Involved in a nightclub brawl in December 2013 in his home town of Mandurah as well.

For his sake, he needs to stay in the Senior team and Fremantle need to establish a clear road-block that prevents Bennell from entering Mandurah -his and my home town- about 70km south of Freo.

Not the right crowd in Mandurah for Benell to slip back into socializing with, just look at his nightclub incident a couple years ago.

If Fremantle can keep him purely 100% on football and babysit him while he matures and Harley can play good enough footy to keep him out of the Peel region I think there’s a potential for a quality player on and off the field and key contributor to their first flag.

Appreciate it Sam, also let’s not forget the impact of not only losing Suh but Fairley and Sammie Lee Hill. Starting three DT’s gone and so much of their pass rush was through the A gaps which made Ziggy Ansah’s job a lot easier.

Also Levy hasnt been healthy, and he’s a top 5 linebacker in the league when healthy.

Much of the Lions issues fall with their ineptitude 6-8 years ago.

Between 2007 and 2010 the Lions had three top two draft picks as well as a year without a first round pick.

These picks whilst now would pave the way for years of greatness, actually hamstrung the Lions financially as Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford and Ndamukong Suh all fell under the previous CBA before it was revised to have a rookie wage scale.

As a result the Lions were more top heavy than any other organization with the majority of their cap taken up by three players.

-Calvin Johnson’s rookie deal was worth $64 million with roughly $27 million guaranteed. (To contrast, Sammy Watkins last year at pick 4 overall signed a $19 million, $12 guaranteed contract)

-Matthew Stafford’s rookie deal was $78 million with $41 million guaranteed (Compared to Cam Newton who signed merely two years later for $22 million, all guaranteed)

-Ndamukong Suh’s rookie deal was worth $68 million with $40 million guaranteed while JJ Watt one year later signed for a mere $12 million.

So basically, the Lions were terrible when it was the worst possible time to be terrible and as a result they werent able to create depth in their roster so now that Suh is gone, Calvin Johnson is aging and Stafford is regressing they dont nearly have enough quality players across the board to make up for it.

And for that reason, I think the Lions would be hoping a viable #1 QB is available in the draft so they can move on with a potential franchise QB whom they can actually pay according to his production.

The real tragedy is that we cant even wear ugly christmas sweaters in Australia as its always above 35 degrees at the time.

We need our own ugly sweater version of the Bintang singlet. Much more practical.

He said “next” showstopper…not “transcended football demigod”

Couple smokies:

-Jamie Elliott has the potential to be if he finds some consistency both on the field and between the ears.
Already a handful of goal and mark of the year contenders to his name but needs to not disappear as much to stay in the publics view (ironic I know considering he plays for Collingwood).

-Travis Colyer at Essendon has flashed when healthy too. True break away speed and willing to take on a tackler or two, not to mention a marketable appearance to boot.

-Personally, I think Puopolo deserves to be in this conversation. Can do it all at ground level, has pace and ferocity and has shown the ability to go for the big fly and kick his fair share of goals. Just too many good players in that Hawthorn team to stand out.

-Jack Billings flashed this year with St Kilda, great pace, infectious enthusiasm and a nose for the goal as well.

Note:
USC ranked #6 in FBS Poll.
North Dakota State ranked #2 in FCS Poll.

College Football is a lot more accessible I think to the general fan. Higher scoring, more turnovers = more highlights to keep us entertained.

I mean, if you’d like to pick up and read an actual football playbook be my guest. I’ve done it and its a overwhelming experience to take in so Madden helps slowly acclimatize people to formations, plays, assignments and play calls.

And you’re thinking of RockSmith, which yes can also teach people how to play guitar. If that answers the second part of your question.

Play Madden.

Quickest way to learn the rules and nuances of the strategy side of things and learn who plays for who and all that good stuff.

Is this a decline for the Hawks? I’d take a decline that includes two premierships and a tilt at a third any day. Even if it means a less than stellar reputation toward the end of a career.

I agree about Buddy adapting his game, but he is yet to find that perfect way of enforcing himself physically without having it cost his team. Just on a personal note, if you want to physically assert yourself on the game, you have to expect a bit of backlash and the image of Buddy backing down from physical confrontation with players his own size is a terrible look for someone wishing to establish this new identity.

Don’t condone either of the Hawthorn acts from earlier this year, was watching it from my dorm in the US and I believe my immediate words were “dog act” on both accounts. However, credit where credit is due, Hawthorn know that for better or worse, this is their identity going forward so if they can enforce it within the parameters of the game by all means do so.

Buddy’s suspensions havent resulted from a fair bump attempt with the occasional stray elbow but rather a pattern of high hits on defenseless players with either their head over the ball or just having disposed of the ball.

I think the Adelaide talent pool is over-stated. Numerically I think they have as many quality players as other Top 8 teams but the difference is that they’re predominantly attackers and defenders and outside of Sloane and Danger they lack quality in the midfield. Which basically means on one end you’re getting average movement forward and more pressure down back when those two aren’t in the game.

All things equal and assuming the Pies top end picks pan out, I think they’re in a great situation to contend in a couple years time especially when the top end of Hawthorn and Fremantle start to show their age.
Also, De Goey and Oxley are amazingly poised for their age.

I think sponsorship on uniforms and stadiums and practically anything you’d get paid for is fine. Bar the team name. The name is the identity and what fans align themselves with.

Guernseys aren’t as traditional as they used to be anyway (cough Hawthorn) so I’m not too fussed about product placement there.

Basically, I’d rather my club sell the naming rights to as much as possible to earn money to stay afloat than be to prideful and post financial losses, but selling the rights to the team name is one step too far in my books.

Couldn’t agree more.

I also don’t agree with the concept of “its been this way for 150 years” we don’t need any changes because staying stagnant is tantamount to reversing as you said.

Also, before claiming NFL as the messiah of how to run all sporting codes one should also look at the headaches they face with player interactions, pay scales, off-field incidents and the like and really ask whether we want this for Australian professional athletes.

In terms of experimenting with certain adaptations, “there’s a time and place for everything, and its NAB Cup (challenge, whatever)”

NFL’s popularity can only really be subjective as to its own previous status. Much like many US sports. Given the time difference to watch events (10am Finals arent overly fun) and the lack of homegrown talent means it will likely never reach the heights of our game here.

I dont think the draft is workable either, too much capital needed to get it up and running but the purpose is there and the NFL has nailed it.

Essentially, by making the draft such a spectacle, the NFL has stamped their print on the off-season where previously baseball or basketball would own the landscape. By doing this they’ve basically developed two seasons, ‘playing’ and ‘draft’ season as opposed to an “off-season”.

Footy right now takes a break for nearly 5 months before anyone really pays attention to it. We turn our attention to cricket, tennis, soccer and some of us SuperRugby so the impotence for creating a big televised draft like the NFL is to reduced that window where there’s no AFL news in circulation.

Good points, well made.

Glad you mentioned the Suns and I think in AFL’s attempt to nationalise they’ve had to steer away from localising the teams.I mean even GWS had to add “Greater” in there and I strongly believe that if a Tassie team was one day introduced they would be the “Southern….”

And I agree about the Rebels and product placement. Hard to get pumped up for a sporting event when they remind you about financial investment before the game.

Intrigued to find out what The Roar community thinks of the American touch on our great game. Not even just AFL either, tell us how you see the US influence in any sport you fancy.

Have at it!

The AFL has been copying the NFL for years already.
-Evident in the score review system (flawed but let’s not get into that)
-Deals with UnderArmour and the draft combine process essentially being exactly the same as the NFL.
-Constant affiliation with fantasy football after seeing its success in the US.
-Increase in tailgating ‘game day’ experience.
-An impotence in “statistical analysis” to explain the game rather than “that guy was tougher on that occasion.”
-Free agency and so forth.

These changes have been in AFL for a long time already are being copied as is evident by many execs and team officials making diplomatic business visits to NFL franchises in the off-season.

However, in many situations NFL traits dont work in Australia because of our national personality (laid back etc), Australian sports goers I dont believe want the hollywood aspect that NFL brings.

When was the last time anyone clamored for the Grand Final entertainment? It seems the majority of responses is “just play the damn game.”
Australian sports culturally align better with the UK simply because of our still strong connection. Hence Port Adelaide’s great success with “Never Tear Us Apart” and the prevalence of soccer style scarves being used in attendance now.

You forget that American Football is such a stagnant game that these entertainment qualities are needed to make the product bearable, they need the atmosphere and up to date technology more than any other sport because if not you have a 3 1/2 hour product with only 45 or so minutes of on-field action. In this way we are lucky to have a sport that is so free flowing and demands so much of our attention.

Also, in regards to commentating. I’m not a huge fan of McAvaney either, hence the reason I prefer BT for his emotion. This is personal preference. The same way that some people in the states prefer Gus Johnson’s explosive commentary to that of the emotionless Joe Buck or Chris Collinsworth.

There doesn’t need to be a change in commentary styles. Perhaps further investment in club centric calls such as ‘EdTV’ or ‘KBTV’ like Fox Footy have done for those interested, but this shouldnt be the norm and cant be done in Australia where Footy clubs share the same television and radio stations unlike America where so many cities have their own affiliates whom can afford to be subjective.

My thoughts on why its a talking point.

1. It was new. This isn’t a dance that Goodes has been doing since he came in at 18. He’s a mid 30’s player doing a celebration we haven’t seen as of yet in AFL. Anything different is newsworthy.

2. He’s been criticized as being thin-skinned in accepting criticism, so when he does something new after a week of criticism or controversy it is easy to link the two.

3. Sometimes we just don’t like players for certain reasons. I don’t like Tom Bellchambers. It’s sport, and as consumers we have a right to not like certain players, racism aside.
Simples.

The very fact that he brought it up in the media the coming days tells us that it bothers him and that is the sole purpose of booing players. Not so much to voice your displeasure but to hope, even just a little bit, that your contribution as a spectator puts him off his game.

Keep booing and do it with gusto. I’m sure his family will survive the torment, most others have.

Here’s to hoping the Tebow fanatics have learned from previous mistakes and will steer well clear of any Eagles training camp, and remain under wraps if Bradford/Sanchez falter.

His resume suggests that he belongs in the league. Throwing style aside. There are many quarterbacks with significantly worse track records whom have a “prototypical throwing style” and are little to no real chance to help their team win. Just ask the Cardinals with Ryan Lindley.

Tebow is a flawed quarterback prospect with running ability and provides off the charts intangibles. He deserves to be in the league. But most importantly his die hard fans need to recognize that they are doing more harm than good in their fandom and that a stellar college career offers nothing in the NFL.

Martin really doesn’t belong in this three.

So far he hasn’t shown any discernible qualities as a “leader” often utilizes the ball by purely blazing away and kicking long, has shown to associate with less than reputable figures off the field (not a pre-requisite for a good player I know but as a face of a team thats a different story) and is part of a Richmond midfield that is constantly underperforming. He isn’t the shining light in the Richmond midfield but rather an example.

I’d go Fyfe then Dangerfield by a hair. Dangerfield has more explosion than Fyfe and a better natural leg talent but Fyfe’s marking ability could make him a 50 goal a year permanent forward later in his career.

Fyfe is the kind of player you never have to rest on the bench as he can go down forward and immediately warrant a first-rate defender to follow him.