The bump: don't do it

[doona]

John Longmire has a simple but foolproof plan to make sure Sydney's players do not run the gauntlet of the AFL's match review panel over the bump: don't do it.

''All we can control is how we coach our players and we try and make sure that the bump's not something they use too much. We try to focus on the tackle and the pressure.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/just-dont-do-it-swans-simple-philosophy-on-bump-20130528-2n9mf.html#ixzz2UcOJjBso​

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I found this article interesting as we are renowned as the best tackling team, with a real physical presence on the AFL field. Yet we are taught not to bump.

I love the good old hip and shoulder but is this brilliant coaching with the modern interpretation of the laws? Have we got a leg up on the opposition which more teams will try and emulate?

Is this a game plan, training techniques that other clubs will follow and a new turning point in the game?

Discuss.

 

[S120]

It's just smart and something I'm not surprised to hear from Longmire. He is never one to whinge and moan about rules, he just gets on with his job and alters his coaching to suit the situation in front of him. Don't both bumping as it's such a grey area and one bump gone wrong could have you out for a month. It's not nostalgic for the past like how other coaches have been, it's just smart.

 

[J_Moore]

Didn't stop Jack putting Jolly over the boundary on Friday. Oh boy wowee

 

[MF]

I don't like that the bump is disappearing from the game. I used to love watching guys like Byron Pickett regularly lining players up with good, fair hits. But having said that, it's smart coaching with the way the game has gone. The payoff for putting on a good bump is far outweighed by the downside of putting on a bad one.

 

[doona]

I don't like that the bump is disappearing from the game. I used to love watching guys like Byron Pickett regularly lining players up with good, fair hits. But having said that, it's smart coaching with the way the game has gone. The payoff for putting on a good bump is far outweighed by the downside of putting on a bad one.

I Love it. Do you think though with the Swans success, all the other clubs would adobt this coaching method? With just us doing it it doesnt really change the game, but with our success, the quality of our tackling..

 

[blackshadow]

Smart coaching no doubt but it's disgusting that the AFL powers that be have effectively killed off one of the great physical aspects of our game.

 

[Swansujelly]

Funny thing is, it's only the AFL that are slowly killing it off. The players are OK with it, the fans love it, but the AFL is worried about image and future lawsuits. As soon as the AFL started calling the playing field a "workplace" I knew shit was going to change forever. Can't remeber who it was, who said recently, that the reason players are actually getting hurt, mostly younger players, is that are coming through with few bumps and don't know how to ride them or when to brace etc. I think the intent of a bump is what should be judged, not the end result. Ziebal was trying to smother but ended up bumping and making some shoulder head contact, but that was not his intent. Anyway, if Horse is instructing them not to bump, fair enough. I'm sure he's not alone there..

 

[J_Moore]

I don't really miss the big shirtfront. I used to be mad for it, but I've been reconsidering my blood lust for massive concussive hits in light of recent evidence.

Still enjoy a good strong bump from the side, but they seem to cop people high a lot less.

 

[Sanecow]

I kind of miss it; Of all the football highlights I've seen, I can still vividly recall Cook hitting Sinclair, Nicks hitting Hardwick and WOW Pickett hitting Kirk.

 

[doona]

I kind of miss it; Of all the football highlights I've seen, I can still vividly recall Cook hitting Sinclair, Nicks hitting Hardwick and WOW Pickett hitting Kirk.

The physicality that used to be in the game.... its about free flowing footy now, more goals more run, which is a good thing but if the physicality was still there it would be brilliant.

what me and my mates use to say when playing footy or rugby, "you are playing a contact sport, harden the f"#k up!!"