Modern Tactics.

[Tony Lynn 15]

As a follower of this game for well over 35 years now I find myself continually frustrated and disconnected from the modern game and its tactics. I feel the lack of education for the fans on what clubs are doing is now a major issue that the AFL and clubs must address.

I believe many people still look at our game tactically from how it used to be played as that is all we have to understand, what coaches and clubs are doing now is so foreign that we have little hope of understanding.

Let's take the emotion out of this discussion especially when it comes to the likes of David King and Mark Robinson. Listening to some discussions by these guys recently has made me realise how little I know about what is happening these days. Even the terms used by coaches has me bamboozled.

Example 1: David King recently was talking about the Western Bulldogs set up forward of centre and how they are playing a 4/2 set up. Basically it was 4 in front and 2 behind similar to a soccer set up. He was trying to explain how this works but as usual no time was actually given to going into detail that would allow us fans to understand.

Example 2: The other night on SEN Robbo was talking about how he spent time at a St Kilda match committee meeting in the lead up to the game against Melbourne. He said some of the terms the coaches were using he had never heard before. Apparently a 'spitter' is a player that goes into a stoppage situation with the intention of ducking away from the contest I guess much like a decoy. They were saying that Hawthorn often have 3 'spitter's' at some contests. They also spoke about how well Jack Watts played his role in the Collingwood game especially his inside work at contests. Interestingly for the most part Watts was lambasted for his game that day by most observers.

My point is we are all very naive to what is going on. I hear a lot about how we need a plan a and plan b yet none of us really know what any of the plans are.

In my opinion to grow the game the likes of the AFL and the broadcasters need to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the tactics and stop treating us fans like morons. They should start showing programs that actually hone in on what clubs are doing and explain to us why. Surely we have people in media roles such as recently retired players who can articulate this to the fans?

Am I alone in this frustration and feeling disconnected or do others agree we need to be let in more to better understand the game?

 

[thylacine60]

Great ideas there, TL. Unfortunately the game is continually evolving as coaches try to get the jump on the opposition with the latest new game tactic - zoning, pressing, boundary line etc. I say unfortunately because it has taken out the titanic one on one competitions we used to see between the great players. It's not all bad, I can barely watch any footy that is more than 10 or so years old as I have acclimatized myself to the current speed and explosive athleticism of today's players.

I do feel a distance between me and the goings on in the huddle and team meetings that I never used to as a younger marsupial. It was less scientific back in the seventies and eighties when 'beat your opponent' seemed to be the core tactic.

 

[Beer n Skittles]

If any commentators had a clue they could keep us fans in the loop.

 

[Tony Lynn 15]

Great ideas there, TL. Unfortunately the game is continually evolving as coaches try to get the jump on the opposition with the latest new game tactic - zoning, pressing, boundary line etc. I say unfortunately because it has taken out the titanic one on one competitions we used to see between the great players. It's not all bad, I can barely watch any footy that is more than 10 or so years old as I have acclimatized myself to the current speed and explosive athleticism of today's players.

I do feel a distance between me and the goings on in the huddle and team meetings that I never used to as a younger marsupial. It was less scientific back in the seventies and eighties when 'beat your opponent' seemed to be the core tactic.

I actually feel this is where we are missing out though. Zoning, pressing and boundary line is what we see as 'the tactics' yet in my opinion these are just buzz words that we attach ourselves to in an effort to feel we know what is going on.

Educate us, involve us, for christ sake if the clubs feel they will let secrets out in doing this they are deluded. the opposition know exactly what they are doing so educating us laymen on the basic modern tactics is going to give nothing away.

If Carlton for example want to engage with fans, give me some off this intelligence not a ****ing hovercraft and slick signage at the ground!