What unpopular AFL opinions do you have? (Part 1 - cont in Part 2)

[Cleric]

AFL grew from the VFL. The name no longer holds meaning just for Chas Brownlow but for the tradition of the award. Changing it would be stupid. You don't win a Brownlow and be congratulated on winning the award named after feats of an administrator. You win the award and get enshrined among some of the greats of the game. The modern Olympics have very little to do with the greek town of Olympia but you wouldn't want them changed to be called the 4 yearly international sporting event would you?

As for moving the Brownlow it doesn't make much sense either. The footy media, the largest viewing audience, the largest attending audience both in players, officials and fans are all based in Melbourne. Why have the majority travelling. They don't move the Oscars around the US. The draft has already been moved in order to drum up a bit of cheap publicity in the expansion states, but to me it seems a pretty expensive waste.

So its the AFL in name only? The VFL is a seperate orgainsation to the AFL. So it either has to be a true national comp or its not. Lets not compare it to the Oscars, lets compare it to the NFL and the NBA. How do they do their grand final and awards nights?

 

[threenewpadlocks]

The Brownlow is still by far the most effective way of determining the best player in the league on a given year. The most effective awards are the ones where each individual game is voted upon, like the Brownlow or the Coaches Association Award, whilst awards that everybody seems to love, like the AFLPA MVP is only a "perception" award and not everyone views every single game, therefore is flawed.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

You need luck to win a flag along with everything else.
Some players are overrated because they played in a premiership team.
There is a lack of players who are good to watch in the game.
The media need to get a spine and start criticizing the game.

 

[Cleric]

The Brownlow is still by far the most effective way of determining the best player in the league on a given year. The most effective awards are the ones where each individual game is voted upon, like the Brownlow or the Coaches Association Award, whilst awards that everybody seems to love, like the AFLPA MVP is only a "perception" award and not everyone views every single game, therefore is flawed.

I dont have an issue with the formula just the name. The VFL could take on the Brownlow name and the AFL could bring in a new one. Might be a good thread to come up with a new name, and it doesnt need to be named after a person.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

I don't think that's necessary at all.
What's wrong with the Brownlow name? It's not as if it should be offensive because it originated in Victoria.
You didn't have people whinging that it should be the Whitten Medal or the Matthews Medal before the competition went national because Brownlow wasn't a great footballer.
The name's got prestige, it's just synonymous with best and fairest player in the competition. Why mess with something most people don't have any problem with and which has been a part of the game for nearly 100 years because a few don't like that the competition carries on a couple of old VFL traditions?

 

[Mateyman]

The Brownlow is still by far the most effective way of determining the best player in the league on a given year. The most effective awards are the ones where each individual game is voted upon, like the Brownlow or the Coaches Association Award, whilst awards that everybody seems to love, like the AFLPA MVP is only a "perception" award and not everyone views every single game, therefore is flawed.

Completely agree, although I prefer the coaches for accuracy, because the umpires have enough on their plate.

 

[Cleric]

I don't think that's necessary at all.
What's wrong with the Brownlow name? It's not as if it should be offensive because it originated in Victoria.
You didn't have people whinging that it should be the Whitten Medal or the Matthews Medal before the competition went national because Brownlow wasn't a great footballer.
The name's got prestige, it's just synonymous with best and fairest player in the competition. Why mess with something most people don't have any problem with and which has been a part of the game for nearly 100 years because a few don't like that the competition carries on a couple of old VFL traditions?

Its not an anti vic thing its that the most important individual award is named after some administrator at club level who doesnt deserve that level of importance named after him.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

Its not an anti vic thing its that the most important individual award is named after some administrator at club level who doesnt deserve that level of importance named after him.

He did play for Geelong for a decade, serve as club secretary for 38 years and was VFL President for 2 years, but I see your point.
My initial reaction if I lived at that time would have been 'wtf?', but as I said I think it goes beyond it's origin now.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Wait so let's say Fre and WC make the grand final and that year there is a gun ready to go #1 Draft pick from WA. They deserve to get this player as a priority?

 

[PoopingHindi]

The Brownlow is still by far the most effective way of determining the best player in the league on a given year.

you seriously believe that umpires are the right people to determine who is BOG?

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

you seriously believe that umpires are the right people to determine who is BOG?

When you look at the winners and runners-up for each year, they're usually pretty close to the mark.
Ablett, Watson, Swan, Judd, Ablett, Cooney, Bartel, Goodes, Cousins, Judd.. All deserving winners and they were surrounded by players who would've been equally deserving on the strength of their performances across the year.
They might have a couple of misses throughout the year but generally they do a reasonable job of it, I should think.

 

[Synth Hawk]

I don't have any unpopular AFL opinions!

 

[threenewpadlocks]

you seriously believe that umpires are the right people to determine who is BOG?

Yes. They're in the thick of the action and not blinded by statistics that many of us watching at home get feeded to us. They can determine who really impacted the result rather than whether player xyz got forty touches by ruckmen handballing to them, or a player getting goals but not dominating the game. The fact that three umpires together work out the votes also help it rather than a single ruckman. The only real criticism of the Brownlow System is that it does not recognise defenders enough.

 

[PoopingHindi]

Yes. They're in the thick of the action and not blinded by statistics that many of us watching at home get feeded to us. They can determine who really impacted the result rather than whether player xyz got forty touches by ruckmen handballing to them, or a player getting goals but not dominating the game. The fact that three umpires together work out the votes also help it rather than a single ruckman. The only real criticism of the Brownlow System is that it does not recognise defenders enough.

they are confined to one third of ground and are often watching behind the play. their main interest is the immediate contest in front of them and whether it is legal, not what impact it has on the game

umpires get a very narrow view of the game which is one of the reasons why defenders get ignored.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

So its the AFL in name only? The VFL is a seperate orgainsation to the AFL. So it either has to be a true national comp or its not. Lets not compare it to the Oscars, lets compare it to the NFL and the NBA. How do they do their grand final and awards nights?

The AFL is not a seperate organisation to the VFL. It is the same league just with a changed name.

And the NFL and NBA have 1 team per city (Lakers/Clippers aside), whereas the AFL has half the league in one city. Not a like for like scenario.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

Wait so let's say Fre and WC make the grand final and that year there is a gun ready to go #1 Draft pick from WA. They deserve to get this player as a priority?

In 2006 West Coast came 1st and Freo came 4th. West Aussie players went at 2 and 4 in the draft. Seems fair. The Crows also came 3rd and would've received access to Travis Boak, with Port picking up Bryce Gibbs despite finishing 12th.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

Who says the American models are the ones that have to be adopted?
Sure, they're popular, but that's because they're elite-level sports in the pop culture capital of the world.

 

[I Lost My Keays]

Opinion : The National Draft and the rookie draft should be combined as one

 

[Cleric]

The AFL is not a seperate organisation to the VFL. It is the same league just with a changed name.

And the NFL and NBA have 1 team per city (Lakers/Clippers aside), whereas the AFL has half the league in one city. Not a like for like scenario.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Football_League
The VFL is the old VFA and is a different organisation to the AFL.
The NBA and NFL dont preference one city or state against another, even if that state is 10 times the size ans population of another.

 

[Jonts]

Opinion : The National Draft and the rookie draft should be combined as one

Nah

needs those couple of days so recruiters/coaaches have more time to evaluate there needs and position of the list

 

[The_Steadier]

Kevin Bartlett is the most out of touch footballing personality to ever accuse the AFL of being out of touch.

 

[I Lost My Keays]

Kevin Bartlett is the most out of touch footballing personality to ever accuse the AFL of being out of touch.

Seeing Dunstall's face on "on the couch" was priceless haha

 

[Major Colvin]

- Shane Crawford = not funny
- I don't hate Nick Maxwell
- I still enjoy Bruce's commentary the most no matter how homoerotic it's become
- Despite the expansion sides pillaging the draft (at expense of clubs like mine) I admire the AFL's boldness in this move
- I respect Ross Lyon's coaching even if it doesn't produce footy I like to see
- Furthermore, the by-product of flood tactics is even more exceptional skills
- Luke Darcy is harmless despite adding nothing - Tom Harley too
- Leigh Matthews - for being the greatest player/perhaps coach of all time - has possibly the most forgettable voice and opinions, I hardly ever listen to a word he says

 

[Heaps of fun]

I don't mind Ross Lyon as a person, find his pressers to be good value and enjoy watching his Freo side play (especially their first two finals last year). Still think he's bad news for list managers and won't win a grand final though.
I think Rioli, Goodes, Naitanui, Lumumba and Franklin get a ridiculously rough trot on this website and that the fact that they're not white isn't incidental to this.

I think Cometti's a talented caller but is also a deadset flog who takes the piss out of the game too often trying to cleverly backhand players and teams rather than focusing on the play.

I think all forms of camera review is a waste of time and an ugly spectacle on the game. Leave it to the goal umpire or the field umpire can intervene if they're in a better spot.

 

[Big Fresh]

I don't mind Ross Lyon as a person, find his pressers to be good value and enjoy watching his Freo side play (especially their first two finals last year). Still think he's bad news for list managers and won't win a grand final though.
I think Rioli, Goodes, Naitanui, Lumumba and Franklin get a ridiculously rough trot on this website and that the fact that they're not white isn't incidental to this.

I think Cometti's a talented caller but is also a deadset flog who takes the piss out of the game too often trying to cleverly backhand players and teams rather than focusing on the play.

I think all forms of camera review is a waste of time and an ugly spectacle on the game. Leave it to the goal umpire or the field umpire can intervene if they're in a better spot.

Good call on the underlying racism on this site. It's reflective of Australian society.