Lowest scoring opening round in 64 years

[maskmcgee]

Those score increasing rule changes really worked

 

[RUNVS]

Need to bring in the rule Clarkson suggested last year, where if a player handballs to a teammate that teammate immediately loses all right to prior opportunity. That one rule won't make the game look much different but it will stop players doing 5 or 6 little handballs in packs and being happy with getting another ball up.

 

[ash_1050]

Yep let's base an entire season on one round. Dumbest idea since Rohan Connolly wrote an article several years ago about how the rule changes were going to bring about more draws after we had 2-3 draws in the opening couple of weeks.

 

[TJASTA]

Steve Hocking must be very happy

 

[Power Raid]

I was expecting winning scores to be 120 or so

I was also expecting to tip at least 50% of the wins right

 

[juss]

But we've heard all preseason how scoring was up because of dat dem rule changes.

 

[loki04]

It's because you can still flood a defence in general play.

 

[Struggle]

Make goals worth 12 points and behinds worth 2, scoring will double and the TV networks will be happy

 

[aussierulesrules]

Back to the drawing board rules committee!

 

[Beauski]

The "lauded" 6-6-6 rule is only effective about 15 seconds after the ball is bounced in the middle after a goal.
Then it goes back to the typical flooding/rolling maul.

Hopefully this shuts up all the commentators trying to tell us how good the new rule is and how it will increase scoring.

 

[Underarm]

Higher scoring doesn't mean better games.

 

[Chaisa]

For reference, last year the average was 90 points per team (despite the Suns/North game). The year before that 104....

 

[Chaisa]

Higher scoring doesn't mean better games.

Try telling Steven Hocking that!

 

[Blue1980]

The "lauded" 6-6-6 rule is only effective about 15 seconds after the ball is bounced in the middle after a goal.
Then it goes back to the typical flooding/rolling maul.

Hopefully this shuts up all the commentators trying to tell us how good the new rule is and how it will increase scoring.

Well it’s not bad, it just doesn’t do much

 

[DrEvil_]

The new kickouts rule actually made it much easier to get to the wing, so instead of repeated inside 50s and goals now we just have more scrimmage around the wing

 

[Blue1980]

I think part of the issue is with 18 sides and increased professionalism we now have 2 things working against each other.

1. Shallow talent pool

2. Greater fitness of all sides, meaning you have lots of foot soldiers who can carry out instructions to stop the opposition but not much else

 

[W.C. Fry]

Was it the rules, or the fact the higher scoring teams from last year played like dog s**t?

 

[Kram]

Maybe the rules have helped Fremantle finally work out how to score.

 

[PerfectFooty]

Good to see the new rules have had an impact

 

[D-N-R]

More scoring means more ads means more $$$ for broadcasters. These changes are driven by ch 7.

Perhaps the TV model is broken and the FTA channels need to work out how to get more money for fewer ads or the AFL have to accept less money for their product.

It's unacceptable that we are changing the game for these reasons.

 

[Righteo]

Those score increasing rule changes really worked

IDK they seem to go okay

 

[Professor Knowall]

I think part of the issue is with 18 sides and increased professionalism we now have 2 things working against each other.

1. Shallow talent pool

2. Greater fitness of all sides, meaning you have lots of foot soldiers who can carry out instructions to stop the opposition but not much else

Both these points support the argument for reducing to 16 a side on the field.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Was it the rules, or the fact the higher scoring teams from last year played like dog s**t?

Maybe one thing led to the other.

 

[Football Tragic]

I actually think it will benefit the running teams. On top of having a shorter preseason, I feel the top teams struggled this week because they have built their games around pressure and locking the ball inside their F50. I think that the 'Kick-in Rule' has been a more signicant difference than the 6-6-6 rule. Teams are now transitioning the ball much quicker and more easily plus there is less congestion. The interesting thing is that teams may find it hard to transition between the 'repeat entry' style of scoring and the old fashioned, mark and goal style initially but it will evolve as the year progresses. The teams that can change their game plan to adapt quickest will see the best results.

Imo, teams such as Brisbane, Doggies, Freo and Port will find the new rules suit their gun and run tactics down to the ground but imho, this year is GWS Flag to lose. Great manipulation AFL!

 

[Toffee Lion]

Can't blame us and GWS, that's all I know.