Standard Drop?

[Johnny_3]

Heres a question i post not to supporters of particular clubs but to AFL fans in general. Watching fox sports 3 this morning, a 2002 game, COLLINGWOOD V BRISBANE RD 8 was being played. i watched and was amazed by the skill involved. And then i decided to compare to games from the last 2 years. And what i found that more recent games couldn't hold up to the entertainment and skill showed in the 4 quarters of that game.

So heres my question to you.
Has the standard of AFL games dropped in recent years?

 

[Peninsula Boy]

The holding the ball rule which was changed a few years ago has chagned the face of the game.

You use to be able to reasonably hold the ball in but now you have to get it out most times. This means you need more guys at hte fall of the ball and you get that with fitter midfielders than your opposition.

So yeah, there has been a movement towards fitter midfielders and numbers to the ball and skill is still important but with 4 guys against 2, you don't need skill to run the ball away, just numbers.

You'll see West Coast, Sydney and Adelaide, probably the three best teams in the last two years sicne taht rule interpretation change, having superior midfield fitness and setups.

I think those Brisbane teams epitomise AFL footy. Amazing midfield, stars int he midfield and amazing backline. Just an awersome team. You look at WC and Sydney and there are holes in many spots.

 

[Pykie]

The holding the ball rule which was changed a few years ago has chagned the face of the game.

You use to be able to reasonably hold the ball in but now you have to get it out most times. This means you need more guys at hte fall of the ball and you get that with fitter midfielders than your opposition.

So yeah, there has been a movement towards fitter midfielders and numbers to the ball and skill is still important but with 4 guys against 2, you don't need skill to run the ball away, just numbers.

You'll see West Coast, Sydney and Adelaide, probably the three best teams in the last two years sicne taht rule interpretation change, having superior midfield fitness and setups.

I think those Brisbane teams epitomise AFL footy. Amazing midfield, stars int he midfield and amazing backline. Just an awersome team. You look at WC and Sydney and there are holes in many spots.

I agree, I think you will find the main drop off in talent is not so much the midfielders, but definately the KPP.

In the mid 90's you had Carey, Dunstall, Lockett, Ablett, Sumich, Jackovich, Silvagni, Longmire, Lloyd, Modra, Salmon, Grant, Lowe all running around, these guys are in another stratisphere to nearly every KPP player today, this is the main standard drop off, combine the midfielders of today with the KPP of past years, and you would see a VERY high standard of competition.

 

[Johnny_3]

I agree, I think you will find the main drop off in talent is not so much the midfielders, but definately the KPP.

In the mid 90's you had Carey, Dunstall, Lockett, Ablett, Sumich, Jackovich, Silvagni, Longmire, Lloyd, Modra, Salmon, Grant, Lowe all running around, these guys are in another stratisphere to nearly every KPP player today, this is the main standard drop off, combine the midfielders of today with the KPP of past years, and you would see a VERY high standard of competition.

Very good point. But to answer the question the standard of the players have dropped therefore the standard of the game. Runners in the rd 8 game, 2002 such as lappin and voss were generally the most skillful with others helping. Guys like brown and rocca didn't have a "great" impact on the game. Whereas today you see guys like brown,fev,roccka and hall kicking massive bags. so i also think the skill level of players up the ground have dropped massively which much more emphisis on speed and stamina.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

The kick in rule worked a treat this year, sped up the game, without making it a craphole. the kick from directly in front should never had been introduced. Impossible shots at goal is what attracted me to the game in the first place. I remember one of the first goals i saw was jason dunstall on about a 20-25 degree angle and slot it perfectly.

Let us just hope that the push in the back rule actually works. After all, it gives and excuse for Lloyd to get frees for diving. I just want to see whether Willo will get the frees he deserves, if so, expect a 100+ goal season from him, as each match he has at least 5 in the backs not payed

 

[Peninsula Boy]

The kick in rule worked a treat this year, sped up the game, without making it a craphole. the kick from directly in front should never had been introduced. Impossible shots at goal is what attracted me to the game in the first place. I remember one of the first goals i saw was jason dunstall on about a 20-25 degree angle and slot it perfectly.

Let us just hope that the push in the back rule actually works. After all, it gives and excuse for Lloyd to get frees for diving. I just want to see whether Willo will get the frees he deserves, if so, expect a 100+ goal season from him, as each match he has at least 5 in the backs not payed

I was an advocate of both rule changes but only think the quick kick in has worked.

I thought paying a huge mark in the goal square deserved to be put straight but after watching it, it doesn't seem right to me to take a mark and then get extra assistance for no real reason. It lacks skills.

Yeah, I'm with what has been said. The midfielders run even harder and get more numbers. With more numbers, you dont'need the skill. Adelaide are a perfect team. They flood the middle third of the ground with their midfielders and take it back in. Their midfield isn't amazing by any stretch but its very disciplined and runs all day. Ditto Sydney. I guess its why I like West Coast a bit more than those two. their midfield is just more talented. Cos, Judd, Kerr and Cousins ******** on all their midfielders from a large distance. They run so much and so well that they don't need a Tredrea or a Brown [although they wish they did] for the simple fact is their kicking into the forward 50 is uncontested via their running and superior numbers.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Not so much in 2006, but the standard was poor for the first half of 2005. I don't see any reason for this, but it did seem to be the case.
Perhaps the playing around with the rules left a lot of players (and umpires and coaches, and ever year it does with spectators) in two minds or something, and it took time to settle in to playing a new form of football.

 

[Johnny_3]

I think over years it has dropped bit by bit. but if you watch a game from 4 years ago and copare it to now. games were much more skillful, competitive and plain more exciting to watch than games today.

 

[Fledgling]

I think football peaked in the 90's. The I'm not sure about the skill but I know the excitement factor has dropped a fair bit since then.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Yes and majorly. The new rules are ruining the game.

 

[BK Eaglesfan]

To me it has dropped a bit, but it's hard to tell.

If I was to make up a 92 / 94 / 06 WCE premiership players cmbined side, I reckon the team would be 14 / 8 or so the way of the 92 / 94 squad. But that may be unfair as some players in this year's team may build reputations the equal or better than their predecessors but simply haven't had time.

So in short....think so but really have no diea dn should have kept my mouth shut.