There's nothing wrong with the AFL

Particularly noticeable the past 12 seasons or so. This was not the case for most of the 90s. It wasn't helped by the introduction of two new teams who were flogged for their first few seasons, and which also wreaked havoc with the draft, so that there is a five or six year period where some clubs struggled to rebuild. But, there is a silver lining, upsets have become a bit more common the last few seasons, culminating in drought breaking premierships for two clubs, and both the Suns and Lions have shown a capacity to push better credentialled clubs. So I think that is slowly changing for the better.

There is one big problem with the AFL, and that's the even spread of talent to make for an even competition. The gap between the top 4 and bottom 4 teams are so far apart, it dilutes the game as a whole. When was the last time we saw the Lions, Carlton or the Suns consistently competitive? This is the biggest area where the AFL falls way behind the NRL.

Blah-blah-blah. Broken record. Don't listen to other people.

It’s all for the betterment of the game after all, because no one wants to watch high-pressure contested football of the sort that took Richmond to the flag last year, apart from their 100,000 members apparently. Let’s make footy more like it was in 1990, when attendances were roughly half the size they are now, rather than last year – the best attended season in the history of the game. Let’s make footy more like netball, because there’s a sport that’s thriving. Let’s take away the unique 360-degree aspect of our game and make it all one direction like rugby league, because we can only dream of having their crowd numbers. Let’s try and find ways to make the game even higher scoring, even though it’s already the highest-scoring team game in the world.

You are focusing just on the centre square...Depends how they define the 6 x 6 x 6. If the definition is a side must have six forwards inside the 50 metre arc at the bounce is different to deciding they must be forward of the Wings. We don't yet know what their definition is.

Watch a centre bounce from any game ... its not 'clogged'. The 'clogging' is the repeat stoppages when 6 x 6 x 6 wouldn't be in effect. Teams are already limited to who can be in the centre square. Centre bounces are not the issue (if there is one at all).

6 x 6 x 6 is about not starting each centre bounce with plus ones, two's or threes (as Carlton have done this year) in an opposition forward 50. How does that not unclog the game? Runner? I agree. This may surprise you but I didn't set the magic 6 rules. Ruck Noms - I agree. read as above. i/C I agree and I reiterate I did not decide and advise the committee of how to anti clog the game. They are also going to monitor possible other changes they can make to anti clog but not for 2019 - possible in 2020.

AD Am I exaggerating the point on Gen Z and my own experience with them? Absolutely I am but it is to make a point. There is a lot of "noise" any sport needs to cut through nowadays to hold attention. It is not an indictment on Gen Z's it is an indictment on the digital bombardment of life now. It is just that Gen Z's happen to be our next fan base we need to protect.There is a lot of noise any marketing needs to cut through. Remember when U2 decided to put their new album straight into peoples Itunes accounts? There was a backlash even though it was free and when asked Bono said "I guess we were just trying to cut through all the noise in the world at the moment".

"I’m often looking up stats, seeking a replay or checking other scores." Amateur. Try doing all three of those ... whilst watching a game, typing what's happening in that game, formatting a blog and eating lunch/dinner. ;) I'm only kidding. What you're saying is very very true. I'm becoming a pro at multi-tasking. As I type this, I'm drinking a smoothie, finding my shoes and looking for car keys. Actually, I might just not be organised this morning ... ?

So let me see if I understand: – 6 x 6 x 6 at centre bounces where there is no congestion = change for the sake of change – Increased goal square - okay this might work, need to see it in action – Runners off the ground - good change but has nothing to do with your self described 'clog footy' – Eliminating ruck nominations - sure but again solves nothing regarding alleged 'clog footy' – I/C not changing - that's nothing new, so why even bring it up? We're talking about changes, not leaving something as is is not a change

Sounds like the result of terrible parenting.

One of the characteristics of Gen-Z is displaying the highest levels of multi-tasking, so having a squizz at their phone in the middle of the game may not be indicative of 'tuning out' or losing attention. I'm from the latch-key generation, I love footy but I still multi-task during a game. I'm often looking up stats, seeking a replay or checking other scores. It's not that I am not entertained, its that I am a notorious multi-tasker. Hell, as I write this reply I am editing a Physics year 12 textbook and listening to music while munching on a snack.

So, all three of your boys have an attention span of under a minute? I'm hoping that's overblown. Because that's ridiculous.

Well we are lucky the AFL doesn't run policy on your "absolutely no doubts" aren't we Cat or we would still have no centre square and it would be thirty blokes around each ball up in the middle. Latest reports are that it is quite a soft adjustment proposed for 2019. 6 x 6 x 6 at centre bounces (though Malcom Blight alluded this morning to 6 x 6 x 6 after every score which would really turn things up a notch.) maybe an increased goal square, a rule getting runners off the ground, a rule eliminating ruck nominations and interchange rotations will remain the same. Hardly a revolution.

I know personal anecdotes don't generally count as evidence, but I don't necessarily think what Pete's saying is true. It's a very common stereotype to portray all Gen Z's as having short attention spans, and while it might sometimes be true, it's very overblown and definitely shouldn't be the underlying basis towards interfering with the game. Hell, in my group at least, put an AFL game on and we'll be watching it. I've seen entire parties - ala, where half the people in the room are flat-out drunk - glue their attention to the TV during an exciting game. Also, you've got to be careful here: if you've got a room of 10 teenagers - five who like AFL, five who don't - and you see five are more interested in their phones than watching the match, then that's not "oh the teenagers wanted to watch YouTube than the game. Because perhaps that's what Pete's experiences are: confusing a disinterest towards the game with an apathy towards the game.

Yeah Cat I do, three Gen Z boys and all their mates plus I work with a stack of Gen Z's. Stick your heads in the sand if you want but I happen to love footy and it has become mostly ugly rugby scrums with the odd good game/round instead of the other way around. if you can't see that you aren't looking to the future generation. Malcolm Blight calls you lot the angry old blokes on the balcony like in Statler and Waldorf the muppets and I agree. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14njUwJUg1I

Generation Z’s have the attention span of under a minute before looking at their devices for another more exciting option, gaming, NBA, funny cat videos on U tube.

Kane it's about reacting to the current and future market not based on the past. Generation Z's have the attention span of under a minute before looking at their devices for another more exciting option, gaming, NBA, funny cat videos on U tube. The clog footy will not capture the enxt generation of fans and the AFL are right in changing it. Gil Mclachlan is pretty lousy as a CEO I'll grant you that but there are some ideas coming from head office that are worth pursuing despite Mclachlans inadequacies.

The problem is what you've been saying for weeks: Change is coming. We don't know what, if any thing, these rules will do but we've got a virtual guarantee that something will change. It is change for the sake of change. It is doing something to be seen doing something. If the AFL were genuine they wouldn't have made up their minds to do something before anything has been thoroughly examined and tested. I have absolutely no doubt that the tests will fail to produce the desired results (see: two rounds of I/C cuts producing worse football) and will have several unintended consequences (see: ruck nomination fiasco) crop up but will be rushed in half-baked anyway (see: deliberate rushed behinds; almost a decade later and still no one is sure what you can and cannot do).

Show me any round over the past 150 years Pete where every game in this particular round was how you say it used to be. Every year of football existence there has been at least 3 or 4 clubs in every league in Australia that were no chance of finals from the halfway mark so good luck with your search of something that never existed. Change the rules and the stronger clubs at the moment will adjust quicker because they already have the players in place.