Opinion What unpopular AFL opinions do you have? - Part 2

[p4p1]

Agree. Of course I like watching my own team but I couldn’t give a f**k about the supposed ‘big’ games.

Because there’s a big crowd at a ground 1000km away I’m supposed to somehow enjoy it more than I would if I’m watching a genuinely exciting team play excellent footy?

Obviously you should be. That is the directive from AFL house.

 

[iameviljez]

Here's one: the umpiring so far this year has been excellent.

The bad decisions/non-decisions stand out like dog's balls nowadays because they are so rare.

Crowd/fan outrage is overwhelmingly due to Dickhead Dazza and his 40 mates either being ridiculously one-eyed, or having a patchwork and 30-year-out-of-date understanding of the rules.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

And shenanigans. Remember Sheedy tying down the windsock at Windy Hill?
Clever bastard.

It is actually funny thinking back as to how big a scandal that was.

 

[mchal4]

GWS is an accounting fraud waiting to blow up..( i.e. Enron )

 

[windyhill]

Holding up signs by random club officials is the biggest wank in football. One club started it and the rest of the sheep followed.
Utterly pathetic. But ohh, it's so cutting edge.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Here's one: the umpiring so far this year has been excellent.

The bad decisions/non-decisions stand out like dog's balls nowadays because they are so rare.

Crowd/fan outrage is overwhelmingly due to Dickhead Dazza and his 40 mates either being ridiculously one-eyed, or having a patchwork and 30-year-out-of-date understanding of the rules.

you can't be serious. the umpiring this year is the worst it's ever been. so much ambiguity and lack of consistency.

The 15m kick rule, holding the ball, insufficient intent... are all a lottery. it's a cruel joke

 

[JHF1870]

Just because you have more scoring shots, doesn't mean you can instantly equate that to more goals scored. Gerrard Healy and the popular belief is that you can just extrapolate the total scoring shots into goals.

Rushed behinds, pressure and where you kick from make a huge difference, but if you kick three points in a row, then a goal afterwards, you can't say that there was potential to kick 2,3, or even 4 goals.

 

[btdg]

you can't be serious. the umpiring this year is the worst it's ever been. so much ambiguity and lack of consistency.

The 15m kick rule, holding the ball, insufficient intent... are all a lottery. it's a cruel joke

Nah, I actually agree with that.

The rules are the most predictable and match best with fan expectations more than any time since the early 2000s (IE before tackle numbers exploded and teams flooded defensively, creating a lot more 50/50s to navigate). They are calling more htb which is great. They are also doing pretty well with players ducking into tackles too.

The 15m interpretation is bollocks though. It is still clear - go forwards and you can kick 10m and get benefit of the doubt. Go backwards or sideways and it better be at least 30 or you face risk. That's silly (would be better to just change the rules and make it officially just play on for backwards kicks etc).

 

[ringo200]

I'm fine with outcome playing a large role in determining suspensions.

Individually there will be cases where it is unfair but on the whole it's probably the most effective way to reduce the sorts of actions that tend to lead to injuries.

 

[Daka]

Umpires bet on Games imo, it's proven in the Brownlow medal. I just don't see how the game wouldn't be corrupt given how many gambling ads are advertised during the game and start of game.

 

[Hoops]

might be popular but it’s something i’ve noticed this season.

if there’s a ball up like, 20cm from the boundary, i don’t see why they can’t just call it a throw in, majority of the time (by my eye at least) it’s ended up as a throw in anyway, why not cut out the middle man and just throw it in

Why not have a dashed line 9m in from the boundary (so it lines up with the goal square) where all ball ups between the boundary and this new line will result in a a throw in. It could also double-up for the out of bounds rule in that any disposal that lands within these lines and goes out of bounds is a free and if the ball lands before the new lines and rolls out then throw it in.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

I'm fine with outcome playing a large role in determining suspensions.

Individually there will be cases where it is unfair but on the whole it's probably the most effective way to reduce the sorts of actions that tend to lead to injuries.

And if it's based on outcome rather than intent, why shouldn't players be suspended for concussing teammates? It does happen.

 

[Pistol Night]

And if it's based on outcome rather than intent, why shouldn't players be suspended for concussing teammates? It does happen.

Steven May likes this

 

[BringFevBack2021]

Rules should be governed as they are written not as to what makes reasonable sense at the time

Should the rule “fail” as a result (i.e. 50 high frees given in one game or something stupid) it must be revised

As someone who watches a lot of UFC, Football (Soccer) the way they are (generally) officiated is in alignment with the way the rule is written.

 

[Scotland]

And if it's based on outcome rather than intent, why shouldn't players be suspended for concussing teammates? It does happen.

100%. Matthew Lloyd KO'd Blake Caracella throwing an elbow at Shane Woewodin in 1999. It's on YouTube.

He elected to bump and made high contact and caused a concussion. 3-6 weeks today if he hits Woewodin, but zero for hitting Caracella. If you fly for a pack mark and knee someone in the back of the head is that going to be suspendable only if you hit an opposition player?

The AFL is run by lawyers who think they are smarter than everyone else but they have very little understanding of duty of care and contributory negligence.

 

[p4p1]

I'm fine with outcome playing a large role in determining suspensions.

Individually there will be cases where it is unfair but on the whole it's probably the most effective way to reduce the sorts of actions that tend to lead to injuries.

I don't think anyone would disagree that they should have a large role in determining a suspension of any kind. But to be the only determine factor in an otherwise legal football action is a major issue.
The word reasonable pops up quite often but the actions they expect of a player are often not reasonable, despite how often the AFLs tribunal lawyers says a different action than the one taken is.

'Suspension is a disgrace': Charlie Cameron out for three weeks as rough conduct charge upheld

GWS's Toby Bedford has joined Brisbane Lions star Charlie Cameron in failing to overturn a three-game ban at the AFL Tribunal for tackling.

www.abc.net.au

"The fact Cameron's foot may have become entangled with Duggan's was entirely foreseeable and not an exceptional circumstance in a close up tackle," Hannon told the Tribunal.

The Giants argued it was not a reportable offence, but AFL Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson returned with a disappointing verdict for Bedford after deliberating for about 30 minutes.

"A reasonable player in Bedford's circumstances would have realised that by leaping at Taranto in the way that he did from behind was likely to drive him into the ground," Mr Gleeson said.

Tribunal shock as ban upheld despite victim’s texts as gun Tiger, Hawks defender’s appeals fail

Tribunal shock as ban upheld despite victim’s texts as gun Tiger, Hawks defender’s appeals fail

www.foxsports.com.au

Woods for the AFL said “the AFL’s position is that it’s rough conduct and unreasonable in the circumstances.

”It was unreasonable for Archer to maintain the momentum that he did, not really being in a position to take possession of the ball and in the fact of Cleary going low to try and collect the ball.

 

[Xtreme]

I hate Hardwick but I'd love the Suns to play finals and win a grand final. It'd be funny seeing them with a premiership before another Saints/Dogs/Cats/Bombers premiership

 

[____]

I got two more.

A Norm Smith medal is a better measure of a players greatness than a Brownlow. Brownlow measures regular season performance but doesn't measure performance in finals. A Norm Smith medal is proof that a player can perform when it matters. For example as a Lions supporter I love Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

32

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

and he's a great player, but he's not a better player than what Michael Voss (who should have won the NS in 2002) and Dustin Martin were in their primes even though he has twice the brownlows.

Also Gold Coast's new home jumper is a big improvement on their old home jumper.

 

[Scotland]

I got two more.

A Norm Smith medal is a better measure of a players greatness than a Brownlow. Brownlow measures regular season performance but doesn't measure performance in finals. A Norm Smith medal is proof that a player can perform when it matters. For example as a Lions supporter I love Lachie Neale and he's a great player, but he's not a better player than what Michael Voss (who should have won the NS in 2002) and Dustin Martin were in their primes even though he has twice the brownlows.

Also Gold Coast's new home jumper is a big improvement on their old home jumper.

Interesting.

Our last two Norm Smith winners were Luke Shuey and Andrew Embley. Good players but not as good as Chris Judd, Dean Kemp and Peter Matera.

The Grand Final is a one off. Will Ashcroft, Bobby Hill and Isaac Smith are clearly not the best players on their respective teams but played well in the last 3 GFs. I like the idea of the Gary Ayres Award (which Neale won last year) but with the potential for some players to play 4 finals it doesn't work out neatly.

Dusty's 2017 is the pinnacle because he was the best player in the comp over the course of the year and won the lot. His triple flag, triple Norm Smith, triple Gary Ayres Award is elite but being the best all year and being the best when it matters and winning is something else.

 

[RUNVS]

I got two more.

A Norm Smith medal is a better measure of a players greatness than a Brownlow. Brownlow measures regular season performance but doesn't measure performance in finals. A Norm Smith medal is proof that a player can perform when it matters. For example as a Lions supporter I love Lachie Neale and he's a great player, but he's not a better player than what Michael Voss (who should have won the NS in 2002) and Dustin Martin were in their primes even though he has twice the brownlows.

Also Gold Coast's new home jumper is a big improvement on their old home jumper.

I strongly disagree as a player needs to be in a very good team just to make the Grand Final. A great player may never even have the chance to win the Norm Smith if they are in a crappy team that can't even get into the 8.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

No disrespect to the ANZAC's but I think 9 ceremonies over 4 days is too much.
By the time WC/Hawks started I felt like it had been overdone.
1 ceremony in each state(5) is plenty, rotate the clubs the following year.
And save it for night games, daylight does nothing for the spectacle.

 

[____]

Interesting.

Our last two Norm Smith winners were Luke Shuey and Andrew Embley. Good players but not as good as Chris Judd, Dean Kemp and Peter Matera.

The Grand Final is a one off. Will Ashcroft, Bobby Hill and Isaac Smith are clearly not the best players on their respective teams but played well in the last 3 GFs. I like the idea of the Gary Ayres Award (which Neale won last year) but with the potential for some players to play 4 finals it doesn't work out neatly.

Dusty's 2017 is the pinnacle because he was the best player in the comp over the course of the year and won the lot. His triple flag, triple Norm Smith, triple Gary Ayres Award is elite but being the best all year and being the best when it matters and winning is something else.

To be fair, Judd also won the Norm Smith. Although I will acknowledge that Cousins was a better player than Embley and Shuey (but both those two were better than Priddis).

Personally I rank players on the ability to perform when it matters.

For me though I rank Dusty as the best player I've ever seen, not because of 2017, but because of his performance in the 2020 grand final where he single handedly won it for Richmond. That was the game he went from just a champion player to the GOAT. As much as I love Lachie Neale, I can't see him single handledly winning a GF like that.

Luke Hodge and Cyril Rioli have both never won a Brownlow, but they're both better players than Ollie Wines or Tom Mitchell who have. Hodge and Cyril Rioli have both won Norm Smiths and have proven they can perform when it matters.

 

[JHF1870]

To be fair, Judd also won the Norm Smith. Although I will acknowledge that Cousins was a better player than Embley and Shuey (but both those two were better than Priddis).

Personally I rank players on the ability to perform when it matters.

For me though I rank Dusty as the best player I've ever seen, not because of 2017, but because of his performance in the 2020 grand final where he single handedly won it for Richmond. That was the game he went from just a champion player to the GOAT. As much as I love Lachie Neale, I can't see him single handledly winning a GF like that.

Luke Hodge and Cyril Rioli have both never won a Brownlow, but they're both better players than Ollie Wines or Tom Mitchell who have. Hodge and Cyril Rioli have both won Norm Smiths and have proven they can perform when it matters.

Brownlow is a nothing award.

Its biased toward players more talked about
DIsadvantages players with a better team structure

 

[JHF1870]

No disrespect to the ANZAC's but I think 9 ceremonies over 4 days is too much.
By the time WC/Hawks started I felt like it had been overdone.
1 ceremony in each state(5) is plenty, rotate the clubs the following year.
And save it for night games, daylight does nothing for the spectacle.

Disagree. Im a shift worker so missed out on service. Was a great opportunity to be a part of the service. I also like the welcome to country. The guy with the beard is good.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

I got two more.

A Norm Smith medal is a better measure of a players greatness than a Brownlow. Brownlow measures regular season performance but doesn't measure performance in finals. A Norm Smith medal is proof that a player can perform when it matters. For example as a Lions supporter I love Lachie Neale and he's a great player, but he's not a better player than what Michael Voss (who should have won the NS in 2002) and Dustin Martin were in their primes even though he has twice the brownlows.

Also Gold Coast's new home jumper is a big improvement on their old home jumper.

Norm Smith is one big day.

The Gary Ayres Medal across the whole finals series is a better metric.