To encourage expansion, AFL should use a round ball

You don't get it though. AFL does not want to turn into NRL! They want to keep it a sport that involves skills, not like Rugby League!!!!!!!

The drop punt, stab pass, reverse torpie (banana) stab kick are all australian fooball kicks invented, practised , perfected and passed on through the generations, father to son, coach to player even the old time players who used drop kicks were so much better than the ones they use in rugby today.

America has been exposed to it through Ben Graham playing in the NFL, The All Blacks kicking coach former Hawthorn/Sydney swans footballer Micheal Byrne has also got the All blacks using it.

Now you show great skills at dribbling alot of nothing.

The drop punt was developed in Australian football as it the most easily read when it hits the ground bounce wise and easiest to mark It is far far easier to judge what a soccer ball is going to do when it hits the deck, although playing a game that does not allow you to touch the ball with your hands makes the average soccer player far more adept with their foot skills, that i assume would be common knowledge. Anyone can play kick to kick with a soccer ball and get it pretty right , but can anyone pass a aussie rules ball drop punt style backwards and forwards with control in a kick to kick session. I did hear that Collingwood was to have a a game against Dublin in international rules this year, dont know what happenened to it, would have drawn 80k in Ireland.

I think a round ball would ruin the very nature of AFL. But play it in a regulation square pitch? That I'd love to see with the action that would follow from the players being closer together.

Cuzy Bros. I take it that yours' is well meaning advice rather than some sort of jingoistically inspired threat? I mean no disrespect but I'm not your bros and the Haka has to be fair game, given it pitches itself as a marketing tool and as such derives world wide exposure, otherwise it should probably be confined to its true cultural sacrosanct origins. I know many Kiwis who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment that if anything, the Haka seems to be suffering from exploitation and so degenerating into a bit of a circus. This is probably more appropriately discussed on another thread rather than one discussing the Australian game, so lets just leave it at that 'cobber, digger, blue'.

Correct - AFL is a broader skills base, and 18 players each on the field helps ensure that, a larger field, more players and no technical 'off side' restrictive rules etc. It's a far more intuitive game. There's perhaps as a result a greater capacity for 'natural' talent to shine through, or for strong attributes in certain areas to be able to at least balance out if not overcome deficiencies in other areas. Soccer isn't quite so forgiving. It's a very highly developed skill level requirement in a narrower band of skills. However, comparing the skill level of the HAL to the AFL is a vastly different exercise to comparing the EPL to the AFL. At the end of the day - it's folly to compare positioning/movement of an off-side game with one that is a non-off-side game. However, if certain concepts can't be taught......then.....perhaps there's a problem there in the manner of teaching??

If they use 'a proper ball' it will be called Soccer I would think and we already have that one covered dont we Mr Cheese? Again, we have no great need to join the world since they are joining us in droves as the latest U.N. report on 'Development and Migration' attests. Many of these new migrants are keenly dropping the rooond ball for the Sherrin so the trouble may well be a yours.

You cannot even compare the skill required to play soccer to AFL. It is on another level. Stick your best AFL player in one of the best soccer leagues in the world and see how he goes, say La Liga. How do you think he will handle crossing codes? Juggling is just for control, in a game you have a heartbeat on the ball so the moves have to be instinctive cause you dont have the time to think about it. This takes forever to learn and thats just the beginning, then there is accurate passing on the ground, in the air with a curving ball or straight volley. When your good enough at it then you start doing it with one touch, both feet. Then you have to be able to trap the ball. We havent even got into shooting yet and dont forget this is all with someone breathing down your neck and under fatigue. TBH we dont even have this ability in our Australian players. I think this is why Australia has always produced good defenders, goalkeepers and midfielders but very few attackers. You can get away with brute force and physical ability in defence but it does only so uch for you in the final third of the paddock. You need skills, cunning and smarts to beat the brutes and take your shot. How about the next time one of the AFL players has to jump up and catch the ball he instead takes a shot on goal with his first touch.

I'd disagree. The only constant is change. Why wouldn't you want to expand. On a world scheme of things noone watches / cares about the AFL...

Football (soccer) is much more technical / tactical. Despite the skill set it's a harder game to develop into a good player. You have to grow up with it. I know many Football players who have gone on to play AFL and done well. Not one AFL player is able to adapt and play well in Football. Sure they can kick, and some can juggle but positioning and movement along with the tactics are much more advanced.

Guys - we rely on you to report inappropriate comments. Please use this tool to ensure The Roar is a place for informed, respectful and on-topic sports opinion and debate. Zac The Roar

you show no respect I would expect none in return young grasshopper.

regarding the HAKA bro. Take a tip from me. NEVER and I mean NEVER insult the HAKA to a Kiwis face bro, I want an appology bro!!!!

Tram #59 into the city, destination unknown at this stage. :-)

Do you wonder where these folk come from......trolling on the AFL tab.......ah the nerve of such folk!! btw - where's Lovett going??

some great banana goals this year. Leon Davis in particular has mastered the art.

Agreed. A soccer fan's wishful thinking.

I'm like a boomerang.......well you can figure out the metaphor all by yourself. For someone who alledgely has no interest you seem to be posting on AFL a wee bit. :-) It's Ok release your pain.