forward some of the arguments why I prefer AFL to other sports – nothing more, nothing less. Not sure why you therefore need to label the target audience as possessing stupid prejudices…
Australian football: The greatest game in the world
Genuinely interested in your comment – why do you think its never been worse? I’ve been watching it for 25 years and its the best I can remember in that time….
Australian football: The greatest game in the world
Absolutely spot on – the game has never been in better shape, and the amount of negativity is madness. It’s just media saturation where each commentator is trying desperately to be ‘heard’, or seen to be some kind of wise old sage bowing their head to popular opinion.
The sky is not falling in the AFL
Nope-I don’t mind them either. Just one small component of the game and I’m interested how each team sets up during, and after the ‘maul’ (we really should think of a better word as opposed to stealing something from union). Watching how quickly the Swans spread after the ball is released is great to watch, and it’s obviously coached at training.
AFL footy is alive and well
Fair point – and sincere apologies! FWIW – I love football – played it for over 40 years, followed my team all over the UK for 25 years, flown back to the UK on many occasions for the weekend just to watch my team, been to World Cups etc – truly love it.
But – the one thing about the game that makes me shake my head is the playing for free kicks, over-reacting to the slightest of touches, backchat to the ref’s. I know all players aren’t guilty, but its part of the game. Unlike AFL where its not accepted (or never will be) by either the players or supporters…
AFL footy is alive and well
One thing is certain – if the game ever did change to 16 players, there would be a raft of the ‘unintended consequences’ I refer to in the article. There would be another set of new problems, which would invariably bring the complaints about the game to a whole new level.
I think the game is brilliant as it is and its still ‘our’ game. I’m all for tweaking rules at times – play on from a point, throw the ball up at stoppages were two fantastic innovations that made the game better without impacting its identity. But 16 a side – not for me.
Cheers
Mick
AFL footy is alive and well
Thanks Michael – appreciated. You’re right, the game is different (and far better for it) but its still our game – this rubbish about it not being an indigenous game anymore just beggars belief, and what’s more surprising is its coming from the mouths of many whom I respect. This week, of all people, I heard Gerard Healy bemoaning the fact; its like everyone is losing a grip on reality and that’s what drove me to write the article.
Re the death of the old fashioned big power forward, I’m sometimes bemused by the adulation for guys who stood in the goal square for four quarters and kicking 6 goals. I find it more fascinating to watch a key forward apply incredible defensive pressure, shake a hard tag, run up the ground and contribute to the game in many ways – but as you rightly say, its a generational thing!
AFL footy is alive and well
Sorry – you’re absolutely right – I’m blaming the thought of sleep deprivation for my glaring omission…
ABC2 tonight at 11pm – Go Hockeyroos, Go Kookaburras!
World Cup just the beginning of six weeks of sporting nirvana
Hack? 35 goals in half a season of footy last year, averages 2 goals a game over his career and caused a national outcry when the Swans had the audacity to sign him after winning a Flag?
He’s certainly not a ‘Champion’, and without doubt has suffered from injury. But he’s a fine player with room for improvement – not how I’d define a ‘hack’.
AFL Round 8 preview
It was ludicrous – because it merely reaffirmed that the whole 3 days was in effect a pointless exercise.
Much ASADA'bout nothing