Strategy How will teams use the fifth interchange?

[scoman]

With the sub being abolished and the bench extended, how are teams going to take advantage of this? Will most teams play a second ruck? Or might teams just simply play who they might have chosen as sub in previous years? Usually a fairly versatile player, often a rookie and even at times a veteran short on match fitness (Neale or Fyfe). Will a definite trend emerge, or will it be very different across the league?

 

[L_W_P]

There might be a year or two of experimentation but ultimately teams will try to get another utility type that can run through the midfield in.

Your 2nd ruck will still need to be able to rest forward and pinch hit.

In 6-7 years teams will complain about injuries playing too big a part in deciding close games and the AFL will bring in a medical 'bench' with 2-3 players that can be subbed on for game ending injuries.

Rinse and repeat the cycle until we have squads of 30 being named for games.

 

[Maddo11]

I reckon you might see guys who are returning from injury play 50 - 60% game time instead of a full game in the magoos.

 

[The_Reaper]

I reckon you might see guys who are returning from injury play 50 - 60% game time instead of a full game in the magoos.

I think this ends up being too much of a disadvantage with a bench player

 

[Maddo11]

I think this ends up being too much of a disadvantage with a bench player

Might also depend on team make up. There were games this year I'd have killed for a half fit McDonald instead of playing Joel goddamn Hambling as a forward target.

 

[RUNVS]

I still remember Longmire's "genius" move with the first match with a sub where he selected Mark Seaby for the role. There is a reason why no one since has used a ruckman as a sub.

 

[Bianconeri]

I assume most teams will play an extra midfielder that can rotate in most other positions

 

[Toump Ass]

Stats friends- who was the last unused sub?

I remember King Josh Schache played a final for the Dees (lost by a couple of points damnit!) but Coach Goodwin decided he was too shit to do anything so just left him on the bench.

 

[scoman]

I still remember Longmire's "genius" move with the first match with a sub where he selected Mark Seaby for the role. There is a reason why no one since has used a ruckman as a sub.

Funnily enough the Lions have. Couple of times at least. Not sure it really worked though

 

[RUNVS]

Funnily enough the Lions have. Couple of times at least. Not sure it really worked though

and for good reason. It is only a good call if one of your ruckmen gets injured. Otherwise you get an injury and likely lose a small fast player with a slow lumbering one who can only play one position.

 

[Linda Lovelace]

There might be a year or two of experimentation but ultimately teams will try to get another utility type that can run through the midfield in.

Your 2nd ruck will still need to be able to rest forward and pinch hit.

In 6-7 years teams will complain about injuries playing too big a part in deciding close games and the AFL will bring in a medical 'bench' with 2-3 players that can be subbed on for game ending injuries.

Rinse and repeat the cycle until we have squads of 30 being named for games.

Of course there will be an inevitable correction. Because abolishing substitutes is an act of idiotic self-harm.

The game has the dual problem of being injury-riddled and doesn't have a card system to send off players. Which means that a team can be rewarded with an extra player for rotations by breaking the rules and injuring an opposition player. Which is an absurdity you will find in few other sports.

Allowing bad luck and/or cheating to frequently impact games when there is an obvious solution is not rational.

 

[Sentinel]

Stats friends- who was the last unused sub?

I remember King Josh Schache played a final for the Dees (lost by a couple of points damnit!) but Coach Goodwin decided he was too shit to do anything so just left him on the bench.

Bevo kept Lachie McNeil benched in round 17 last year, although at least that made more sense in a 50 point win over North then trying something different when you're losing as in the Dees final. Think he played VFL the next day.

 

[Toump Ass]

Bevo kept Lachie McNeil benched in round 17 last year, although at least that made more sense in a 50 point win over North then trying something different when you're losing as in the Dees final. Think he played VFL the next day.

We picked Schache as sub over Grundy as well. Massive howler from Goodwin.

 

[Obeanie1]

Did the interchange limit change as well?

If it didn't go up then the 5th man just increases time players can rest. Not increase the number of interchanges.

Suggest the 5th bench player will basically cover an area of weakness in the starting 18.

 

[Purple Suit]

I still remember Longmire's "genius" move with the first match with a sub where he selected Mark Seaby for the role. There is a reason why no one since has used a ruckman as a sub.

How about Voss's genius move having TDK as the sub in their final in 2024. Plenty of time to know that was a terrible idea.

 

[JPetro83]

Hopefully like the old days. do use them as much as the other 4.

 

[Hamingja]

More runners for sure. Anyone that tries to use it for a second ruck will get smoked the moment they have injuries / concussion and a reduced bench.

 

[L_W_P]

More runners for sure. Anyone that tries to use it for a second ruck will get smoked the moment they have injuries / concussion and a reduced bench.

Yep.

Teams with two rucks that are mobile (Saints with TDK + RoMa) or one that can play forward (Lions with Draper + Fort, Freo with Darcy + Jackson) will still get away with it but you aren't going to see Port rolling out Sweet + Soldo or the Hawks playing Meek + Reeves.

The 23rd man will just be the old sub: A midfielder that can maybe work as a small forward or half back in a pinch.

 

[Clark G]

Did the interchange limit change as well?

If it didn't go up then the 5th man just increases time players can rest. Not increase the number of interchanges.

Suggest the 5th bench player will basically cover an area of weakness in the starting 18.

Don’t think so.

 

[Dazzler9]

Have 6 bench players but only allow 4 interchanges per quarter. Get back to players basically playing the whole game, unless injured.

 

[Clark G]

Like another poster has said, only a matter of time before there are complaints of being a player down after an early injury. Then a push for a sub. Then when a sub comes in, a push for it to become another interchange player.

 

[portly]

Yep.

Teams with two rucks that are mobile (Saints with TDK + RoMa) or one that can play forward (Lions with Draper + Fort, Freo with Darcy + Jackson) will still get away with it but you aren't going to see Port rolling out Sweet + Soldo or the Hawks playing Meek + Reeves.

The 23rd man will just be the old sub: A midfielder that can maybe work as a small forward or half back in a pinch.

Soldo? Will be Visentini and Sweet, probably.