Hamish McLachlan summed it up on the Channel Seven broadcast when he stated that 2020 feels like the sort of year where a result like this could happen.
For the AFL, where ‘optics’ are of the highest priority, where how things appear seem to be of more importance than how they actually are from the outside looking in, last night’s result must feel like a little bit of an anticlimax.
They’ve tried so hard to control everything through this strange season and ensured they tightly manage so much within their boundaries of responsibility, only to have it all brought undone by the only thing they could not control: the game itself.
Fans have been promised fast, exciting football, with the shorter quarters designed to create that sense of ‘free-flowing football’, but what we’re left with is footy’s ultimate letdown, the draw.
From a business perspective the AFL are surely smiling – more eyes watching the broadcast with ratings up and the broadcast deal sorted just prior to the bounce. But surely this morning there must be a sense of frustration that after trying so hard they ended up with the lowest-scoring game this century.
It was an underwhelming visual spectacle of a game, with player skills clearly underdone, and ultimately delivered the most unfulfilling of results.
Perhaps the lesson in all of this is the more you micro-manage, the greater the odds that the product doesn’t live up to your expectations. The AFL talked a big game, but perhaps the game itself didn’t walk the walk.
Thankfully the only way from here is up.
sven
Roar Rookie
no complaints here mate, just trying to be a smart a#se :stoked: :happy:
sven
Roar Rookie
no complaints here mate, just trying to be a smart arse
Matches
Roar Rookie
So are u complaining about the complaining or the ‘no complaining’ comment :silly:
sven
Roar Rookie
youre calling it after round 2 ?
sven
Roar Rookie
yatz said "No complaining will change it." ... mate, if there was no complaining on this site traffic would be almost nonexistent
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Ironically enough Pat McAfee in the USofA was loving it: Insane, mayhem.
Andy Roberts
Roar Rookie
I'm a neutral looked good to me
Andy Roberts
Roar Rookie
Agreed with your comment regarding the comparison to AFLW. It's a great indicator that if the professionalism of the players is allowed to improve, the standard will dramatically improve with it. The AFL hasn't had semi-professional players since the 80's and look at the games from back then - scrappy, kick to position affairs where often teams were simply forcing the ball forward however they could. Hopefully the AFL noted the comparison also.
Stillbillbob
Roar Rookie
Get on the cats there the real deal
sven
Roar Rookie
yeah cause this forum is heavily populated by impartial & non biased contributors
sven
Roar Rookie
i was gutted those two grannies, where as u said north & the cats blew the chance to set up commanding leads, as they say bad kicking is bad footy... the crows & hawthorn were good enough to get back in the game & then ran over their opponents, making them deserved winners
sven
Roar Rookie
yeah that run by the doggies in ’16 was unreal & great team to watch (that prelim win over gws was one the best games i reckon ive seen)
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I disagree that close games by nature are good games...particularly when 2 goals are kicked after half time
Matches
Roar Rookie
From memory, Col, the goal umpire said I believe it’s a point can we check to confirm the mark was behind the line. That’s a fairly common line, as you know, when they refer these things. Then the field umpire signalled to the reviewer by holding 1 hand up to his mouth, and we can hear that it’s believed to be a point when referred.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Exactly. I’m certainly not trying to bag Richmond, you win because you deserve to win as far as I’m concerned. North Melbourne in 1998 & Geelong in 2008 gave their opponents a free kick by not being accurate when it mattered, despite dominating the first halves of their respective GF’s, and both should’ve been 8+ goals up at halftime. I guess as a neutral though, I’d have to admit that I appreciate the Western Bulldogs amazing upset win in 2016 (not to mention their finals series full stop!) over Sydney more than Richmond in 2017 due to the fact they were a genuine underdog to a team full of premiership winning players & a team that regularly played grand finals and was expected to do so.
sven
Roar Rookie
fair enough (maybe im being a bit sensitive but there has been a lot of trying to sell the tiges achievements short in my view), guess that situation arises quite a bit (re finals experience) …. been a lot of instances where the minor premier doesnt salute in the granny (or even make it for that matter), its really all about finishing high enough to get a decent crack at the finals & hitting your straps when it matters (something the tiges werent able to do in ’18). not that its unique to afl but i like the fact that u actually have to be able to deliver on the day to be crowned the best team that year (unlike say epl where its about finishing on top at seasons end or nba with its ridiculous number of playoffs, talk about milking it to the max).
Micko
Roar Rookie
Look, I have nothing against them, good luck to Richmond. Just pointing out something that advantaged them. Both them and the Crows were on an equal footing in 2017 in terms of virtually no grand final experience, something that often helps the underdog team, the same advantage the Crows received in 1997 when they played St Kilda, who were minor premiers with more pressure on them. Surely you can admit to this. This still doesn't take anything away from Richmond.
sven
Roar Rookie
sure, lets find another reason to downgrade the tiges success, fair dinkum, was there ever a premiership winning team that caused so much angst & desperate straw clutching from supporters of teams that werent good enough to beat this supposedly inferior team during the finals or the granny ?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
No need to accept clear errors. That sort of mistake could cost a side a flag if incompetent officials aren’t replaced.
BigAl
Roar Rookie
Much rather have a draw than a blowout ! - any day...