As the new season is about to begin, one has dreams and visions of what they want to see. Here are a few of mine.
1. The standard of umpiring approaching competency
The declining standards of umpiring has been the bane of the game in the last 10 years, accentuated by the denial shown to it by the people in power during the home-and-away season and highlighted by how the standard lifts alarmingly during the finals – when the wheat is sorted from the chaff and we get the best whistle-blowers officiating.
Hasn’t the AFL got enough resources to ensure the best officiating every week?
2. A team to challenge the perception the 2014 flag is a race of three
Most pundits see the 2014 premiership being a fight between reigning premiers Hawthorn, Sydney and Fremantle, taking a lot of interest out of this year’s competition.
One would love to see a team or two rise as genuine challengers to add to the theatre.
Whom could it be?
Maybe a talented North Melbourne outfit, a West Coast Eagles team without the injuries that cruelled it in 2013 or the Tigers of old adding some roar?
3. Some consistency by the Match Review Panel and tribunal
Every time a player is reported, fans always have heads in hands over the ‘chook raffle’ the judgements resemble.
A player can commit an act and get off one week and then another player get three weeks for the same act the next.
The AFL is a multi-million dollar entity and needs to get this near-farce right!
4. A bit of luck for luckless stars
I am a fanatical Hawthorn fan, and one of my worse moments was the elimination against Fremantle in 2010 where I had to endure a rambunctious Fremantle crowd as a young Anthony Morabito ripped us to ribbons with his line-breaking mastery.
After I calmed down, I thought he was the next Anthony Koutifidis, such was his upside.
Tragically, three knee reconstructions later, Morabito getting back on the field again is in question.
Heartbreakingly, this young gem has not been the only one, with others like Daniel Menzel, Gary Rohan and Brendan Whitecross having the football gods turn their backs on them.
Let’s hope fortune shines on them in 2014, and beyond.
5. The AFL deeming certain games ‘blockbusters’
The AFL have already done this from a pricing point of view, slugging extra charges on replacement games for members.
They should do it with the fan in mind. Taking games away from Etihad Stadium that will attract more than its capacity and relocating them to the MCG.
It is absurd that one can have clashes scheduled there that automatically eliminates 30,000 being able to see it live
Naturally, this will never happen because of the contractual arrangements with Etihad Stadium to stage a number of high profile games there.
In this age of the AFL, it is the corporate consideration first thought, and the fan considerations are an after-thought.
6. The Brownlow Medal gaining some credibility
The award given to the ‘fairest and best’ should be changed to the ‘midfielders medal’, with the last non-midfielder to take home the award being Gavin Wanganeen in 1993.
It has become an award that only focuses on one area of the game, without ever paying respect to the place forwards and defenders have.
7. The magic men to thrill us once more
There are some players in the league that make fans sit on the edge of their seat when the ball is in their area, anticipating something freakish to happen that leaves one’s jaw dropped.
Buddy Franklin is the king of this, with others such as Stevie Johnson, Cyril Rioli, Harley Bennell, Nic Natinui among others leaving us begging for more.
Let’s hope we see them cast their spells in 2014.
8. Greater Western Sydney proving it will not be a basket case
It astounded all traditional Australia Rules fans that the AFL would turn its back on so many viable supporter hotbeds to extend into western Sydney.
Especially when Sydney is notoriously AFL ambivalent, and the second team was to be placed in a multicultural part of the city, where Association Football is the passion.
In its first two years, home crowds have struggled to top 11,000 and, in GWS’s defence, it is because of the current weakness in its team.
Will the crowds come when they become more successful?
9. Some current, bone-jarring rivalries to continue, and some new ones to start
The current must-see rivalries are the South and Western Australian derbies and the Geelong versus Hawthorn epics.
After the final in Geelong last year, where Fremantle upended the Cats on the back of some Ryan Crowley niggle on Stevie Johnson and Adam Selwood, the game ended with a real ill-feeling between the two clubs. This has set up a mouth-watering clash between the two when they meet this year.
Buddy Franklin leaving Hawthorn for bitter foes Sydney will up that rivalry as well.
Lovely stuff!
10. The AFL to show common sense and a heart over Lou Richards
It can be justified by the rules applied to ‘Legend’ status in the Australian Rules Hall of Fame, as to why Lou Richards is denied his rightful status.
But…
Can anyone think of a better definition of an Australian Rules Legend than Lou Richards?
A champion player with 250 games with Collingwood and then in retirement, with his standing in the media, arguably did more to popularise the game than anyone.
In his heyday, he was as big as any of the on-field greats.
CorkynPA
Guest
My first of three podts above allows for the lopsided schedule with points weighted to the number of meetings.
PaulD
Guest
Corkyn, no. Just no. They're already doing a lot of this with the fixtures, in splitting the teams into 3 groups of 6 when structuring fixtures. The problem that most of the people here have whenever they're doing fixtures is that they're completely ignorant of what fans actually want to see. For example, there will always be two local derbies every year, for the interstate clubs. Regardless of if Fremantle finish first and West Coast finish last, they'll still play each other twice. Collingwood will always play Carlton twice, certain games always happen at certain times of the year, etc etc. It's not the english premier league where every side can play each other home and away. So stop arguing for all this nonsense about divisions, and promotions, and bonus points and rubbish. How about 22 players from one team play 22 players from another team, and whoever wins, wins. Repeat for 6 months or so, across 18 teams and the best 22 from the best 8 sides play finals, and the best 22 in the finals, wins the competition. Sorry if I sound like a reactionary old fart, but simple is best in this case, where a totally even draw is an impossibility. I notice the original author is clearly knowledgeable and didn't complain about the fixture. Corkyn is either a statistician, not a football fan, or both.
CorkynPA
Guest
With Double chance for those placed 6, 7, 10 & 11th; Single chance for 8, 9, 12 & 13th; pairings are 6v11, 10v7, 8v13, and 12v9.
CorkynPA
Guest
Finally, how about 2 divisions of 9 ? Each team plays the others in their own division twice (16 games) and 6 of 9 from the othrr division once (6 games). Top 5 in div 1 play a 'Finals 5' for the 'Premiership' and Bottom 4 in div 1 join Top 4 of div 2 in a 'Finals 8' for the 'Championship', with the last 4 in the latter taking places in div 1 the following year.
CorkynPA
Guest
How about bonus points for winning margins ? Say +1 pt for a 18-pt margin; and +2, +3 and max +4 bonus pts for winning margins of 36, 54 and 72 pts, respectively. So a win earns between 4 and 8 pts.
CorkynPA
Guest
What about a fairer fixture ? Five opponents played twice with 2 pts per win, played in the 'odd' rounds 1-9 and 17-25 (byes in weeks 11, 13 & 15). Twelve opponents played once with 4 pts per win, played in the 'even' rounds 2-24 This way the AFL could keep its lopsided pairings for promotional goals. .'
PaulD
Guest
I think the part the umpires struggle with sometimes, is judging players whose best work isn't reflected in their own numbers, but in what they do to an opponent's numbers. For example, let's say Collingwood are playing Fremantle tomorrow night and McPharlin or Johnson or whoever has him keeps Travis Cloke to only a handful of marks and a goal. If it's a tight game, and Fremantle grind out a win, you'd have a great argument for saying the key defender deserves to get 2 or 3 Brownlow votes for that, as Cloke is a massive target for the pies, and anyone who can restrict his output has put their side well on the path to victory against Collingwood. But generally you'll find the votes go to the best attacking player on the winning side - usually a midfielder who's accrued 30+ disposals and kicked a couple of goals against a dispirited opposition because their big man up front is getting a bath. There needs to be more focus on who actually made the difference in the game - not just who won it, but who stopped the other team from winning it. Who was it who shut down the opposition's path to victory? Obviously this doesn't apply to all situations - if a side wins by 50-100 points, well, by all means give it to the mids and the forwards. But in close games the umpires need to pay more attention to the defensive efforts - coaches always say it's defence that wins games, the Brownlow votes should reflect this.
Sam J
Guest
Ditto Chris Grant in 1997. And there's already the MVP and Coleman to honour non-midfielders if they're worthy. Introduce a Defensive Player of the Year award and I think that would do it.
Man of...
Guest
I think Chris Grant missed out as well as Mckernan , and I do agree that Buddy should of won the 08 Brownlow by some margin. I guess when someone like Ablett kicks 40 goals a yr plus stacks of possessions it's hard to overlook. As for the defenders, if they were any good they'd be forwards! Swingmen like Harry Taylor, Henderson, and Carlisle deserve more votes. As for the Kangaroos, I think everyone is talking them up too much. I think the tigers will go further this year and the Eagles to be the big improvers!
Mark
Guest
9 - Joel Selwood, not Adam.
Chris Widjaja
Roar Rookie
Give em both Gene. Not saying that every year the Coleman = Brownlow but Franklin's 2008 season he kicked 100 goals and his team had the 2nd best record in the league and you would be crazy to say he wasn't the best player in the league or the #1 name on the scouting report. Adam Cooney was the eventual winner but he finished #5 in disposals and didn't get the same attention Franklin did
Josh Miller
Roar Rookie
Good read mate. Don't forget though, re the Brownlow, Corey McKernan polled the most votes but was disqualified in the late 90's, bucking the midfielder trend of vote-getting.
PaulD
Guest
Don't see why the Brownlow being for mids is such a big deal, the Forwards get the Coleman and the backs have the Golden Fist (ha). Admittedly the judging for the last one is a little subjective, and it's presented by possibly the unfunniest person ever to grace a television screen, but hey, defenders never get a fair go in this game, so they're probably used to getting shafted by now.
Cat
Roar Guru
Sorry Chris but kicking the most goals already has its own reward, the Coleman. You don't hear midfielders and defenders whinging they have no chance to win that award do you? There are plenty of other awards that are far more logically chosen then the brownlow already.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Lou Richards present status is a passion of mine, to me, it would be similar if Legend status was not awarded to Richie Benaud in cricket. Both had great careers in their chosen sports but of not high enough calibre to be entitled to legend status, but in the Media after, and their meaning to the growth of their games it should be set in stone
Me Too
Guest
The brownlow needs to keep its status as an umpires award, but to remain relevant as awarding the best and fairest, umpires need to be properly coached into rating player performance relative to their role. Instead it seems they simply count possessions subconsciously in their heads. Re Lou Richards, he IS a legend of the game, but without creating a new definition (services to the game?) he cannot be awarded the honour. Umpiring? Horrendous due to its inconsistency. How much of this is caused by the constant changing of interpretations directed from above and how much is due to poor umpiring ability? Instruct them to umpire every game like a final - emphasis on free flowing footy with the 50/50s left alone. It needs to improve. A lot. The MRP? All over the place. Have no idea how to fix it. But once precedent has been set they should at least follow it for the season, or even just for the following round? GWS? Perhaps the AFL should ensure they get to play home games against their cross town rivals AT HOME? A challenger to the fancied three? Likely one will emerge. Unlikely the eagles unless they remain injury free and in range come the halfway mark, else wise they'll simply throw in the towel again. Getting to become a habit. Hopefully the saints will stun the football world and play in a such a way that the whole is far, far greater than the sum of its parts! Got to happen someday? Please?
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
On the Brownlow, I wonder whether it could be split into different/additional awards/medals, a la the Cricket Australia model. What these different/additional awards would be doesn't necessarily have to be split on a positional basis, but with some clearly defined criteria might help add a broader perspective. Alternatively, have an umpires medal, a players medal and maybe a panel of legends (i.e. living AFL Hall of Fame Legends who are willing to vote) medal. While we've got this to some extent, rolling them into the one evening adds greater recognition. Or you could just have the Brownlow composed of a ratio of umpires/players/legends votes, but this does take some of the tradition away, without adding a big enough point of difference perhaps.
Chris Widjaja
Roar Rookie
Great stuff as usual Tim - good luck to your Hawks for back-to-back considering the pain you've been suffering through your Villa boys! 1) I wouldn't say the umpiring has been atrocious but the lack of consistency with the MRP is the one that gets me. I remember Shaun McKernan getting two weeks for an awful challenge on Brad Sheppard while Ziebell got three for a fair hit. Sub rule also needs to go. Players have been pretty vocal on getting rid of it 2) Tough to pick a challenger to the Big 3. I like your picks of North and West Coast - I think it will be North if they get over their late game yips but never count out the Magpies. Starts all over the park and the inclusion of Jesse White adds a different dimension to their side 6) Can't agree with you more. Franklin should have gotten one when he kicked 100 goals (bar suspension). If you kicked the most goals and had one of the best records through the regular season - can't understand why you're not the best. Lack of quality key position players will render this argument useless this year though.