When did we become such a whinging society of football watchers?
After a lot of pissing and moaning about the poor standard of the Fremantle versus Carlton and Sydney versus Essendon matches, social media was overflowing in praise about the free-scoring shoot-out between Adelaide and West Coast.
Fans that can’t appreciate all three styles of these matches are the ones that sicken me the most.
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Fremantle are a side struggling for their best form at the moment and, in truth, are a long way from it. But it was fascinating to watch them fight against themselves as much as the opposition, to see if they could dig their way out of a hole.
The inspiration that Nat Fyfe and Hayden Ballantyne provided in the last quarter to lift their team over the line, along with the ubiquitous Michael Barlow, might just be the first step back in the right direction for the Dockers.
Carlton have been the plucky, but losing, challenger too often for their fans’ liking this year, and had to settle for it once again. But their resilience has to be admired. The Blues don’t have the most talented side in the league, and won’t for many years, but they don’t make it easy for the better sides to beat them.
Sydney and Essendon fought out a scrap that displeased a great many people for not being pretty to the eye.
The Swans, like Fremantle before them, needed to get back on the winner’s list against an inferior but worthy opponent intent on throwing everything at them.
How could you not admire Luke Parker’s and Ben McGlynn’s bullish physicality, or Essendon’s third quarter response after a first half containing their worst football for some time.
The Bombers are still a developing side, and nowhere near the finished product. As such, they’re going to have down patches. It can’t always be sugar and lollipops.
Sydney and Freo are very good sides out of form, that don’t mind making it a scrap in order to get the four points. Winning is the only thing they respect. The whinging that accompanies these sort of matches is frankly unpalatable.
People seem to demand that every team be at the absolute top of their game for every minute of every match throughout the season, or at least those being shown on free-to-air in prime time.
What nonsense.
Every team would like to play fast, attractive football, and a lot of sides do when in form, but there is a balance that also requires defensive accountability.
When out of form, it is sometimes easier to stick to these defensive structures and principles, and work harder by putting your body over the ball and laying tackles until the wheel turns.
Think of any number of Geelong versus Hawthorn clashes over recent years for the perfect mix of two sides playing quality football, both attacking with relish and defending with zeal.
Unfortunately, not every club can be a top four side at the top of their game.
There are bad sides incapable of it, young sides that show brief flashes, average sides that aren’t good enough to attack freely, so they make do with defending stoutly. There are always good teams going in and out of form, and even great teams that are inconsistent.
Sometimes conditions play a part. Availability of the best and most creative players certainly does.
It also pays to remember we’re not just watching half an hour of highlights on a Saturday night any more. Every game is broadcast live. There are no more warts than in previous eras, it’s just that they are now on full display. But even then, they have their own beauty.
I hope Crows and Eagles fans enjoyed the free-scoring shoot-out on display at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. I know Swans and Dockers supporters will enjoy their team playing finals football instead.
Don Freo
Guest
You can't say under 10s is not entertaining.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Great post AB, and I love the point about Hawthorn and Geelong.
Don Freo
Guest
You sound like Macca. Maybe you really are 15 yo.
Don Freo
Guest
But you have found the'off' button Bosk? We're concerned for you. I wouldn't be pouncing on the 'irony' accusation after your post.
Don Freo
Guest
I have the first book of Cometti-isms. He must be up to book 5 by now. The world's best commentator for the last 40 years? (I first heard him in the late 70's..was a rock music DJ in the early 70's...and an outstanding full forward...Basil was even better...and coach)
Declan McAllister
Guest
i am 15 years old
AB
Guest
Whenever I hear moaning about the state of modern footy, I think about the fact that the two most successful teams of the past half-decade also happen to be the two most skilful, risk-taking and attacking teams. Geelong and Hawthorn are the superpowers of the current era and both teams play exhilarating football. When we look back on this period in a few decades' time, no-one will remember Melbourne vs Brisbane; everyone will remember the freakish skills of Ablett, Buddy and Pendlebury and the classic showdowns between Hawthorn and Geelong. Sure, there are dull games (as there have always been) and negative, dour teams (as there has always been) but I'm in no doubt that in recent seasons we've seen some of the best games of footy that have ever been played. We're living in a golden era, but like all golden eras, we can't recognise it yet.
Darren
Guest
I was at the game and thought eagles skills were very good (except goal kicking early). They marked everything, hit targets all day and moved the ball with purpose - switched across half back and made good space to create holes through the middle. Admittedly Crows defensive pressure was poor and they were very stagnant but Eagles still played with skill.
Darren
Guest
That is very true, even the 90's. I was watching a Carlton v Collingwood 97 game the other day and kicks to hit targets was about 20% and dropped uncontested marks was about 50%. The ability of teams to hurt on the rebound means many teams play a lower risk game now. I agree that balance of defence and attack delivers the best games - unsurprisingly it is the best teams that deliver.
Darren
Guest
He whacked him in the face when Cox wasn't looking. Cox's hit (which should have been a free) doesn't diminish his duty of care. Hits to the head can kill people we have actually moved on since the 70's. He might get to the point where he can channel his aggression but at 24 he's not a kid anymore. And given his Dad is the boxing coach you can only assume he knew where his fist was going.
Declan McAllister
Guest
we are on top of the ladder
Declan McAllister
Guest
interesting
Don Freo
Guest
Gene, didn't you admit to being American? An American accent is worse than Ricciuto's voice! Whoops...Sorry New York Hawk...my wife is going there next month. Don't send the boys around. (concrete shoe size 6)
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Such delicious irony Gene - you moan that nobody's forcing us to absorb the over-saturation of football content, then criticize my post as if to suggest you're being forced to read it!
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Can't wait for when Fyfe doesn't poll the most votes. Gonna be really funny to all those Freo supporters who think he's going to be missing out on a brownlow.
Don Freo
Guest
Gene's right. Turn it off. If it is not enriching your life, do something that does. No-one shoves anything down our throats in this country. Australia provides a smorgasbord and we have a choice about what we put on our plates...and even then, we don't have to eat it.
Griffo
Guest
I would have to say that the last quarter was my least favourite part of that god awful game. Guess who I support.
Don Freo
Guest
What you are advocating, Cam, might be tough and emphatic but it is not sportsmanlike. I can anticipate your response already. You don't particularly care about sportsmanship...as long as you win. I don't like that line of thinking.
Don Freo
Guest
Geoff, 'protected from the law' or protected by the law? Freo would have liked to have been protected 'from the law' of Leigh Fisher last Thursday!
geoff
Guest
Its about the law. Do we suspend the law for people playing sport? Of course we shouldn't. Otherwise sports people are not safe from being king hit whether they are professional or play in the amateur league. As boring as it sounds all ppl deserve to play football or drink at a bar etc with the knowledge that they are safe and protected from the law.