SA Footy

My players don't like footy: Lethal

By Andrew Hamilton
July 17, 2008

BRISBANE Lions coach Leigh Matthews says a major obstacle he encounters while preparing his side each week is that not enough players are "footy fans".

The four-time premiership coach said too many players had to be forced to watch the bare minimum of footy on TV needed to adequately prepare as AFL footballers because they didn't really love the game.

"We find that we have got to almost force-feed them as a group to make them watch footy," Matthews said.

"You'd think watching the opposition game at some stage during the week as part of your preparation would almost be mandatory. You'd be surprised how many wouldn't do it unless you made them."

Matthews did not subscribe to the theory the players' reluctance may be driven by a need to get away from the footy environment.

"A lot of them are just professional footballers. They only play footy because they are good at it, they don't care about the game much," he said.

source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24033347-23211,00.html

I was a bit surprised to see Lethal be so open about this -everyone would know the level of interest in the game would vary from player to player, but to read that some only play "because they are good at it" is slightly startling when so many on this site would have loved to have played for the team(s) they support.

Perhaps it shouldn't be too surprising -the degree of professionalism introduced to the AFL level in the last 5-10 years would make some aspects tedious and take some fun out it, but I don't feel sympathetic to any of them.

It might be also because the AFL is screwed.

interesting to see how the AFL come out and respond

I agree with RM, it's probably because 90% of AFL games are boring as bat shit to watch.

Interceptor, it's so often the case that those with talent don't really care to make the most of it, while those with none would love the opportunity to play at as high a level as possible.

I would love to have been good enough to play for Port, but I'm shite, whereas I've seen players who are brilliant just do something else on Saturdays. It always annoyed the crap out of me, but their choice I guess!!

I wonder if the coaches and then the rule makers have contributed to players not liking the game as it is.

devilsadvocate wrote:I agree with RM, it's probably because 90% of AFL games are boring as bat s***t to watch.

Interceptor, it's so often the case that those with talent don't really care to make the most of it, while those with none would love the opportunity to play at as high a level as possible.

I would love to have been good enough to play for Port, but I'm shite, whereas I've seen players who are brilliant just do something else on Saturdays. It always annoyed the crap out of me, but their choice I guess!!

I struggle to watch an AFL game that doesn't involve the Crows or a losing Port Power... yet I can watch as much EPL as I can handle... they haven't stuffed it up with different rules every year though!!

RoosterMarty wrote:

devilsadvocate wrote:I agree with RM, it's probably because 90% of AFL games are boring as bat s***t to watch.

Interceptor, it's so often the case that those with talent don't really care to make the most of it, while those with none would love the opportunity to play at as high a level as possible.

I would love to have been good enough to play for Port, but I'm shite, whereas I've seen players who are brilliant just do something else on Saturdays. It always annoyed the crap out of me, but their choice I guess!!

I struggle to watch an AFL game that doesn't involve the Crows or a losing Port Power... yet I can watch as much EPL as I can handle... they haven't stuffed it up with different rules every year though!!

Not like Damien Nygaard when he was at Norwood. He was reputed to do his own research on opponents and keep it all in a notebook he kept handy.
I guess with so much money involved these days there have to be those who are only there for that.

RoosterMarty wrote:I struggle to watch an AFL game that doesn't involve the Crows or a losing Port Power... yet I can watch as much EPL as I can handle

Is that the Eyre Peninsula League?

Probably because the game's too scientific and the fun is greatly diminished.

Everythings all based on GPS readings and too much emphasis is placed on statistics. It's way over analysed.

I remember Denis Pagan saying that when he played the game you'd do some running and circle work at training then head up to the club and knock back about 10 pots!

Now they're allowed about 3 light beers a week.
After games they have to eat jellybeans and drink Powerade then front up the next morning to walk through freezing cold beach water in a pair of speedos.

RoosterMarty wrote:

devilsadvocate wrote:I agree with RM, it's probably because 90% of AFL games are boring as bat s***t to watch.

Interceptor, it's so often the case that those with talent don't really care to make the most of it, while those with none would love the opportunity to play at as high a level as possible.

I would love to have been good enough to play for Port, but I'm shite, whereas I've seen players who are brilliant just do something else on Saturdays. It always annoyed the crap out of me, but their choice I guess!!

I struggle to watch an AFL game that doesn't involve the Crows or a losing Port Power... yet I can watch as much EPL as I can handle... they haven't stuffed it up with different rules every year though!!

Yeah, those games of flat out attack and unbelievable skills involving Geelong are terrible to watch compared to the dour no skilled games involving Port or the Crows.

Yes,Geelong are the first team to ever play well.

Talking to someone this week, a colleague of his is a very handy footballer.

His colleague has said to him that he doesn't get the fact that supporters come week in and out to watch the footy!

Booney wrote:Yes,Geelong are the first team to ever play well.

Finally something we agree on!

spell_check wrote:I wonder if the coaches and then the rule makers have contributed to players not liking the game as it is.

...and now the fans are becoming sick of it for the same reasons...

When you think about it really, the coaches are the first to blame. They have turned a fairly simple game with a few set routines and tactics into a complicated science to try and win matches. Perhaps the players are being blinded with science?

spell_check wrote:When you think about it really, the coaches are the first to blame. They have turned a fairly simple game with a few set routines and tactics into a complicated science to try and win matches. Perhaps the players are being blinded with science?

Neil Craig??

RoosterMarty wrote:I struggle to watch an AFL game that doesn't involve the Crows or a losing Port Power... yet I can watch as much EPL as I can handle... they haven't stuffed it up with different rules every year though!!

The EPL is very much growing in popularity in Australia courtesy of Foxtel making it available to the general public. This summer was the first summer that I gave up watching Cricket altogether after the Darryl Hair incident and the fact that players are permitted to "chuck" the ball and umpires are to afraid to call it......

amber_fluid wrote:

spell_check wrote:When you think about it really, the coaches are the first to blame. They have turned a fairly simple game with a few set routines and tactics into a complicated science to try and win matches. Perhaps the players are being blinded with science?

Neil Craig??

One textbook example. Although he is not responsible for the merry go round that is the interchange, I think Paul Roos is the culprit there. What now is about the number of interchanges in a quarter (20 odd) was the average for a match in 2000 (yes, just 8 years ago!)

About 10 years ago, heck probably even 5, about 75% of the team would play 100% of the game. These days you rarely get ONE player who plays all of the game, maybe the FB and another key defender but that's about. Take tonight for example, Dal Santo had about 7 possessions in 5 minutes and he goes off. The game is so much quicker, there are more rotations so you have to get on and get off. I don't like where the game is heading.