Mega Thread 2026 Media & Miscellaneous Thread

[Cam Payne]

Kids tickets get you into the ground.

 

[Alfonz]

Caro you whinging Vic centric agitator
How about Freo play opening round for the next two years and send Geelong or Collingwood to us for round one without a game and see how the Vics FN like it

Absolutely. Look at how Eddie McGuire is having a gigantic tantrum over poor little Pendlebury being let off to play and given a fine instead. Will Caro call him out for his massive whinge?

 

[Minz]

Good read from One Percenter here; I’m as usual left with the nagging feeling the club has backed the wrong horse again. https://www.onepercenters.net.au/p/has-the-afl-broken-footy

 

[DocT]

Good read from One Percenter here; I’m as usual left with the nagging feeling the club has backed the wrong horse again. https://www.onepercenters.net.au/p/has-the-afl-broken-footy

Which horse would that be?

 

[ignoramus]

Good read from One Percenter here; I’m as usual left with the nagging feeling the club has backed the wrong horse again. https://www.onepercenters.net.au/p/has-the-afl-broken-footy

That first section is bang on. This paragraph nails it for me:

The problem isn’t that the game is becoming faster or more open. It’s that this outcome is being engineered by a governing body that has unilaterally decided what “good” footy should look like, and is now putting its thumb on the scale. I don’t like that. It means we’re no longer watching a game that evolves on its own terms. We’re watching one that is being steered toward a preferred aesthetic that aligns with broadcast imperatives, but not necessarily with the long-term competitive health of the sport, the interests of clubs, or, frankly, the preferences of many supporters who are already feeling disillusioned with the current AFL administration.

The whole “ugly football” narrative during the Lyon years used to infuriate me, precisely for the way it sought to define what good footy should look like. And there’s no doubt it played it’s part in the rule changes that followed (hello, 6-6-6!).

 

[Minz]

Which horse would that be?

With regards to speed of play and transition being the defining feature of the game the AFL is setting the rules to advantage

 

[Cam Payne]

With regards to speed of play and transition being the defining feature of the game the AFL is setting the rules to advantage

Still can't work out what horse you want to club

 

[Quay Club]

With regards to speed of play and transition being the defining feature of the game the AFL is setting the rules to advantage

Yes, and it is all about more goals for more commercials on TV for CH7.

 

[Minz]

Still can't work out what horse you want to club

Ok, perhaps try reading the article first? And what’s the “horse clubbing” thing about? Weird.

The argument in the article is that the AFL appears to be deliberately skewing the rules so rapid transition is the only way to be consistently successful; in the mean time, our club tends to play more slowly in transition (although obviously can go fast). Merely hoping the recent rule changes do not disadvantage what has looked like a careful and deliberate team build up over the last 6-7 years.

 

[Cam Payne]

Ok, perhaps try reading the article first? And what’s the “horse clubbing” thing about? Weird.

The argument in the article is that the AFL appears to be deliberately skewing the rules so rapid transition is the only way to be consistently successful; in the mean time, our club tends to play more slowly in transition (although obviously can go fast). Merely hoping the recent rule changes do not disadvantage what has looked like a careful and deliberate team build up over the last 6-7 years.

Did you not watch the first half of this weeks game?

 

[Kapow!!!]

Ok, perhaps try reading the article first? And what’s the “horse clubbing” thing about? Weird.

No need to kink shame.

 

[anchor man]

Ok, perhaps try reading the article first? And what’s the “horse clubbing” thing about? Weird.

The argument in the article is that the AFL appears to be deliberately skewing the rules so rapid transition is the only way to be consistently successful; in the mean time, our club tends to play more slowly in transition (although obviously can go fast). Merely hoping the recent rule changes do not disadvantage what has looked like a careful and deliberate team build up over the last 6-7 years.

So, who does it suit!!!
All clubs pay by the same rules.

 

[Andy Brennan]

Did you not watch the first half of this weeks game?

First quarter*

 

[Minz]

Did you not watch the first half of this weeks game?

Indeed, hence the "can obviously go fast" in my comment. However, the slow measured build-up has been more the norm for the last couple of years.

 

[apuchar]

So, who does it suit!!!
All clubs pay by the same rules.

Not sure why they keep adding these confounds. This one is completely unnecessary. All the Northern clubs could play at home in the first round and the rest could just be distributed as usual. You could even give the northern clubs the best time slots, if you wanted most of the focus on them, without adding more distortions to the fixturing. Even all games, bar one, outside of Melbourne is also a better option than this rubbish.

 

[mattis117]

A couple of good segments on First Crack. First one tears strips of Oscar McDonald

21

Oscar Mcdonald

Age

30

Ht

196cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

191.4

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.7

4star

T

1.7

3star

MG

157.7

3star

D

14.8

4star

K

5.4

2star

HB

9.4

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

0.4

3star

MG

138.4

3star

and his inability to defend one on one. Chapman a defensive issue too.

Second segment looks at ruck situation and posits whether Jackson should ruck solo. Season is a marathon, so probably not, but the rule changes are clearly favouring tall and jumping rucks most, so do they persist with Darcy and see if he finds form or go to Cox.

The stats for Jackson's dominance are ludicrous and it's a shame Darcy has to be compared to that, but yeah, the two most significant issues coming from the weekend was 2nd ruck and piss poor 1 on 1 defending.

We again let a mediocre key kick a bag. I don't rate Neale at all.

 

[Kapow!!!]

A couple of good segments on First Crack. First one tears strips of Oscar McDonald and his inability to defend one on one. Chapman a defensive issue too.

Second segment looks at ruck situation and posits whether Jackson should ruck solo. Season is a marathon, so probably not, but the rule changes are clearly favouring tall and jumping rucks most, so do they persist with Darcy and see if he finds form or go to Cox.

The stats for Jackson's dominance are ludicrous and it's a shame Darcy has to be compared to that, but yeah, the two most significant issues coming from the weekend was 2nd ruck and piss poor 1 on 1 defending.

We again let a mediocre key kick a bag. I don't rate Neale at all.

I am genuinely very worried about our defence. We haven't had a genuine top 5 1 on 1 defender since Pearce was under Ross Lyon. With the new rule changes favouring speed on the game zoning defence will be under a lot more pressure and the emphasis will shift back to one on one.

 

[DocT]

With regards to speed of play and transition being the defining feature of the game the AFL is setting the rules to advantage

Thx for the clarification. I think calling speed of play and transition the defining feature of the game is overstatement.
TBH, compared to congestion and repeat ball-ups, I am all for speed and transition.
I think there is a general consensus that the game used to be more interesting and exciting to watch when players tended to stay closer to their position and on-on-one competition was more of a thing. Advanced coaching techniques employing the general 'it's easier to destroy than to create' mentality ruined the more open style of play. So, I don't mind rule changes that swing the balance back towards the less congested style. It's exciting, you get to witness more spectacular skills.

 

[DocT]

A couple of good segments on First Crack. First one tears strips of Oscar McDonald and his inability to defend one on one. Chapman a defensive issue too.

Second segment looks at ruck situation and posits whether Jackson should ruck solo. Season is a marathon, so probably not, but the rule changes are clearly favouring tall and jumping rucks most, so do they persist with Darcy and see if he finds form or go to Cox.

The stats for Jackson's dominance are ludicrous and it's a shame Darcy has to be compared to that, but yeah, the two most significant issues coming from the weekend was 2nd ruck and piss poor 1 on 1 defending.

We again let a mediocre key kick a bag. I don't rate Neale at all.

Well he is huge - 203cm, is 23yo and kicked 44 goals in 2025 - v similar to Josh Treacy, clunks big marks and kicks straight. Some of those things are indicators of a handy player who, when he has a good day, is very hard for anyone to stop.

 

[malpaso]

So, who does it suit!!!
All clubs pay by the same rules.

Well for starters it eliminates certain types of players and play styles. It should be strategic sport first and foremost and it still is obviously but limited in scope.

 

[malpaso]

I am genuinely very worried about our defence. We haven't had a genuine top 5 1 on 1 defender since Pearce was under Ross Lyon. With the new rule changes favouring speed on the game zoning defence will be under a lot more pressure and the emphasis will shift back to one on one.

That's rubbish Pearce has been rated very highly for years when not under an injury cloud. Look at the scores of games... the rules have changed the scoring, turnovers are more costly than ever.

 

[Kapow!!!]

That's rubbish Pearce has been rated very highly for years when not under an injury cloud. Look at the scores of games... the rules have changed the scoring, turnovers are more costly than ever.

Pearce has been great but I wouldn't say he's been Top 5 in the league for his one on one ability for a while now. He's a bit of a best of both worlds having developed his intercept marking. He's also surprisingly great at setting the tempo and taking the game on when we need a lift from the leaders. The rules have changed which means being caught out one on one is going to happen more and more. Outside of the job he did on Sam Darcy last year I do struggle to think of a game where he dominated his direct opponent in most contests for a few years.

The person I did forget about in my pessimism was Ryan who was probably the best in the game during that COVID season. But he's also a far cry from that particular version of himself. Walker also had a pretty strong 2022 as a lockdown small defender.

I dunno, something about our defence just feels brittle, especially to the blowtorch the new rules will put them under

 

[anchor man]

Whately and Lyon bagging out the problems the smoke and mirrors round.
Eight rounds of byes, stopping and starting ways of teams, ladder stupidity, don't know who is where until after round 15/16.
The league are concerened that the first week there was 50,000 down on last season. Really!! Have a listen to what the football public are telling you, you fools.

 

[Minz]

Thx for the clarification. I think calling speed of play and transition the defining feature of the game is overstatement.
TBH, compared to congestion and repeat ball-ups, I am all for speed and transition.
I think there is a general consensus that the game used to be more interesting and exciting to watch when players tended to stay closer to their position and on-on-one competition was more of a thing. Advanced coaching techniques employing the general 'it's easier to destroy than to create' mentality ruined the more open style of play. So, I don't mind rule changes that swing the balance back towards the less congested style. It's exciting, you get to witness more spectacular skills.

Certainly a valid viewpoint; those Aussie Rules individual skills are glorious (I do not think there’s a more spectacular game in world sport At its best. At this stage tho, I’d take a premiership if the team flooded and won every game 46-44 honestly.

 

[MemberSince02]

I just finished listening to Duff's SEN podcast from earlier today and in hearing Joe Brierty and the way he answers a question, without answering a question, it is so akin to a politician.

I give it 5 years maximum before he is employed by the AFL in some capacity, with a high rise view at AFL house.

As an aside, if somebody asked you who the main face of Geelong FC is, it's very obvious. Who is the main face of Fremantle FC?