Opinion State of the Game

[austinnn]

Every single footy boss I've known since I followed AFL has been hated by the majority and claimed to have done a terrible job, yet the game thrives in the face of a global competitor growing exponentially and half the country more into rugby. Maybe they did what needed to be done even if it compromised the game itself.

Personally, I have always hated how many stoppages/whistle blows there are in the game, and it seems to have increased, but I guess this is a by product of the overall reason why footy is a worse spectacle...

The players have evolved too much. They are too fast, too fit, taller, able to outmark others without jumping, most contests are crowded, there's no space to be particularly skillful.

We were all admiring some vision of our team from 2004 recently, but whenever you look at old footage, just look at how slow it goes, how much time the players have. You could draw a similar comparison in "soccer" between the fast and furious pace of EPL and the gentler pace of Spanish football, where technical skills are more valued, and given room to bloom. Except the EPL is a goldmine where they can scour the entire world for the best players who can actually still be skillful in limited space and time.

But what can you do? Set a fitness cap? Order all players to eat dimmies the night before? Half time beer obligation? The less skilled players will always try to get one up by being faster and stronger and more consistent, then the skilled players will inevitably follow.

I would reduce team sizes to 14-16, maybe change the scoring system, I'm not sure how it could be improved but make goals more valuable. Im sure people who know the game better have more intelligent suggestions, but the congestion must be eliminated somehow.

 

[joop]

Tv ratings are up from last year. Well that was 2 weeks ago. And the evidence is afl tables for crowds. Hope that’s ok.

Yeh as I mentioned, tv ratings are up because of accessibility along with increased population. Doesn’t mean the game is in better shape than it was in the 90s when no games were televised live and only a handful were even shown. I look at it like membership numbers which can be severely misleading.
Nah I’m looking for every other sports figures that have declined in attendance that you spoke of...?

 

[plugger66]

Yeh as I mentioned, tv ratings are up because of accessibility along with increased population. Doesn’t mean the game is in better shape than it was in the 90s when no games were televised live and only a handful were even shown. I look at it like membership numbers which can be severely misleading.
Nah I’m looking for every other sports figures that have declined in attendance that you spoke of...?

I’ve told you. Basically every reasonable sized sport apart from netball. And ratings are up from last year not 20 years ago. Soccer. Hoe is that going. NRL down. Rugby nearly gone. Racing finished.

 

[mightymalaka]

I’ve told you. Basically every reasonable sized sport apart from netball. And ratings are up from last year not 20 years ago. Soccer. Hoe is that going. NRL down. Rugby nearly gone. Racing finished.

Soccor is not a Hoe! Even if the NRL is going down on it!
And what of Dogging? It's going gangbusters!

 

[Crusty Undies]

Couldn't agree more that the game has changed for the worse. I'd say for about 5 years now it's just become more and more pressure focused. There's less skill and less chance to show off skill because applying pressure is such an oppressive strategy. That plus the changes that increase congestion like interpretation of htb and incorrect disposal make it scrappy and just a bit frustrating to watch.

 

[sunny3193]

Couldn't agree more that the game has changed for the worse. I'd say for about 5 years now it's just become more and more pressure focused. There's less skill and less chance to show off skill because applying pressure is such an oppressive strategy. That plus the changes that increase congestion like interpretation of htb and incorrect disposal make it scrappy and just a bit frustrating to watch.

More than frustrating to watch!

 

[BigPowerForward]

My user name is a fair indication on where it sit on the game. The game of AFL is always better when the big fellas are kicking a bag of goals. The game definitely needs to open up more so that the scoring can increase. Until there are more goals, more high marks and more one on one match ups, my viewing will continue to be minimal.

 

[St Kilda Death]

And just to add to that, the production and commentary by 7 and Fox is ******* atrocious.
Watch the EPL, NFL, Champions league and to a lesser extent the NBA and you’ll see how pathetic our broadcasting is. It’s so bloody amateur to have ‘commentators’ talk amongst themselves, joking around whilst the game is going on.

Agree it could be improved, with better talents.
But the banter needs to stay, if only toned down. Very Australian. We never take anything too seriously (until we cross the white line of course).
Would hate to have it too businesslike just to copy what other continents are doing.

 

[George]

And just to add to that, the production and commentary by 7 and Fox is ******* atrocious.
Watch the EPL, NFL, Champions league and to a lesser extent the NBA and you’ll see how pathetic our broadcasting is. It’s so bloody amateur to have ‘commentators’ talk amongst themselves, joking around whilst the game is going on.

You are bang on with that. Big NFL & EPL fan (watch the NBA when the playoffs are on) and yeah, it is miles ahead of where we're at. Not a surprise though when you've got Brian Taylor & Dwayne Russell commentating...

 

[plugger66]

You are bang on with that. Big NFL & EPL fan (watch the NBA when the playoffs are on) and yeah, it is miles ahead of where we're at. Not a surprise though when you've got Brian Taylor & Dwayne Russell commentating...

Of course it’s worse. Our first thing we look at is the negative. I’m glad I was not born in the correct era. Commenting now is fun. I love it. Want serious. Watch it yourself without sound.

 

[George]

Of course it’s worse. Our first thing we look at is the negative. I’m glad I was not born in the correct era. Commenting now is fun. I love it. Want serious. Watch it yourself without sound.

Well I think Cometti was entertaining. Probably the best. Drew Morphett was good. Bruce is average but he is the best of the worst. I think too many of them are trying to be like Cometti was with the quick witted humour and they fail miserably. Dwayne Russell has to be the worst commentator we have ever had. Yes I could mute the game but why should I have to. AFL has to employ people who know what they're doing. Brian Taylor is another. Full of himself. Craps on all game, then spends 30 minutes post game as the star attraction in the rooms with the players.

Bit that's not really that big an issue in the grand scheme of things. I think the standard over the last 5 years has been pretty piss poor. Players can run all day now and the pressure around the ball is elite, the best the game has ever seen, but it definitely isn't exciting and not why I grew to love the sport as a kid. I'm sure kids these days feel indifferent about it because they haven't seen anything else.

 

[plugger66]

Well I think Cometti was entertaining. Probably the best. Drew Morphett was good. Bruce is average but he is the best of the worst. I think too many of them are trying to be like Cometti was with the quick witted humour and they fail miserably. Dwayne Russell has to be the worst commentator we have ever had. Yes I could mute the game but why should I have to. AFL has to employ people who know what they're doing. Brian Taylor is another. Full of himself. Craps on all game, then spends 30 minutes post game as the star attraction in the rooms with the players.

Bit that's not really that big an issue in the grand scheme of things. I think the standard over the last 5 years has been pretty piss poor. Players can run all day now and the pressure around the ball is elite, the best the game has ever seen, but it definitely isn't exciting and not why I grew to love the sport as a kid. I'm sure kids these days feel indifferent about it because they haven't seen anything else.

Crowds show that not to be true. What is true is from the day dot everything is worse at the time. The saying in my day is so true. And if kids haven’t seen anything else I’d suggest they even saw less without tv. Until crowds and tv fail I’m in the era of whinging. Not popular but seems like it is to me.

 

[George]

Crowds show that not to be true. What is true is from the day dot everything is worse at the time. The saying in my day is so true. And if kids haven’t seen anything else I’d suggest they even saw less without tv. Until crowds and tv fail I’m in the era of whinging. Not popular but seems like it is to me.

If there's nothing wrong with the game why is the AFL introducing a 6-6-6 rule and now looking at tackling. Because they want less congestion. They want to sell an exciting product. If nothing is wrong with the game they'd leave it alone.

I think crowd numbers increasing is due to what joop mentioned. Population, more teams and in that there's more games. Many more options to become a member, access to games is much easier with every game in Melbourne played 2 minutes from a major train station. I find myself going to less and less games every year. Rather watch it in the comfort of my own home. I don't think it's a whinge, I have serious concerns for where the game is headed. 30 players around the ball at all times as it stop-starts its way downfield until someone grabs it from the congestion and flukes a goal, a free kick is paid or there's a gosl from stoppage. All very rare and no wonder scores are down.

 

[plugger66]

Not sure I ever saidthere is nothing wrong with the game. There have been rule changes for many many years. And of course people watch it at their own home. Unfortunately that argument gets beaten by crowds going up whilst most sports lose crowds. Trying to compare today’s footy to the past means not a lot. It’s called changing Better well that’s up to each other. Popular. Yes still as much as ever.

 

[George]

Not sure I ever saidthere is nothing wrong with the game. There have been rule changes for many many years. And of course people watch it at their own home. Unfortunately that argument gets beaten by crowds going up whilst most sports lose crowds. Trying to compare today’s footy to the past means not a lot. It’s called changing Better well that’s up to each other. Popular. Yes still as much as ever.

Rule changes to free up congestion to make it a better spectacle...surely that is evidence enough! I still don't understand your crowds going down in other sports comment...the NFL has a rule that if a game is not sold out it is not televised...there have been sold out games for the past 25 years in that sport.

 

[plugger66]

Rule changes to free up congestion to make it a better spectacle...surely that is evidence enough! I still don't understand your crowds going down in other sports comment...the NFL has a rule that if a game is not sold out it is not televised...there have been sold out games for the past 25 years in that sport.

Ok. Interesting. No idea what that even means though. I’m talking Australia and the nrl rugby soccer racing etc. as for rule changes doesn’t nearly everyone say no more rule changes.

 

[George]

Ok. Interesting. No idea what that even means though. I’m talking Australia and the nrl rugby soccer racing etc. as for rule changes doesn’t nearly everyone say no more rule changes.

Would love to see the figures, would be interesting to have a look at. I know one thing. The AFL isn't introducing new rules to free up congestion because the game is fine.

 

[VDS66]

Ok. Interesting. No idea what that even means though. I’m talking Australia and the nrl rugby soccer racing etc. as for rule changes doesn’t nearly everyone say no more rule changes.

Horse racing? Is that a sport?

 

[VDS66]

And what of Dogging? It's going gangbusters!

Arguably the best spectator sport of recent times IMO.

Gives a whole new meaning to the 6+6+6 rule.

 

[VDS66]

More than frustrating to watch!

The game is now centered around short bursts of high intensity via bench rotations.

The power clubs have always lobbied hard for changes so they could exploit them.

Maybe it's time to go back to two in the bench and a return to endurance.

 

[Hayes4PM]

Tackling has always been a "feature" of our game Hocking, you dumb campaigner. If anything they need to be better at umpiring incorrect disposal and holding the ball. Instead of letting blokes drop the ball or attempt to break a tackle and spill the ball get away with it. Reward the tackler. Dumb campaigner AFL officials at it again.

 

[joop]

I’ve told you. Basically every reasonable sized sport apart from netball. And ratings are up from last year not 20 years ago. Soccer. Hoe is that going. NRL down. Rugby nearly gone. Racing finished.

Yeh and again where are you getting this from? Any stats? Just one bit of data?

Ok well here is the NBL, which broke its record attendance last year;

NBL breaks crowd records through 2018/19 season - Australasian Leisure Management

www.ausleisure.com.au

NRL crowds over the last 3 years have all averaged with 200 people per game of each other.

The A-League is the only league where there has been a significant drop off, averaging over 12,000 a few years ago down to just over 10,000 this year.

Netball always sells out.

Using the theory that the AFL is in its best shape purely because more people watch it is ridiculous sorry plug.

 

[joop]

Agree it could be improved, with better talents.
But the banter needs to stay, if only toned down. Very Australian. We never take anything too seriously (until we cross the white line of course).
Would hate to have it too businesslike just to copy what other continents are doing.

Banter is fine. But when the call is actively in play and the commentators are talking amongst themselves for 30 seconds it’s a joke, not too mention extremely unprofessional.

 

[austinnn]

Spot on about the commentary. It's rare that it's tailored to anyone except morons And the most annoying thing about it is the assumption that every second of play needs to be filled with voices.

What many viewers would prefer is minimal play by play commentary, just a name and and a verb would be fine, add in a tiny bit of fact based or qualified and non obvious notes and mic up the ground more, selectively edited of course.

I might actually pay for that!

 

[NarklesHelmet]

Interesting thread.

I’ve had the house (and TV) to myself for a couple of days and got through the whole 2 and a half hours of Banger Harvey’s career highlights that just got uploaded to Youtube a couple of days back.

I couldn’t help noticing a couple of things:

1. I realized just how many good players we had over the years and how we really don’t have many good ones now
2. How engaged the crowds were. Even in the down years (Banger’s career covered many ups and downs for the Saints) like 2000-2003, the dome would be absolutely going off most of the time. You barely hear a thing nowadays, maybe it’s smartphones but everything seems sedated in the crowd.

I think there are a lot of factors but my gut feel is that the more defensive the coaches and players have become, the less genuinely skillful moments per game occur.

Think about the last time you saw someone from our team do anything like our greats from the past that made you go “wow”. Win lose or draw, we would get those “wow” moments from multiple players in the past... and many times per game. Now, at least for us, it’s pretty much Gresh or bust.

There’s a serious lack of flair players across the league now and it has a big impact on enjoyment and crowd engagement in my opinion.