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There's no need to change the AFL's beautiful game

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Roar Guru
4th September, 2018
7

It never ends. Attendance is up, membership is up, worldwide interest in the sport itself is up, yet there’s always something wrong with AFL.

Some of it is us old people always believing life was better when we were younger.

Some of it is the inevitable perfectionist, nitpicking about little details that could be slightly improved.

Some of it is people looking to keep their jobs by creating change or firing up the comments.

And on the other side are the people looking at the product on the field in 2018, wondering what all the fuss is about.

“Our aim is to help create a more free-flowing game and we see potential changes to the game as a way to bring the best out of our players.” – from the AFL Commission (quoted by Sarah Black, Aug 7, afl.com.au).

“It’s a live footy! McCartin! He managed to get boot to ball! Is it a goal? I think it is… It is a goal! Tom McCartin has pulled something special out of his trick bag and kicked a miraculous goal. What a game!”- Luke Darcy, announcer, Sydney/Collingwood, Aug 4.

“Some of (the proposed rules), they think, will assist in moving the ball and creating scoring opportunities.” – Nicole Livingston, AFL head of women’s football (quoted by Sarah Black, Aug 7, afl.com.au).

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“A seesawing battle with violent momentum changes stuck in the Hawks’ favour just long enough for them to deny the Bombers’ last-gasp fightback. But ultimately it was sixth-gamer James Worpel’s clutch goal in the final minute – keeping his feet in a contest with dual All Australian Michael Hurley – that proved the difference.” – Marc McGowen, covering the Hawthorn v Essendon game (Aug 4, afl.com.au).

“…as the AFL looks to further its research into whether the game needs tweaking ahead of next season. Saturday’s clash between Coburg and the Northern Blues at Preston City Oval will again see the field feature an 18m-long goal square and the “6-6-6” starting position configuration at centre bounces throughout the game.” – Sarah Black, afl.com.au, Aug 9

“Siren sounds! What a classic! Wherever you’ve been watching this brilliant game of ours around the planet, how much did you love that?” – Dwayne Russell, announcer, Fox TV coverage of Hawthorn/Essendon game, R20, Aug 5.

“The trade period deadline is moving to prime time and the NAB AFL Draft will become a two-day event under major changes designed to turn player movement in an extravaganza.” – Matt Thompson, afl.com.au (Aug 8).

“With his team struggling to hold on after being down two men on the interchange bench for the final three quarters, Isaac Heeney stood up when Sydney needed him midway through the final quarter. As Cameron Pedersen launched another attack deep inside the Demons’ forward 50, Heeney launched himself over Jesse Hogan, flying almost horizontally at the ball as if he were Superman. Somehow the young star hung on to the ball to complete a screamer…” – Nick Bowen, Five Talking Points, Melbourne vs Sydney, Aug 12, afl.com.au.

“In the wake of West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff’s vicious hit on Sunday that left Fremantle young gun Andrew Brayshaw with a broken jaw and four displaced teeth and unable to eat solid food for a month, some have called for the introduction of red cards, including legendary figure Leigh Matthews.” – Talking Footy, Aug 7, in an interview with Gil McLachlan.

“And McGovern has taken the mark! History is about to repeat itself – or is it? Jeremy McGovern, the man who takes marks to stop teams, has taken one to start… The siren sounds! They can’t bear to watch – they were leading by 28 points at one stage… but the perfect storm has erupted! Injuries came to derail the Eagles, and Jeremy McGovern has kicked a goal – after the week they’ve had! It spills out in the coaches’ box! It spills out on the Adelaide Oval!” – Anthony Hudson, announcer, Port Adelaide/West Coast game, R21, Aug 12.

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“Aside from one free kick, the rules trial had a minimal impact on the Northern Blues-Coburg VFL match, in the second time they had been tested. Teams set up with a 6-6-6 structure at centre bounces, with six forwards from each side having to start inside 50, including one in the goal-square itself. The goal-square was more of a rectangle, measuring 18 metres, twice its usual size.” – Sarah Black, afl.com.au, Aug 11.

“Geelong trailed by 23 points midway through the last quarter on Friday night when Richmond forward Sam Lloyd converted his shot for goal. But that didn’t stop the Cats from throwing everything at the Tigers one last time. Quick goals to Tom Hawkins, Cameron Guthrie and Sam Menegola within five minutes got the Cats to within four points with less than two minutes to play. The game was set up for an exciting finish, and Geelong champion Gary Ablett had the chance to kick the match-winner when he gathered the ball 40 metres from goal…” – Callum Twomey, Five Talking Points: Richmond vs Geelong, Aug 12.

“From our end, having a look at the goal square and the 6-6-6, the distribution of players did change for a moment in time and then it gets washed out pretty quickly and the strategy happens from there.” – AFL games analysis official James Podsiadly, following the initial Coburg vs Werribbee VFL rules trial game Aug 4.

“It’s a goal. Geelong are coming, coming, coming! Magnificent football! It was a swarm! Don’t you love what we’re seeing here?” – Bruce McAveney, announcer, Richmond/Geelong game, Round 20.

“I’ve actually enjoyed watching the footy this year, reckon there’s been some good games. When you have nine games on the weekend, you’re always going to get a couple that are a little bit harder to watch. On the balance of it, footy is pretty exciting to watch, so I wouldn’t be messing around with it too much. That’s my personal opinion.” – VFL Northern Blues head coach Josh Fraser, after a test game involving his VFL team (Aug 11, afl.com.au).

“Most suss thing just happened. Hopped on the tram going down Collins St to meet a few mates for beers, and The Package is waiting for the same tram to get to the G. Turns out the traffic from Docklands is awful and he’s been waiting in traffic for 45 mins. He let me know he’s super pumped about the game, keen to play in front of 70,000 people and feeling good about a Dons win. He even gave me his guest pass for the game. Go Dons!” – Tom, on Twitter, after a chance encounter with Essendon star Jake Stringer before the Richmond vs Essendon game, Aug 17.

“It was something different, we’ll see how they go. If [the AFL] end up going with it, then they do, but if they don’t, the game’s fine the way it is.” – Blues defender Cam O’Shea, after playing in the VFL rules-change test match (Aug 11, afl.com.au)

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And I think that the vast majority of players and others involved in the great game of footy in 2018 feel that way about the rule changes: “If they do, then they do, but if they don’t, the game’s fine the way it is.”

It seems impossible to have seen the last two dozen or so games and not think the game is fine the way it is. Sure, we need to clarify a couple of the rules – it’d be nice to know what should happen when the ball goes out of bounds, or when a tackle means a turnover or just a bounce.

But the essence of the sport is still beautiful – a Lance Franklin 60-meter goal, a Jeremy Howe mark six feet off the ground, a Dusty Martin “don’t argue”, a Junior Ablett candy sale eluding three defenders before cranking a goal around his body.

A Majak Daw picture of strength, a Gary Rohan picture of speed, a Liam Ryan picture of flight. Tomahawk in the goal square. Brodie Grundy in the center circle. Eddie Betts in the pocket.

It’s still a beautiful sport, and there’s no need to worry about changing it.

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