State of the game

[Rik E Boy]

The AFL **** up the game then throws their hands up asking what's wrong with the game.

"you took the jam out of my doughnut Tommy, you did"

regards,

REB

[JK]

Sub-standard skills a bigger problem than the congestion imho

[Rik E Boy]

Sub-standard skills a bigger problem than the congestion imho

Spot on mate. Two teams too many. Essendon the worst in the league at the moment.

regards,

REB

[daysofourlives]

Sub-standard skills a bigger problem than the congestion imho

Yeah the skills arent fantastic but i think we under estimate the pressure the players are under and the margin for error is so small in todays passing when picking your way through zones. Im more with Chirs Scott than Garry Lyon on this issue.
We have to reduce conjestion anyway we can, all 36 players within 60-70 m is just crap football and you expect them to find a target or make some space.

[Jim05]

Sub-standard skills a bigger problem than the congestion imho

Spot on mate. Two teams too many. Essendon the worst in the league at the moment.

regards,

REB

No arguments there. Our skills have gone backwards. Too many players can’t do the basics.

[heater31]

Would adopting the SANFL out of bounds rules fix all of this?

Believe the AFL have been keeping an eye on the data.

[LMA]

Would adopting the SANFL out of bounds rules fix all of this?

Believe the AFL have been keeping an eye on the data.

I'm all for it. Makes players accountable for poor skills and takes it away from the umpires. I would go one step further and let the player be able to dispose of the ball that has gone out of bounds straight away without an umpire setting a mark, currently it's the only free where the players can't play on to advantage

[JK]

Sub-standard skills a bigger problem than the congestion imho

Yeah the skills arent fantastic but i think we under estimate the pressure the players are under and the margin for error is so small in todays passing when picking your way through zones. Im more with Chirs Scott than Garry Lyon on this issue.
We have to reduce conjestion anyway we can, all 36 players within 60-70 m is just crap football and you expect them to find a target or make some space.

Yeah that's a fair shout, but uncontested marks being dropped, loose targets being missed, inaccuracy from set shot goslkicking (which isn't new but seems to be worse) - Reckon if those things were improved the congestion wouldn't seem as bad as it does.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Sub-standard skills a bigger problem than the congestion imho

Spot on mate. Two teams too many. Essendon the worst in the league at the moment.

regards,

REB

Carlton say hi

[Spargo]

Well I’m pretty f#cking happy with the state of things ATM.

[daysofourlives]

Sub-standard skills a bigger problem than the congestion imho

Spot on mate. Two teams too many. Essendon the worst in the league at the moment.

regards,

REB

Carlton say hi

We dont have to wait long to settle this argument, the blockbuster Carlton v Essendon is next week.

Will be a good test for the "state of the game" next week. Roughly the top 10 will be playing each other so we should have 5 good games, if Geelong/GWS is nothing to go by.
1st good Friday night game of the year, AFL have been way to quick to burn the Hawks on Friday night footy, still consistently offer some of the best footy to watch just as much as anyone else but then again Friday night isnt about the spectacle its about tv ratings across the country hence we cop Carlton 5 times

[Booney]

The third man up rule has certainly impacted on congestion.

Firstly, the umpire takes 10-15 seconds to work out who is going to contest the ruck as two ruckman wave at him, secondly taking the third man up out of the equation ensures even numbers around the contest, no +1 / -1 to aid one side or allow the third man up to knock the ball clear of the contest.

[FlyingHigh]

Chopping the arms needs to go, need to promote strong hands in the contest again. I also don't like players getting pinged for putting hands in the back to hold their ground, stronger players are getting penalised. The 50m for entering a protected area MUST go, ridiculously harsh penalty. Whatever changes are made if any, take as much grey area interpretation away from the umps as possible

Know what you're trying to get at LMA, but there's a little bit of an inconsistency there. Whilst, like you, I'd like to see the first two umpired more feel for the game, I can understand the AFL's logic in the way they have set the interpretations to get rid of as much grey area for the umpires as possible.

For those reasons I'd give them 6/10 for introducing those interpretations. For the protection of the head rules they've made 9/10, just need to work through the players taking on the onus to protect themselves. For all other rule changes an interpretation since and including the change to 20 minutes quarters, I'm struggling to think of any that have improved the game or there was a reasonable rationale for.

Another one I hate, and it's more the symbolism than the effect on the play, is when a player takes a good pack/contested mark, but a free to his teammate takes precedence.

[Dutchy]

Would adopting the SANFL out of bounds rules fix all of this?

Believe the AFL have been keeping an eye on the data.

We have been using it in the SFL this year, even in the juniors, and its not as bad as I thought it would be. Instead of a short throw in into congestion you have a 40-60m kick to a target or space.

[whufc]

Would adopting the SANFL out of bounds rules fix all of this?

Believe the AFL have been keeping an eye on the data.

We have been using it in the SFL this year, even in the juniors, and its not as bad as I thought it would be. Instead of a short throw in into congestion you have a 40-60m kick to a target or space.

While I agree with what your saying I think at AFL the tactic will be a bit different and teams will look to slingshot to the other side, go backwards etc. I don't think to many teams at AFL will potentially give the ball back by kicking to a contest 40-60m up the ground.

[heater31]

Would adopting the SANFL out of bounds rules fix all of this?

Believe the AFL have been keeping an eye on the data.

We have been using it in the SFL this year, even in the juniors, and its not as bad as I thought it would be. Instead of a short throw in into congestion you have a 40-60m kick to a target or space.

While I agree with what your saying I think at AFL the tactic will be a bit different and teams will look to slingshot to the other side, go backwards etc. I don't think to many teams at AFL will potentially give the ball back by kicking to a contest 40-60m up the ground.

Cut off the 45 and cover the spread and they wont have an option but to go down the line.

[whufc]

Would adopting the SANFL out of bounds rules fix all of this?

Believe the AFL have been keeping an eye on the data.

We have been using it in the SFL this year, even in the juniors, and its not as bad as I thought it would be. Instead of a short throw in into congestion you have a 40-60m kick to a target or space.

While I agree with what your saying I think at AFL the tactic will be a bit different and teams will look to slingshot to the other side, go backwards etc. I don't think to many teams at AFL will potentially give the ball back by kicking to a contest 40-60m up the ground.

Cut off the 45 and cover the spread and they wont have an option but to go down the line.

Not that its a bad thing but if it comes in at AFL level it will be a major part of the game. The professional / full time players and coaches won't simply see a huge change in rules and sit back and go 'let's just kick down the line to a contest'

If it does come in the teams that can adapt and create clear passages out will be very very very successful early doors imho.

While it hasn't had a huge effect on the SANFL and not necessarily a bad affect if any, the AFL teams have more, time and resources to 'nail' that part of the game. Throw in the fact that with such big crowds I reckon the ball will come back into a play a lot quicker more often. If the ball goes over the fence in the SANFL it generally takes a good 10-15 seconds to come back due to lack of crowd. That won't be the case in the AFL.

I'm not against it in the AFL I'm interested to know what dynamic it adds and how teams adapt to it.

I reckon the ones who end up just kicking the ball 50m up the field will get left behind.

[daysofourlives]

Loved Chris Judds suggestion of scrapping percentage. He wants to just have points for counted. Would promote heavier scoring in some respects. Obviously coaches would still put 4 points first but we might find a better balance between attack and defence

[Lightning McQueen]

Loved Chris Judds suggestion of scrapping percentage. He wants to just have points for counted. Would promote heavier scoring in some respects. Obviously coaches would still put 4 points first but we might find a better balance between attack and defence

I think it would have a negative affect, once a team can't win they will call "uncle" and get smashed. End up with 14 on the field to minimize injury risk.

[daysofourlives]

Loved Chris Judds suggestion of scrapping percentage. He wants to just have points for counted. Would promote heavier scoring in some respects. Obviously coaches would still put 4 points first but we might find a better balance between attack and defence

I think it would have a negative affect, once a team can't win they will call "uncle" and get smashed. End up with 14 on the field to minimize injury risk.

They wouldnt want to give opposition free points would they? They may end up level on wins with that team at the end of the season