16 players a side?

[Dippers Donuts]

Has been bandied about in certain quarters recently.

I think it is a great idea. Reducing the on field players from 36 to 32 would go a long way to freeing up the game and making it more attractive to spectators.

I would think that 1 defender and 1 forward could be easily taken out of the playing arena - lets face it, most clubs tend to play a four or five man attack these days anyway with the "spare" forward in reality becoming a midfielder.

It would also make it harder for defensive teams/coaches to flood, which is surely not a bad idea.

I would also probably increase the bench from 4 to 6; it would increase team flexibility and games would become more tactical, which I like. Pinch hitters, for example, ie players picked for a certain amount of game time to "do a job" would come into the mix etc.

Not sure if it would ever happen, but I think the idea has merit.

 

[bulldogs1]

Hmm

Sounds a lot like the old VFL, where "wingers" didn't exist. However, the coaches would only be forced to select 16 players. Where they play them is up to them. The old set position just does not exist any more.

 

[Danny Chook Fan Club]

You have to give Sydney credit in this area. By playing Troy Luff and Dale Lewis for as long as they did, they effectively pioneered the 16-a-side idea in the AFL.

Hats off to the Cygnets.

 

[TheMase]

Originally posted by Danny Chook Fan Club
You have to give Sydney credit in this area. By playing Troy Luff and Dale Lewis for as long as they did, they effectively pioneered the 16-a-side idea in the AFL.

Hats off to the Cygnets.

hehe. .. even i can laugh at that one!

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

I think its a terrible idea. Changing a few rules to make the game fairer or safer is one thing, but changing something like the amount of players on field is like changing the sport all together.

There are certain elements of AFL that should never get changed, for example, the ball should always remain egg shaped, throwing should never be allowed, and there should be 18 players on field.