Colin Garland of Melbourne, Josh Fraser of Collingwood and Mark Jamar of Melbourne react as the final siren sounds to signal a draw during the AFL Round 12 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Collingwood Magpies at the MCG, Melbourne. Slattery Images
Draws. They happen once or twice a year and leave everybody involved feeling hollow and unfulfilled. Yet they’ve got their place. When the final siren sounded with Melbourne and Collingwood locked on 76 at the MCG yesterday, that foreign feeling returned.
No winner, no loser, no club song. Nobody knows what to do.
Indeed, the inevitable and usual outcries for extra-time following a draw returned again following Monday’s result, with Channel Ten’s One Week At A Time last night leading the calls in favour of the idea.
The argument is the game needs to reach a resolution and extra-time could be employed as a way to find a winner whilst also providing exciting entertainment for the fans, ala the NBA.
Even Melbourne midfielder Brent Moloney joined the chorus for extra-time when he commented post-draw: “For the game, it would be exciting to get a result. I would probably rather five minutes each way to get a result … and get the four points.”
It’s like he was advocating a game of ‘double or nothing’.
But is there really any need for extra-time?
Isn’t it fair, if after 100 minutes of footy two teams can’t be split, then the points should?
It seems to make sense as, after all, a draw is a legitimate resolution.
The problem seems to be it is a resolution which seldom occurs and when it does happen we don’t know how to handle it.
It leaves players, coaches and fans from both sides pondering ‘what if’s’, much like a team does after a narrow defeat? Basically a draw creates widespread heartbreak and all extra-time would essentially do is ensure one of the teams feels a little bit of joy.
That hardly seems fair, if you consider neither side could get the job done after four quarters. Why change the rules for them, just so somebody wins?
Indeed, Melbourne and Collingwood will both look at the ladder on Tuesday and see they’ve got two more points on their respective tallies following the draw. Those extra points could prove very handy later in the season. There’s no shame in a draw.
And the argument that extra-time would make the game more exciting seems unnecessary too.
I, for one, found yesterday’s draw thrilling and the novelty of a tied game made it an exciting and unique event.
Then, of course, there’s the logistical issue of teams who play extra-time having to front up the next weekend. Wouldn’t they then be at a disadvantage having played 10-15 minutes of extra footy the week before?
Indeed, the idea of extra-time seems unnecessary and there’s no need to tamper with the rules of the game. For once, let’s just leave it be.
EvertonAndAustralia
Roar Pro
They should leave a normal season game as a draw but have extra time in a Grand Final!
davelee
Guest
Sticky thats awesome. as my footy team is in the wafl im not that interested in the afl. But a draw song would be awesome. Celebrating a draw would be as exciting as electrocuting a wild lion in the african savannah with a taser.
sticky
Guest
have a song for the draw. make both teams gather round and sing the draw song together. fans can sing the draw song. people can start supporting the draw. you'd be disappointed most weeks but can you imagine the ecstasy when your club draw had a draw?
B.C Queenslander
Guest
Exhilaration and exasperation. When a game is so close and it comes down to the wire, those are two of the emotions experienced. With a draw it feels empty. A team like Melbourne should be treating it as a win. It might make a big difference come September. Extra time could cost them a shot at finals glory. Leave it.
Jimmy Drama
Guest
No extra time for me. I'd take a draw over a chance for a win. 2 points still puts you in front of all the teams with the same amount of wins. This is a NON-ISSUE, leave the draw alone.
Black Diamonds
Guest
I guess the only difference is it keeps them ahead of the team they beat in the "drawn" match.
manny
Guest
Forgetmenot What's the difference between the winner getting three points or two? in the grand scheme of things, it doesnt really help them either way. seems a waste of time, putting their game the next week at risk
Forgetmenot
Guest
A draw should be a draw. Although a suggestion that i have been thinking of is as follows. In the result of a draw, extra time occurs. The winner gets 3 points, and the loser 1 point. This rewards a draw but also rewards the better team. I think that it is a fair compromise.
Mark
Guest
Extra time works quite well in the NRL, even though it had its critics during its introduction (including me).
Michael C
Guest
It's ironic that we have 3 ways of deciding a draw - - in regular season, it's left as is, in early round finals, extra time, and the GF, a full replay coming back the next week. Perhaps there needs to be a tidy up so that a game is a game is a game. That said - - I don't mind draws. If you look at it glass half full - - let's say if North Melb secured a draw from one of the games we'd lost - - suddenly, our woeful % is far less of a concern, and if we're equal on wins with a Hawthorn or Essendon, the 'half win' extra puts us above them. Sure - the 4 pts would've been good,.......but, it's far better than a loss. Obviously in this case COllingwood fans feel like they threw away a win with poor kicking. Dees fans are happy enough as underdogs that they have run Collingwood to 1 pt over 2 games this season : Coll 21.36.162 vs Melb 23.23.161 (btw Coll 9.22.76, same score as North Melb in the 1977 Drawn GF). btw - with code jumping the flavour of the month...... any truth in the rumour that Didak was pulled out so he could board a flight to Sth Africa to play for the Socceroos?? Is Mick Malthouse the FFA's $6 million man??
Hoy
Roar Guru
Watching that game yesterday, I was happy with a draw. I can't understand why more people can't realise that on the day, the two teams gave everything, and in the end, there was no difference. I am happy for draws, even if I was a supporter of either team. Yeah, there was some what-ifs. There are in every game anyway. Considering how far behind Melbourne was, for them to come back and be in front with what? 3 to go, then Lockyer gets the kick, then frantic last minute with both teams trying so hard to get to one end or the other... amazing. Collingwood should feel more what-ifs than Melbourne, considering they missed so many shots.
Joel
Guest
Why change what isn't broken? A draw is like a loss but with the satisfaction of knowing the other side didn't win.