Why does push come to shove?

Hi Aaron. Am enjoying reading your regular articles. Have to say that pushing and niggling are just part of our fantastic game. The excitement of the back men niggling their opponents moments before the game kicks off adds so much excitement and true grit. There was a time,maybe as far back as the 1970's when opponents were being lined up and then cleaned up..They would shake hands and then beat the living daylights out of each other. Watching Dermie being charged at and being cleaned up remains one of our most vivid memories of a grand final.. The game is so fast these days. So many set plays. It's more like hand ball than footy as we knew it. Keep the niggling,the pushing,the challenge of players not "losing it"as they collect and then give their fair share in return. The game has become so clinical. We need more 1 on 1's,more shows of strength, more of the old "tough yakka".Niggling?? Bring it on!!

you can't jump up on their shoulders or tackle them either. what's the point of that? seriously - footy is a physical game and you try to intimidate or distract your opponent. if it makes him hesitate or lose concentration then well done. better that than sledging, or diving, although as italy showed against france and australia, both can have a massive influence on a result.

Re: the constant bumping and shoving before the first bounce, and off the ball, my understanding was the players did it to help "acclimatize" their bodies for when they copped a knock at full tilt during gameplay. Either that, or like Stampy the Elephant, some players are just...jerks.

When I played, which is a while ago now, I played as a tagger. I never threw a punch, or an elbow. When I bumped, I did so with my hip and shoulder. What I did do was everything I could to infuriate or confuse my target. If they bent down to do their shoelaces up, I would push them over. I would constantly be talking; rubbish, usually. Sometimes it'd be poor jokes; others, genuine conversation. I didn't pinch so much as I blocked players run; I definitely bumped people constantly. Why did I do it, you ask? Because it worked. I routinely had opposition go high on me, earning me a free kick, for no real reason. I had punches thrown, ruckmen try to take my head off with bumps. I even had an idiot aim a kick at my head. And the point here is, I was willing to do that, because winning the game became easier to do when the entire opposition is outraged with you. Not because you hurt someone, but because you are annoying; a constant drain, that will eventually make another snap. And, the funny thing is, where most taggers - of the Steven Baker variety - did all those things I didn't, they weren't nearly as successful at it as I was. I took players completely out of games with nothing more than conversation; I suppose it isn't as quantifiable on a stats sheet. But, the point I'm getting at here is that these little annoying touches - the bumps, the stray elbows, all of it - are there because, if done right, they work. A lot.

Bear with me a little, I'll get to the point by the end... A few years ago I played a game of Indoor Cricket with a group of Men, who were all members of a Regional Premiership-winning Football team looking for an outlet to maintain their fitness over the Summer. I had once been told by a Junior Football Coach that opposition Players who resorted to niggling and name calling were lacking in confidence and were just trying to get under our skin to upset our game. Well, this Indoor Cricket mob were using it like Psychological Warfare. They had all come through Juniors together and were so used to the patter that the sledging sounded like a comedy routine. It was so successful that they had one opposition Player in tears and another ejected for punching on... all without laying a finger on anyone. By the end of the games I felt embarrassed to be wearing the same shirt. Thinking back, it reminds me much more if the Adam Goodes situation than mere Racism could explain. This episode made me realise that there are many reasons behind the Niggle... some do it to mask their own lack of confidence and prowess, some do it to consciously gain an advantage by putting an Opponent off their game, but some just do it because they're a***holes. And removing it from modern sport is like trying to change Human nature.

I played Aussie rules in another era. Re skills level, I was deceptively slow.

Don't take away the only thing that sets me above others. My ability to intermediate my oppositions players for my attack on not only the ball but them if very much needed. I've always found the one's you let know 1st that your not going to be stood over, ensure a pretty comfortable outing on the footy field. Less physical attention, a lot more freedom. Nothing worst when my direct opponent wants to match me in the physical stakes! That's usually when my day is ordinary. It's not like I've got good skills to back it up with!

It's a contact sport with rules that specifically allow bumping and pushing... so it's kinda not surprising really.

Yes but like the push rule in marking contests it is sometimes inconsistently applied

Contact, bumping or shepherding within five meters of the ball is against the rules ,but the AFL acquiesce ,as players pushing the boundaries is an acceptable part of the game. However if the AFL wanted to stamp it out, its easy to fix ,as there are 5 umpires on the ground. I think a player responsible for aggressive niggle is equally culpable if he succeeds in getting his opposition player to punch him. That's what all the pushing, shoving and faux aggression is all about, trying to get a player to throw a punch. In other words; one illegal act, the sole purpose of which is to entice another illegal act, is not only sanctioned but encouraged. All a bit silly but adds the theatrical illusion.

Everyone is different but sometimes you just have so much stored energy, your so fired up for the game, you feel so hyped up you need to do something, anything to release a bit of that energy before the ball is bounced. In tennis sometimes you see players take practice swings with the racket or do a few slide steps left and right. Footy though is one of the odd sports out because there isn't a clear line where one teams 'space' begins and ends. In tennis you have a net separating your sides of the court. In MMA and Boxing you have your own corners you have to be in. In Rugby and Gridiron you have to be on the correct side of the ball or you are offsides. The closest sport that comes to mind is Hockey. Before a faceoff each centre puts down their stick and battles for advantage before the puck is dropped (do it too much and you get kicked out of the faceoff). Footy is similar, you obviously don't battle with sticks, you instead use your body to try to get the space. There is no my side/your side.

Totally agree !! Ban it because it is not football.

furthermore - isn't there a rule that you can't bump anyone unless they're within 5? meters of the ball ?

Had a chuckle at your last paragraph, if only!

Totally agree with this article - it looks silly and is childish and is embarressing !

If you keep your opponent from 'setting their feet' you may catch them off balance and maybe, just maybe, that half step gained will be the difference. If you bump someone backwards just before you launch yourself forward leading for the ball, you might get just enough space to prevent the spoil. There's also the 'getting in an opponents head' that you touched on. Stick your elbow in your opponents guts, maybe they lose their cool and get caught striking you and you get a free kick. I also suspect, especially at the start of the match, many players may just feel amped up and what better way to settle your nerves and burn a bit of nervous energy then engage in a little push and shove? Probably works against players as much for them so largely its all a wash, but no real harm done. I think it might be unnerving if 22 players just stood still while the umpire raised the ball above his head and waited for the TV signal to blink to bounced the ball down and start the game/quarter.

With all due respect, if it doesnt add much and is such a small part of the game as you suggest, then why would you ban it?