I watched it and there is merit in what you say.
Sensational game and just tough - no commentary hanging out for a circus trick that they can elevate into a mystical event. And the commentary team are so so much better than now it makes me want to weep. And I'd forgotten how much I used to love Fev - early on in the clip is a reminder. I think you are right about just a business. And while nothing much is going to stop me watching, but the hyper drama over every nuance of preferred players performances will wear very thin.
Also, I've never really understood the "ugly" football thing. Ugly is when there are no skills on display - think Dees v Lions last year. I've never really thought about stoppage or tough defenders as being ugly. As long as is skilled football I don't really mind. I can take or leave the media but I wish they would stop telling me which games and which players I am obliged to like. It's annoying.
Real tough, no one grabbing an arm for a high free kick and no one flopping at the knees
2 blokes going for the footy instead of one going for the footy and the other standing back to tackle him and get a holding the ball decision
The commentators never detracted from the action by making it about themselves with stupid catch phrases or wanking over a single player doing **** all
Crowd noise is turned right up, sounds like there was a million people there
Fevola was worth the price of admission, its sad that we will never see another player like him again because the AFL is an SJW now and the image is more important than the product
Its pure business, another 20 years of these boring modern day footballers and the AFL will fall behind soccer in this country because its lost its personality
I honestly find the over the back goal the most ugly part of modern day footy, I absolutely despise it because it takes no skill and doesnt highlight any of the things than make AFL a good sport except that one bloke was fit enough to sprint in behind a zone
There was nothing better than watching Fev charge at the footy from the goalsquare, amazing set of hands and the most beautiful kicking action you could ever see
I dont care if they have to make the rotations zero, they need to do anything they can to bring back the footballer and get rid of the athlete
Wheres the forward craft these days? Josh Jenkins could be paid nearly 800k a year to spring to the middle and then spring back towards the goal and kick one from the square