The state of the game is the talking point of the week, as Ryan Buckland wrote about yesterday. Negativity abounds around low scoring, blowouts and scrappy play.
This sort of talk is standard every season, but it usually takes place in the bye rounds when there are fewer games to draw our attention, and the matches are spread out so each has more focus. Any example of the above is highlighted more than usual.
This year, the negativity has come early, possibly off the back of the Friday night game between the Western Bulldogs and Carlton. Friday night is the most watched game of any round, and this one wasn’t pretty.
Scheduling the Blues in marquee slots of Thursday and Friday nights three times in the first six rounds was an own goal of Terry Antonis proportions from the AFL, so they only have themselves to blame. The Victory midfielder was able to make amends on Saturday night, but the AFL media are unlikely to let up.
Ryan suggested that Richmond is partially responsible for the current trend that has seen more games be seen in a less than flattering light, and it does seem to be the case.
The Tigers lit a fire in the last month-and-a-half of 2017, and blazed all the way to a famous premiership off the back of unprecedented levels of pressure.
Tigers players react after winning the AFL grand final. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
The gameplan was as unsophisticated as it gets in today’s world of over-coaching – defend wide when under pressure, then kick, push, prod, nudge, whack, scrap the ball forward at all costs, and get in the face of the opposition until they crumble.
In their last 16 matches, Richmond have a 14-2 record and are averaging 103 points per game. On paper it’s stunning, but the Tigers’ method ensures games are unattractive to many eyes. Their very essence is to deny teams the ability to play pretty football, and they get ugly in order to enforce it.
Good defence used to be about good defence, and attacking was a completely different weapon. Now, at least in Richmond’s case, offensive construct is almost completely based off the defensive method.
Richmond’s scoring comes when the game breaks their way, and the opposition crumbles. Then they drive a truck between the holes have opened in the opposition. Then, they dazzle.
The reason football appears to be less aesthetically pleasing than ever before is because there is currently no answer to pressure.
St Kilda under Ross Lyon and Collingwood under Mick Malthouse had pressure as their trademark, giving birth to the phrase ‘frontal pressure’. It felt like it was coming from one direction, and was about coaching tactics. Richmond’s pressure is 360 degrees, all over the field, and seems more about individual application, which is frenzied.
Given how successful the Tigers were, waltzing through September with an average winning margin of 45 points against three top four sides, it was only natural that opposition teams would look to copycat.
A common theme among Richmond’s opposition during this time has been that they just didn’t play well. But if the Tigers play well, it means the opposition simply can’t. And they usually play well.
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Sides across the league are now focussing on applying pressure, and are getting better at it. By virtue of this, it’s getting harder and harder to play aesthetically pleasing footy.
What this also means is that intensity and mindset has never been more important in AFL football. It’s why we’re seeing such swings in form.
Sydney beats Geelong down at the Cattery missing Lance Franklin and Dan Hannebery, a week after going down at home to Adelaide missing their own stars. The Crows themselves rose up for that effort after getting trounced by Collingwood at their own home fortress.
Applying such fierce pressure is also physically and mentally demanding, especially so for teams that are a bit late to the party. The Tigers have been doing it for over a year now, and are well conditioned.
Remember, this time last season was when Richmond were getting overrun in matches against Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney. Now, they are routinely storming over the top of teams that are limping to the line, rarely finishing with a fully fit 22 by the end of it.
Could it be that Richmond isn’t necessarily better than everyone else, as common wisdom has dictated in the last fortnight, but that they can be relied upon to play at a high intensity every week, and deliver on their gameplan? The Tigers can be trusted in a way few others can.
Pressure, when applied ferociously, is unbeatable. Richmond has unlocked the secret, and is delivering on it. When on song, there is a joy to what they do, and they are a pleasure to watch.
Most teams can’t deliver in the same way, and are too limited when under pressure themselves. By copying the trend, they’re actually falling further behind, and thus look ugly while doing it.
William Vassiliou
Guest
Get off the turps
Republican
Guest
......rubbish. For starters this is not a Richmond innovation. The code has simply been devolving more defensive, compromising any spectacle because its ONLY about winning. The Swans started this back when Roos coached them in my opinion. That anyone can watch the code at this AFL elite tier is beyond my powers of comprehension and understanding. Its simply mediocrity supported by a prosaic and impressionable mob.....
Republican
Guest
.....it won't make any diff. So long as the game is exclusively about winning at any cost, the 'poetry in motion' type footy experience that has been compromised courtesy of the AFL existing soley as a commercial money making empire, is rendered obsolete. Thats why amateur footy is in my opinion, a superior experience.......
Republican
Guest
.......this is NO revelation while the game has been degenerating for decades. I believe the rot all started with Roos and his Swannies truth be told. I stopped watching it years ago because it simply isn't worthy of its status as the quintessential Australian code anymore. It has indeed borrowed from international codes and not for the better. As a contest the focus has gone from aerial to grovelling on the ground while any attacking flair and subsequent spectacle, resembles a game of Basketball, where everything happens at the ends of the paddock due to the over emphasis on defence with an inordinate number of 'handballs' (which is what the AFL should rebrand its product as, the AHL) sending the play backwards a'la Soccer. Its a bore fest theres absolutely no doubt about it. That said, you can still see footy played as it should be at amateur tiers.......
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I agree me too, cut out the wings and cut out the centre. 15 a side. Then after every goal, each side needs minimum 4 players in their forward 50 or the umpire awards a free kick to the ruck in the centre.
me too
Guest
As long as the afl allow 22 players to roam at will the gaem will remain a scrum of bodies at the ball. Not only are modern players fitter than ever, we have 4 interchanges as opposed to what once was one sub. To get back to man on man footy the afl needs to reduce the interchange to 2, or go back to a sub sytem. They could also look at removing wingers from the field. This would also benefit many country leagues struggling to find sufficient numbers - for years many leagues have actually done this anyway. As long as ugly footy is winning games, nothing will change. Good on the Tigers for being so good at it.
1der
Guest
Jack Reiwoldt is their most important player. Games are won when the ball is in the forward 50.
Philby
Guest
Richmond's pressure game just means that teams have to become better at their disposal skills under extreme pressure. It's all part of the evolution of the game. People need to take a chill pill - the game is fast, hard, contested, thrilling and skillful, and a joy to watch.
Raimond
Roar Guru
Richmond are one snap of Dusty's leg away from also-ran status.
Raimond
Roar Guru
What I mean by "regression to the mean": An above-average team taking the flag, instead of a champion team.
1der
Guest
Richmond have a winning game plan and has improved on that formula from last year. They are clearly way out in front as flag favourites. Their game plan evolves around setting up to win the next contest at which they are currently the masters. Premiers in 2017 with the worst disposal efficiency and most clangers per game for the season. Ranked in the bottom 3 for kicks, handball, disposals and last for uncontested disposals. Ranked last for hit outs and below average for clearances, centre clearances and stoppages. Check out their numbers to date with regard to areas that they were poor at last year. Currently the number 1 team for centre clearances and inside 50's. All this and Dusty is just taking a back seat and cruising in 2nd gear at the moment. Plenty of work to be done by the challengers.
Raimond
Roar Guru
I think we've been spoiled by so many great teams this millennium, we just struggle to comprehend it when there's a regression to the mean. If the Crows or Giants give Richmond a hiding on Grand Final day, a lot of the complaints about aesthetics will go away.
Raimond
Roar Guru
they are good to watch no
Paul D
Roar Guru
Yeah I'll give you that. 2014 GF was the most complete game of football I ever saw a side play, Sydney are not a bad team by any standards but they were made to look abysmal out there that day. I felt sorry for their fans at the ground, particularly given the absolutely disgraceful scenes and abuse from hawks fans by and large
Raimond
Roar Guru
Richmond are one of the most watchable teams in Hell
Tdz
Guest
And? The Tiges were off a 4 and half day break from a more challenging game.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Not yet, heard quite a few lengthy interviews with him and the book sounds like an amazingly intimate and open account of their season and journey to the flag. It's on my list.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Ha. To quote another great thinker....Potential is like your bank balance, you always have much less than you think. Anyways, sometimes you've just gotta toyt your hoyt, you don't ask why.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Come on Chris, we were off a four day break buddy.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Who said anything about extra gears? Not me. No need to get hoyty-toyty and high and mighty as is your want. If you think any team is operating to their full potential yet you're dreaming! Another pontification?