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).
“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.
“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)
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.
IAP
Guest
The problem is money. Not money for the players, or lack of money. Money for the AFL executive. They are a law unto their own, and their paychecks are obviously driven by revenue, so they do whatever it takes to generate more revenue, and by extension, more money for themselves. This compromises their decision making process, which is quite often not aligned with the best interests of the game or the league. The underlying problem with this set up is that vested interests don't have an ability to get rid of the executive, like with a public company, so they can effectively write their own cheques. Gillon McLaughlin has made mistake after mistake as CEO, yet he's accountable to no-one.
Martin
Roar Rookie
The problem is that it's too easy for the AFL to change the rules of the game. When the federal government wants to makes changes to the constitution they have to get the other states on board and then have a referendum; but somehow, Australian Rules footy isn't thought to be as important enough to seek endorsement from the second tier state leagues.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
No bloody need whatsoever, Gordon! Right you are.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
One thing is certainly true, ask a dozen people about the state of the game and your likely to get a dozen different responses. That's probably been the case since the rules of the game were first codified nearly 160 years ago. Listen to the talkback on SEN radio, day after day, and you get endless suggestions to improve the game - nearly all of them unworkable. Even when some irate fan rings in to state that they should leave the game alone, he'll add a proviso (it's usually a "he"), there's just one thing I'd change, and he then commences to describe something which is unworkable. It's all good fun, it's as much about the debate as it is about the actual game.
BigAl
Guest
This is an . . .obscure article ! The contents in no way live up to the title - which brought me here.
Aligee
Roar Rookie
It's a great sport, a great game and a reflection in many ways through the ages of Australia itself ...... but that does mean it stands still or either the rules. It's a sport with many grey areas and interpretations that coaches will always look to exploit. When played at its best it is for mine the best sport in the world, skillfull, tough, open and fast, but at worst a ugly fumbling rugby maul. Because it is only played professionally in one country and the top league is also the rule maker and changer it has advocated rules IMO that help the AFL instead of the game overall - a conundrum that needs to be sorted IMO.
WCE
Roar Rookie
its the umpiring consistency that needs a urgent overhaul not the game. how many times in a game do you see a free kick paid for something then not paid by another ump for the exact same thing, or an umpire miles away overrules an umpire standing 5 feet from the contest . its frustrating and in my opinion its ruining our wonderful game. A classic example is how many free kicks does Josh Kennedy get when he's pulled down, scragged , held , sheppard off the ball etc... compared to say Ben Brown who just has to be near the ball to get a free. Umps get paid a stack load of money to adjudicate so they should be a dam sight better at it than they currently are.