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

[jatz14]

I agree, there's no reason they shouldn't play 5 in the majors. Women run the same marathon distance as as the men. Same triathlon distance. Soccer games all go for 90mins +injury time.

Just make the change and the fitness levels will go up to cope with it. I can't see the problem.

I think the problem is they would rather the men play 3 than the women 5. There is a reason almost every other tournament is 3 sets. However they would be howled down if they tried, so they are stuck with it.

 

[Whats a Battle]

Well it should imo because every time a bloke with brown skin touches the ball it's "clever", "magic", etc.

It's really condescending

That's only one certain bloke with brown skin...and he is pretty special, clever, magic and delicious too

 

[atlaser]

That's only one certain bloke with brown skin...and he is pretty special, clever, magic and delicious too

That's true but it also happens for others as well. Cyril's media jerk just inflates his profile

 

[Scotland]

They shouldn't be paid less..... but they should play 5 sets

They should be paid less. Tournaments that pay women less than men do it because there is more commercial interest generated by the men. Say what you want about the gap in standard or Djokovic being able to wipe Serena 6-0 6-0, if you had Djokovic vs Nadal in the Australian Open final you could charge $200 a ticket and sell the place out in no time. The only way the women's game would do that was if it was Kournikova vs Kirilenko and they ditched tennis for lingerie pillow fighting. "Sexism!". "Misogyny!". "Objectification!". Reality.

Whether or not women play 3 or 5 sets is separate to that and not really for me to decide. I don't think playing 5 sets would make women's tennis a better spectacle and certainly wouldn't bridge the gap between the women and the men.

 

[adammania9]

Josh Dunkley will be the best midfielder from the 2015 national draft.

 

[PhatBoy]

I'll say it straight up.

Unless you like watching people hit softer, slower, run slower,,less athletically, bowl slower, not hit the ball as far, nor tackle as hard etc, women's sport is an inferior spectacle.

Nevermind that Serena Williams and to a lesser extent Maria Sharapova are the only players in recent memory who seem capable of winning a big match as opposed to relying on their opponent losing it.

 

[Dan26]

They shouldn't be paid less..... but they should play 5 sets

Of course they should be paid less. The commercial value of the sport determines the amount the players earn. The men are more commercially viable.

 

[Dynamics]

I think the problem is they would rather the men play 3 than the women 5. There is a reason almost every other tournament is 3 sets. However they would be howled down if they tried, so they are stuck with it.

That seems like pretty lousy reasoning from whoever is peddling it. Unless there is a body of statistics showing that 5 setters in the Opens causes a significant increase in major injuries or health problems (eg heat stress at the Aus Open some years), I can't see why the Opens should suffer. Those epic 5 set matches are such a huge part of Open history. Madness.

I guess I should also make this a footy related post. I enjoy top level women's footy. I wouldn't try to compare it to men's footy. Like the tennis, I just enjoy it as it is.

Love the concept too. Footy should always have been an option for women and now it will be. Good stuff.

 

[Scotland]

As far as Aboriginal players go, commentators are just lazy. IIRC Aboriginal players make up about 1 in 10 in the AFL so assuming that ratio is correct there are 9 non-Aboriginal players you can compare to every Aboriginal player to should you so choose - but Aboriginal players are exclusively compared to other Aboriginal players.

Sure there are common traits you associate with Aboriginal players (pace, creativity, clean skills etc.) but it's just lazy commentary. I think it was Darc' the other week who compared Charlie Cameron to Andrew McLeod. Same jumper number, same skin colour - not similar players at all.

 

[Dynamics]

I'll say it straight up.

Unless you like watching people hit softer, slower, run slower,,less athletically, bowl slower, not hit the ball as far, nor tackle as hard etc, women's sport is an inferior spectacle.

Nevermind that Serena Williams and to a lesser extent Maria Sharapova are the only players in recent memory who seem capable of winning a big match as opposed to relying on their opponent losing it.

OK, so let's say that's all true in terms of footy. That women's sport is an "inferior spectacle". So be it. What then? What are you driving at?

 

[PhatBoy]

OK, so let's say that's all true in terms of footy. That women's sport is an "inferior spectacle". So be it. What then? What are you driving at?

Why do I need an agenda?

The thread is about having unpopular opinions. This is mine. I don't like women's sport much, and the above reasons are why that's the case.

 

[Scotland]

Love the concept too. Footy should always have been an option for women and now it will be. Good stuff.

When wasn't it?

Historically the demand for womens/girls footy has been very low, hence there are so few clubs around the country.

 

[Leeda]

there are all these big fat men who go to the footy and you have to climb around them or else watch they don't pour beer on you
or else that they have a trail of kids around them who take up all the space.

they also yell really loud and sometimes what they say is really rude and so you have to shut your ears a bit and then you scurry
around the corner and then there is another loud boofhead.

Not all the time but it is a little bit uncouth...

 

[Scotland]

OK, so let's say that's all true in terms of footy. That women's sport is an "inferior spectacle". So be it. What then? What are you driving at?

This just leads on to the POV that there doesn't need to be a women's national league and the women don't deserve to make a living from it, be paid as much as men etc.

 

[Dynamics]

When wasn't it?

Historically the demand for womens/girls footy has been very low, hence there are so few clubs around the country.

A semi-pro pathway that gives girls and young women who enjoy the game something to aspire to. That will make a significant difference. Heroes to idolise and mimick... Picturing yourself playing footy at a high level is what motivates a lot of junior players. If all you have is local footy as your ceiling, you're going to bump your head pretty quickly.

More grass roots level support would be good also. Get those girls playing AusKick into clubs as they get older, playing against other girls. NSW and to a lesser extent QLD could be worth investing in. If netball is too... "netball" for you and League is that one goose-step too rough, aussie rules could be your sport.

It might not pan out that way in the long run but I'm prepared to back the idea.

 

[Dynamics]

Why do I need an agenda?

The thread is about having unpopular opinions. This is mine. I don't like women's sport much, and the above reasons are why that's the case.

You're right, you don't need an agenda. Fair play. I was just curious.

 

[2006_Eagles]

#freekickhawks

wait im doing it rong

 

[edgie]

Well it should imo because every time a bloke with brown skin touches the ball it's "clever", "magic", etc.

It's really condescending

In fairness it usually is... when most aboriginal players become boring blue chip type plodders, then perhaps a change is in order.

 

[chargers 09]

I don't like womens football.

Agreed- the money should be allocated to local footy leagues instead.


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[Leeda]

In fairness it usually is... when most aboriginal players become boring blue chip type plodders, then perhaps a change is in order.

perhaps it is not condescending to the players or even the aboriginal supporters either.

It is just a matter of everyone not thinking that everything is a put down or a condescension. It is easy enough to slap it down all the time.
Just being nice or giving accolades or whatever to anyone is fraught with danger when everyone sees it differently.

 

[edgie]

Calling certain types of applicable players names is different to repetitively telling us how surprisingly good someone is at something.

 

[chargers 09]

They should have an Over 18s stand at the MCG and blockbuster games. You can have fun here without having to worry about upsetting the "family friendly" atmosphere.


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[ThirtyThr33]

I don't mind BT

 

[_VXV]

Shouldn't have token females in legends games.
We get it Abbie, you can play a bit but when your getting token goose handballs 5 out it comes across a bit stupid & condescending.

 

[PP34]

Totally agree with those mentioning women's footy. Very happy that girls have far more opportunity to play it socially on the weekends, but the coverage of the new league and that game the other week is laughable. It's a inferior product, there should be no tiptoeing around that. The media and many people in general were talking about how great it will be, and how great the game the other week was.

People aren't going to watch an inferior footy league unless they support a team in that league, or are watching for future stars (VFL, TAC Cup etc). The league existing doesn't bother me, but they might want to ease up a bit and stop carrying on like it's going to be a widely successful league. There isn't a whole lot of evidence to suggest that. It will end up like women's cricket and you'll random find it on TV one day, watch it for a bit and get bored pretty soon.

They struggle to sell tickets for the worst AFL teams, and they still provide much better value. The pay argument they were making too was ludicrous. Demanding more money, and a whole lot of outrage from members of the public, actually implying that they should be earning good coin because they're going to be bringing people to the gates/TV like the men do.

Happy to be proven wrong, and it wouldn't annoy me if the league is a success, but for the meantime, I wish they'd stop trying to tell us how great the league will be.