“Keepings off is starting to become an epidemic in our game.” – Mark Robinson, 3AW
“… Another round riddled with aesthetically woeful games controlled by risk averse, defence-first coaches.” – Damien Barrett, afl.com.au
What is wrong with these people? The above comments went public on Sunday.
Saturday saw two of the most stirring victories of the decade.
Greater Western Sydney were up against one of the toughest tasks in footy, facing an undefeated Geelong at GMHBA Stadium as heavy underdogs.
They then lost Callan Ward to an ACL in the opening minutes. With their shattered captain openly crying on the bench, the Giants were the best part of four goals down for long stages of the first two and a half quarters before prevailing in an epic and memorable arm-wrestle.
For GWS, it was their first ever win at the stadium. It was a victory of steel and emotion, the kind of win upon which a premiership could very well be built.
In Adelaide against Port, Richmond were missing Dustin Martin, Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Jayden Short and Bachar Houli. That’s the Tigers’ prime midfielders, first-choice running half-backs, plus their key position superstars at either end of the ground.
Whichever way you cut it, they were decimated.
Richmond went in with five players on ten games or fewer, and on average player-for-player were 29 games and over a year younger than their Power counterparts.
It was a win for the belief of a proud club, and most supporters would suggest was the best home-and-away victory of Damien Hardwick’s coaching career.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
It was a pulsating match of high-intensity attack and counter-attack that thrilled Richmond fans and neutral supporters alike. Power followers can be excused for not appreciating it.
Elsewhere, North Melbourne had their first win to stop the season slipping away. Admittedly it wasn’t pretty, but Adelaide are in poor form right now, and none of their games have been quality affairs this season. Some teams are like that for patches within a season. It can’t all be sugar and lollipops.
Melbourne and Essendon have both been under the gun in the early parts of the year, but now have a foothold into the season. The Demons produced a strong performance on the road with their backs to the wall on Thursday night. The Bombers found the balance between attack and defence to win their second match in a row, playing some superb football in doing so. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti set the MCG alight.
Gold Coast and St Kilda are both sitting in the top six with 3-1 records, inspiring their supporters and nurturing hope that the dark days could be over a lot quicker than imagined. There are some wonderful stories emerging this season.
Yet the two most prominent AFL journalists in the country felt that possession football should be a negative talking point.
This is one of the problems we have as an industry when a Friday night game doesn’t scale awesome heights. The short-term reactionism is mind-numbing.
And it is fair to say Collingwood versus Western Bulldogs wasn’t either sides finest hour. And yes, there were a lot of uncontested possessions and marks.
But guess what, teams have different styles.
Richmond won the 2017 premiership off the back of unrelenting pressure, particularly in the forward half of the ground. They continued on to be one of the best teams of 2018.
West Coast and Collingwood have dismantled the Tigers in the last 12 months by playing a game style that diffuses the pressure element. This has been done by aggressively winning the ball off the opposition in the back half of the ground and spreading themselves around to kick and mark to gain control before attacking.
This is wonderful evolution, exactly what we want from our coaches and players. Team A does this. Team B does that to counter. A mix of styles and aesthetics.
Some teams like a kicking game. Others prefer handball. Some want to make it a stoppage game. Others want it out in the open. Ruckmen are a key to some teams, minor players for others.
There seems to be a sad obsession some in the media have with wanting football to always look exactly the same, based on some mythical past that doesn’t exist except in imagination.
Are Robinson and Barrett bored with the sport? Are they simpletons that don’t appreciate the nuances of the game? Are they nothing more than shock-jocks who see themselves as bigger than the game, and are thus determined to change it?
I’d like to think none of these things are true, but they don’t make it easy.
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
The old VFA actually did what you have mentioned, removed the wingers from the sides, they played 16 vs 16. I dont know how it ever went as Im not a Melbourne native, but there should be some one on the forum who knows ;-)
Downsey
Roar Pro
Excellent. Thanks for your insights.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Firstly, Tabs is an excellent kick...he just missed last week. Ballas is our best lock down forward by a long way. You have to watch him live to see the way he shuts down exit options. Switkowski will learn that game savvy and, when he does, he will go past Ballas. Cox was recruited as a defender. He is a genuinely versatile player. He has great pace too so there are other possibilities. With Darcy, watch his second efforts. He is quite agile. His tackles stats...both at WAFL and AFL...are stunning. It is atypical of ruckmen. A small defender is an issue. Maybe we have to look at Giro or Crowden and train them. I notice they are playing Jason Carter in the back pocket at Peel. Banfield is far better than Colyer and Matera.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Alright, stay with me Don. I need to pick your brain more. Just don't completely vilify me if I say something stupid. I agree that Darcy needs to be in the team with the understanding that he is simply a hit-out machine, and our strategy for clearances adjusts accordingly. Perhaps with time he'll develop the skills and agility that will make him more versatile in this role. From social media posts, it seems Cox is more likely than Hamling. I always liked Cox up forward, but do you definitely see him in the back now? Who's our best small forward lock down defender? I'll admit that I'm starting to see value to Taberner, but what do you do with someone who's a big, tall bloke and can take a strong contested mark but can't kick goals? Hone his goal-kicking skills, or move him further up the ground to act as a target to get it into our attacking half? (I already feel like you're going to tell me he can kick goals and nothing needs to change...) Ballas has to retire at some time, so who do you think is best placed to replace him? Really loved Switkowski's movement on the weekend, but will he be able to hold the line and our structures as well as Ballas does (has)? Should Banfield be in?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Darcy must ruck. Lobb is not a ruckman. The biggest issue is Hamling. If he plays, he and Pearce will dry up Cameron and co. Cox is even better than Hamling but may need to to get a few more games in first. We need Ballas back to lock the ball in our forward line. Switkowski is excellent but Schultz is not as frenetic. Our midfield will beat theirs.
Downsey
Roar Pro
I don't always like how you "speak up Freo", but I do see you as one of the personalities that makes this particular forum so vigorous. Plus, most of us mob could be accused of similar 'crimes'. What do you think are our key challenges against GWS?
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
My understanding is that the old VFA removed the wingers to open the game up, it was a 16 vs 16 contest.. Can anyone provide advice as to wether this step actually improved the quality of the game, improved the spectacle? I see its a hotly debated issue again.
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
Yes exactly, Crows Swans and Eagles all had three different game plans and they all worked against the rest but not so much against the others. Eagles had trouble against the Swans, who couldnt beat the Crows who struggled against the Eagles ;-) It was the classic rock paper scissors ;-)
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
Who is the Palestinian Christian martyr murdered by Muslim invaders??
Maximus Insight
Guest
Peter, you are missing the point of my engagements with you. I'm trying to educate you not debate you. I think its unlikely but possible the AFL will move to 16 players. My issue is you are so certain of your "vision" that will bring the game back to some ideal from a semi-pro bygone era when you don't actually understand the modern game. Abstractly, how can you possible know what would happen to a system after paramters are changed when you have very little understanding of the dynamics of said system in the first place? Teams do not zone at stoppages. They transition to zones when the other team gains clear possession of the ball. Generally at stoppages what they do do is have an extra number "behind the ball", sometimes more. This is why the defensive team usually has the outnumber when the ball is moved quickly after a stoppage. Why do you think this will change if you reduce the numbers?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Unlikely as long as I speak up for Freo.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Well, that accounts for how quiet you've been. Hope you're unleashed and uncensored soon enough.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Probably not to many goals this week, Ross is talking playing Hogan in the back line.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
He has clarified nothing Don, don't talk rubbish. Case closed and wait for the book for me. Keep chewing on it if you please. Cheers !
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
And, all of that was incorrect. Lachie has clarified it for you.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Thanks Don, i would love to put to rest the Neale issue, Firstly i never ever said your line "Neale hates Freo". What i said was Lachie who was in the leadership group, was not happy at Freo and virtually walked out even though he was still contracted. Peter Bell said it was his priority to match the Lions offer and keep him at Freo, which failed. Neale left, if he was happy at Freo he would still be there. You for months kept posting he would never leave Freo, you were wrong. Lachie was never going to publicly bag the players or the club, it might of been different if they tried to force him to his contract. Belly will know why, and maybe Lachie will write a book one day.
Beni Iniesta
Guest
Reduce teams to 17 on the park and take out a Wingman from both teams? Both teams must start their wingman on opposite sides instantly creating a spare man on the Wing for both teams.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Thanks, JB. I must admit though, seeing as this is a post about goals, we didn't hit the scoreboard in our first game...
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You are in denial Maximus and falling over your own arguments by simply stating you know more than me. You have to do betetr than that. Tactical elements of the game don't simply stop by reducing players and neither will contested elements. The AFL will eventually trial 16 a side firstly and you will remember my comments when it happens. This will still showcase contested football but also allow more one on one contests kicking into the greater space created. As for your comments on zoning, have you considered coaches zone because they can due to the heat on kicks coming out of congestion? With less numbers in a pack and cleaner entries you think you would instruct your players to stand in the vicinity or go man on man? So the defenders have to go man on man and the forwards spread. Suddenly you have more one on one contests and less hack kicks to a pack. It's a chicken and egg argument yet you are trying to hedge with a double yolk.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You might like to read this article and finally put to rest your "Neale hates Freo" theories. https://thewest.com.au/sport/brisbane-lions/lachie-neale-has-nothing-but-respect-for-ex-teammate-nat-fyfe-ng-b881165865z