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As a keen AFL fan I probably watch two or three full games a week and also immerse myself in various media panel shows as well as read the online blogs and print media.
As I have never played AFL at any level I can’t be expected to fully understand the strategy and tactics that a coach or a player needs to master, but as a fully paid-up fan and AFL club member, as hundreds of thousands of others are, I believe that our opinion has as much validity and weight as that of anybody.
However, this year I have been exposed to experts and past and present players whinging that the game is not worth watching and was much better years ago.
I have to ask myself what happens to these people when they retire to cushy places in the media and seem unable to stop complaining.
I don’t know how long is ‘ago’, but I have been watching VFL and AFL since Carlton was great – I think this was before computers and the Xbox were invented. I loved watching Alex Jesaulenko, Bruce Doull and Leigh Matthews.
(James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Even AFL management can’t stop fiddling with the rules. Let’s do away with the boundary umpires. Let’s bring in netball rules. Let’s cut the interchanges more so that players will collapse from exhaustion and the game will be better. Rubbish!
This year alone I have seen some sublime goals – Luke Parker’s bicycle kick, any incredible Buddy Franklin goal from 60 metres out – and Jesse Hogan’s skyscraping marks still get the blood pumping.
This year alone I have also seen games decided by one or two points, with heart-racing final kicks while the crowd goes berserk.
The TV ratings are great, the crowds are fine and most people crave their footy on the weekend with hope and expectation for their side.
Ask the vast majority of AFL fans – they will tell you that there is nothing wrong with AFL.
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