No Oppo Supporters General AFL and other clubs discussion thread. **Opposition fans not welcome** Part 2

[Pessimistic]

No

Ive never played footy but apparently its all levels, all sports particularly victoria (cricket reference)

What comes up is Its part of the game, but theres a line you shouldnt cross.

but everyone seems to have their own version of the line, and it grows with each outrage.

This morning I heard 'close family' added to the list of racism, genderism, mental heathism. But what is close family? parents and sisters are well defined, but wives? defacto? fiancee?

seems to me the only line that can be defined is no sledging at all

 

[Off The Couch]

Ive never played footy but apparently its all levels, all sports particularly victoria (cricket reference)

What comes up is Its part of the game, but theres a line you shouldnt cross.

but everyone seems to have their own version of the line, and it grows with each outrage.

This morning I heard 'close family' added to the list of racism, genderism, mental heathism. But what is close family? parents and sisters are well defined, but wives? defacto? fiancee?

seems to me the only line that can be defined is no sledging at all

Sledging family is pretty desperate
When a sledge is delivered it should only be about him/her and their ability or lack of to play the game. Don't see the need to go anywhere else

 

[Gralin]

Ive never played footy but apparently its all levels, all sports particularly victoria (cricket reference)

What comes up is Its part of the game, but theres a line you shouldnt cross.

but everyone seems to have their own version of the line, and it grows with each outrage.

This morning I heard 'close family' added to the list of racism, genderism, mental heathism. But what is close family? parents and sisters are well defined, but wives? defacto? fiancee?

seems to me the only line that can be defined is no sledging at all

Partner and kids for me are closest family, parents/siblings next level, but that's me

 

[Bumps"N"Grins]

Partner and kids for me are closest family, parents/siblings next level, but that's me

I was playing golf one day with Vossy up on the Coast, staying away from talking footy hey we were playing golf the best man from his brothers wedding asked him why he and Simon Black just about wet themselves laughing at a stoppage where a bit of a scuffle took place, he said that while he was in the scuffle Libba was giving him stick about being the worst brownlow medalist in recent times and Vossy reply was a simple coming from you Libba that's a bit rich, then the scuffle stopped because both Brissy and Bulldogs players knew Vossy was right.
Anyway just saying.

 

[Thaihawk]

you're conflating two stories here I think

I'm sure!

 

[Pessimistic]

Partner and kids for me are closest family, parents/siblings next level, but that's me

If you are the sledgee, how is the sledger to actually know that? Its problematic to implement

And if they do get a code, the grubs in the media will spend weeks picking holes in the inconsistencies.

 

[Hawthorn United]

Sledging family is pretty desperate
When a sledge is delivered it should only be about him/her and their ability or lack of to play the game. Don't see the need to go anywhere else

When you have to attack other people to get into the players mind/under their skin then it's going too far.

Garlett giving the fingers to Stratton was a good sledge at the time, even though they end up losing and he looked like a tool. But that was a simple gesture that would've gotten under Stratton's skin at the time.

 

[Pessimistic]

Sledging family is pretty desperate
When a sledge is delivered it should only be about him/her and their ability or lack of to play the game. Don't see the need to go anywhere else

What if they have a mental illness that the sledger doesnt know about? Thats off limits apparently. the game's about mental toughness apparently

But it was OK for buddy to taunt that when he got a job on the sydney list, Mumford lost his job?

 

[Gralin]

If you are the sledgee, how is the sledger to actually know that? Its problematic to implement

And if they do get a code, the grubs in the media will spend weeks picking holes in the inconsistencies.

I agree, my view on immediate family is different to yours, your average 18yo player and average 30yo player would probably have different view to each other as well

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Anyone else hear Isaac Smith on RSN this morning? Basically said the idea of a code of conduct for sledging was ridiculous. I think his exact words were 'spare me'.

 

[Off The Couch]

What if they have a mental illness that the sledger doesnt know about? Thats off limits apparently. the game's about mental toughness apparently

But it was OK for buddy to taunt that when he got a job on the sydney list, Mumford lost his job?

I don't have the solution
I've never needed to sledge an opponent

 

[grumbleguts]

I don't have the solution
I've never needed to sledge an opponent

The only sledge I've ever used is when a fast bowler was real quick, and you'd hear the ball fizzing as it passed your face, I'd say "Shame, you're not getting much turn on this deck!" piss em off no end.

 

[play2win]

I was playing golf one day with Vossy up on the Coast, staying away from talking footy hey we were playing golf the best man from his brothers wedding asked him why he and Simon Black just about wet themselves laughing at a stoppage where a bit of a scuffle took place, he said that while he was in the scuffle Libba was giving him stick about being the worst brownlow medalist in recent times and Vossy reply was a simple coming from you Libba that's a bit rich, then the scuffle stopped because both Brissy and Bulldogs players knew Vossy was right.
Anyway just saying.

apparently he sledged a saints player one night along the lines of "my dad f***ed your mother last night" which went down a treat with everyone in earshot as it was directed at his brother

 

[kimbopen]

apparently he sledged a saints player one night along the lines of "my dad f***ed your mother last night" which went down a treat with everyone in earshot as it was directed at his brother

I remember that.

 

[savagelunchbox]

I don't have the solution
I've never needed to sledge an opponent

What a good bloke!

 

[Paul Kersey]

Geez Peter McKenna was looking very frail and old at Lou Richards' funeral. He is only 70 years old too. Has he been ill?

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I don't have the solution
I've never needed to sledge an opponent

Lucky bastard. As someone who loved playing team sports, was ultra competitive but had a complete lack of pace and skill - sledging was all I had to compensate. Didn't always work - but sometimes you could absolutely nullify a far superior player to you by getting in their head. I was only ever sledging them directly though - wouldn't go for the family sledging.

That said, one of the best sledges of all time was Ian Botham on Rod Marsh. Marsh said to Botham as he came out to bat 'how's your wife and my kids?' to which Botham responded 'wife's fine, but the kids are ******ed'.

 

[OzJohnnie]

Lucky bastard. As someone who loved playing team sports, was ultra competitive but had a complete lack of pace and skill - sledging was all I had to compensate. Didn't always work - but sometimes you could absolutely nullify a far superior player to you by getting in their head. I was only ever sledging them directly though - wouldn't go for the family sledging.

That said, one of the best sledges of all time was Ian Botham on Rod Marsh. Marsh said to Botham as he came out to bat 'how's your wife and my kids?' to which Botham responded 'wife's fine, but the kids are ******ed'.

I like that one. An oldie but a goldie. The difference, which is readily apparent but perhaps not clear, is that it isn't actually targeted at the character of the family members. It's a witty distraction meant to divert Botham's attention rather than cut him personally. A far cry from "You're wife is a **** who has slept with half the squad" or whatever the actual sledge was. That's a whole different kettle of fish.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Sledging family is pretty desperate
When a sledge is delivered it should only be about him/her and their ability or lack of to play the game. Don't see the need to go anywhere else

Within reason
The old comeback of "that's not what your (mum/gf/sister/wife) said last night" I don't mind

 

[MightyHawks86]

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Anyone else hear Isaac Smith on RSN this morning? Basically said the idea of a code of conduct for sledging was ridiculous. I think his exact words were 'spare me'.

I'm glad. One sldege incident and we need a new policy. If it becomes an issue then maybe, but the majority of players know where the line is so let them get on with it.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...reasingly-likely-in-2018-20170518-gw7xcq.html

This is a ridiculously stupid idea. Baseball wild cards work because it's 30 teams and only 8 teams make the playoffs. In an 18 team competition it would be rewarding mediocrity for a team finishing 10th to have any chance of making the finals. Hopefully this idea doesn't come to be.

 

[Seagull Supremacy]

I dunno...Hawks becoming the first team to win the premiership from 10th has a nice ring to it.

 

[OzJohnnie]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...reasingly-likely-in-2018-20170518-gw7xcq.html

This is a ridiculously stupid idea. Baseball wild cards work because it's 30 teams and only 8 teams make the playoffs. In an 18 team competition it would be rewarding mediocrity for a team finishing 10th to have any chance of making the finals. Hopefully this idea doesn't come to be.

Exactly.

Also, all American sport is split into 2 conferences and a few divisions, the wildcard being the highest ranked team or two in a conference that didn't win a division. There is amount of small justice in letting the second place finisher in a strong division into the conference playoffs against the weakest division winner.

The AFL is based on a single division ladder in a single competition, like European sport. The American system grew out of an amalgamation of competing leagues and a playoff system developed that could determine the leagues' overall champion. In fact, in early years of the World Series it was more prestigious to win the National or American league championships than the Series.

Different systems, different circumstances. If the AFL want more post-season games they should just expand the playoffs to 10 teams. (Also a bad idea)

Heck, if we're expanding the playoffs, just rank the top sixteen teams, do away with the double loss for top teams, and run a four round playoff. Pretty soon players will be zipping around in go karts and using jousting sticks. Just leave well enough alone, fcs.

(Actually, a chaotic go kart jousting tournament would be pretty entertaining)

 

[cryptor]

I dunno...Hawks becoming the first team to win the premiership from 10th has a nice ring to it.

Can you imagine! Riots in the streets if it happened.