The Decline Of The Running Bounce (2001 to 2018)

[Yojimbo]

Highs and Lows (Alphabetical Order):

Adelaide: High (2009) 521 Bounces, Low (2018) 116 Bounces.

Brisbane: High (2006) 435 Bounces, Low (2017) 76 Bounces.

Carlton: High (2006) 509 Bounces, Low (2018) 126 Bounces.

Collingwood: High (2009) 665 Bounces, Low (2016) 109 Bounces.

Essendon: High (2009) 347 Bounces, Low (2016) 87 Bounces.

Fremantle: High (2008) 479 Bounces, Low (2018) 93 Bounces.

Geelong: High (2007) 442 Bounces, Low (2018) 94 Bounces.

Gold Coast: High (2013) 290 Bounces, Low (2018) 104 Bounces.

GWS: High (2015) 355 Bounces, Low (2018) 174 Bounces.

Hawthorn: High (2005) 426 Bounces, Low (2016) 131 Bounces.

Melbourne: High (2006) 519 Bounces, Low (2018) 100 Bounces.

North Melbourne: High (2001) 537 Bounces, Low (2018) 119 Bounces.

Port Adelaide: High (2007) 689 Bounces, Low (2018) 133 Bounces.

Richmond: High (2007) 641 Bounces, Low (2016) 111 Bounces.

St Kilda: High (2006) 654 Bounces, Low (2016) 158 Bounces.

Sydney: High (2009) 362 Bounces, Low (2016) 98 Bounces.

West Coast: High (2006) 534 Bounces, Low (2016) 94 Bounces.

Western Bulldogs: High (2006) 928 Bounces, Low (2017) 157 Bounces.


Running Bounce Ladder (2001 to 2018)

Rank 1- Western Bulldogs: 6,474 Bounces
Rank 2- Collingwood: 5,833 Bounces
Rank 3- North Melbourne: 5,708 Bounces
Rank 4- Port Adelaide: 5,593 Bounces
Rank 5- St Kilda: 5,587 Bounces
Rank 6- Richmond: 5,487 Bounces
Rank 7- Carlton: 5,310 Bounces
Rank 8- West Coast: 4,866 Bounces

Rank 9- Fremantle: 4,788 Bounces
Rank 10- Melbourne: 4,659 Bounces
Rank 11- Brisbane: 4,536 Bounces
Rank 12- Sydney: 4,521 Bounces
Rank 13- Adelaide: 4,510 Bounces
Rank 14- Hawthorn: 4,358 Bounces
Rank 15- Essendon: 4,207 Bounces
Rank 16- Geelong: 3,934 Bounces
Rank 17- Gold Coast: 1,811 Bounces (Not Full Data)
Rank 18- GWS: 1,780 Bounces (Not Full Data)

Now call me old fashioned, but I love the spectacle skill and freedom of the running bounce.
Carlton and St Kilda fans will love that ladder just for the top eight activity levels and it's
hard to ignore the Western Bulldogs first minor premiership. My three favourite players to
watch were Peter Matera, Andrew McLeod and Keith Greig and I also loved Robert Flower
they were like hovercrafts when they moved with their balance and poise. I hope the new
rules usher in a mini revival of the running bounce because in it's own way it is as
spectacular as a high mark although you don't win a car for bounce of the year.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Highs and Lows (Alphabetical Order):

Adelaide: High (2009) 521 Bounces, Low (2018) 116 Bounces.

Brisbane: High (2006) 435 Bounces, Low (2017) 76 Bounces.

Carlton: High (2006) 509 Bounces, Low (2018) 126 Bounces.

Collingwood: High (2009) 665 Bounces, Low (2016) 109 Bounces.

Essendon: High (2009) 347 Bounces, Low (2016) 87 Bounces.

Fremantle: High (2008) 479 Bounces, Low (2018) 93 Bounces.

Geelong: High (2007) 442 Bounces, Low (2018) 94 Bounces.

Gold Coast: High (2013) 290 Bounces, Low (2018) 104 Bounces.

GWS: High (2015) 355 Bounces, Low (2018) 174 Bounces.

Hawthorn: High (2005) 426 Bounces, Low (2016) 131 Bounces.

Melbourne: High (2006) 519 Bounces, Low (2018) 100 Bounces.

North Melbourne: High (2001) 537 Bounces, Low (2018) 119 Bounces.

Port Adelaide: High (2007) 689 Bounces, Low (2018) 133 Bounces.

Richmond: High (2007) 641 Bounces, Low (2016) 111 Bounces.

St Kilda: High (2006) 654 Bounces, Low (2016) 158 Bounces.

Sydney: High (2009) 362 Bounces, Low (2016) 98 Bounces.

West Coast: High (2006) 534 Bounces, Low (2016) 94 Bounces.

Western Bulldogs: High (2006) 928 Bounces, Low (2017) 157 Bounces.


Running Bounce Ladder (2001 to 2018)

Rank 1- Western Bulldogs: 6,474 Bounces
Rank 2- Collingwood: 5,833 Bounces
Rank 3- North Melbourne: 5,708 Bounces
Rank 4- Port Adelaide: 5,593 Bounces
Rank 5- St Kilda: 5,587 Bounces
Rank 6- Richmond: 5,487 Bounces
Rank 7- Carlton: 5,310 Bounces
Rank 8- West Coast: 4,866 Bounces

Rank 9- Fremantle: 4,788 Bounces
Rank 10- Melbourne: 4,659 Bounces
Rank 11- Brisbane: 4,536 Bounces
Rank 12- Sydney: 4,521 Bounces
Rank 13- Adelaide: 4,510 Bounces
Rank 14- Hawthorn: 4,358 Bounces
Rank 15- Essendon: 4,207 Bounces
Rank 16- Geelong: 3,934 Bounces
Rank 17- Gold Coast: 1,811 Bounces (Not Full Data)
Rank 18- GWS: 1,780 Bounces (Not Full Data)

Now call me old fashioned, but I love the spectacle skill and freedom of the running bounce.
Carlton and St Kilda fans will love that ladder just for the top eight activity levels and it's
hard to ignore the Western Bulldogs first minor premiership. My three favourite players to
watch were Peter Matera, Andrew McLeod and Keith Greig and I also loved Robert Flower
they were like hovercrafts when they moved with their balance and poise. I hope the new
rules usher in a mini revival of the running bounce because in it's own way it is as
spectacular as a high mark although you don't win a car for bounce of the year.

Footy is about winning.

The running game we employed in 2015 was good to watch, but playing finals is more important. The problem with running in waves is you have to commit forward. If you turn the ball over you get hit on the rebound.

Clearly a lot of teams have come to this conclusion in the natural evolution of the game.

The Bulldogs relatively high stats still might actually give a clue to their declining performance. You move with the evolution if the game or you get left behind.

 

[Mofra]

The impact of congestion and zone defences. Less space available = less pace to run and bounce into.

 

[Kwality]

When did prior opportunity get a gig?

 

[IKnowtheDog]

The fact a player can run 20m-25m will result in that stat been tilted.

 

[theyellowsash]

Was about to say the umpires don't require the players to bounce the ball anymore

 

[HTT]

Was about to say the umpires don't require the players to bounce the ball anymore

I always love the differences in the umpires adjudication of 15m for a kick, and 15m for a bounce.

 

[Teen Wolf]

My three favourite players to
watch were Peter Matera, Andrew McLeod and Keith Greig and I also loved Robert Flower
they were like hovercrafts when they moved with their balance and poise.

We still have players like that today. Adam Saad took 95 bounces last year, Andrew McLeod only had one similar season on record.

Quantity has declined but what about quality? What would people prefer to watch: Leo Barry touching the ball on the ground in open space a few times a game, or a line-breaking 30m run through traffic by Jason Johannisen every match?

 

[HolyRioli]

You move the ball faster by kicking it, rather than carrying it

 

[ZEV]

What I found interesting was that in 2009 the Shaw brothers had a total of 327 bounces between them (Heath 167 Pies, Rhyce 160 Swans).

North had 194
Hawthorn 186
Carlton 293
West Coast 280
Port Adelaide 293
Melbourne 296
Fremantle 312
Geelong 281

I thought they might have been taking the piss but they were rated #1 and #2 highest rebound 50 players of the year.

 

[Hamingja]

Not surprised Geelong are at the bottom out of the established teams.

Wojcinski probably did half of them by himself.

 

[Yojimbo]

Footy is about winning.

The running game we employed in 2015 was good to watch, but playing finals is more important. The problem with running in waves is you have to commit forward. If you turn the ball over you get hit on the rebound.

Clearly a lot of teams have come to this conclusion in the natural evolution of the game.

The Bulldogs relatively high stats still might actually give a clue to their declining performance. You move with the evolution if the game or you get left behind.

I believe there were winners in the previous years, there are winners every year. The people who shape the game take an off
season trip to the EPL and boom here comes the web or the cluster or the press or someone goes to the ice hockey and all of
a sudden boom multiple interchanges at the same time. The Stevie J kick for goal is very similar to what the Irish boys have
been doing for years, but he was the first. Our game is heavily influenced, coaches are appointed as they served under the
all powerful Alister Clarkson a perceived winner.

I went to Scotland for a holiday and I took a soft kid Sherrin as a gift, I taught my ten year old nephew how to kick a torp
and a drop punt in minutes, but he could not bounce the ball and get it to return to him it kept rolling forward and he was
a gun goal keeper. People follow trends I am hoping teams follow the West Coast method as it is very watchable and
efficient, I also think their high Kick to Handball ratio suits the new rules.

 

[RUNVS]

You move the ball faster by kicking it, rather than carrying it

Carrying it can be better though as it gives your own teammates more time to find space. Also means the player with the ball in hand has more time to pick his target, rather than hoofing it forward and hoping for the best.

 

[Brolga]

Stephenson in the grand final ran over 25m without bouncing it to then slot one of their first quarter goals.
Would have lessened the moment to have penalised it, however it is a rule of the game and a necessary skill.

Titus O'Reily tries to put into perspective the distance from Earth to Pluto by saying that is how far Buddy can run before he needs to bounce the ball

Love the running bounce at full pace, Matera, Kemp, Cousins, Judd and Kerr in full flight were just awesome...

 

[HolyRioli]

Carrying it can be better though as it gives your own teammates more time to find space. Also means the player with the ball in hand has more time to pick his target, rather than hoofing it forward and hoping for the best.

Correct, and while it does exist still, carry the ball and bouncing is probably less popular for a reason.

Saw a similar pattern in field hockey with regards to development of a passing game

 

[RUNVS]

I would actually like to see the required bounce be once ever 25 metres to encourage running.

 

[susurrar]

pretty sure boomer is the reason we are so high up on that ladder.

 

[radiojake]

if there were stats from the 90s, Adelaide would have had a lot as Simon Tregenza would bounce the ball three times before he started running

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

I believe there were winners in the previous years, there are winners every year. The people who shape the game take an off
season trip to the EPL and boom here comes the web or the cluster or the press or someone goes to the ice hockey and all of
a sudden boom multiple interchanges at the same time. The Stevie J kick for goal is very similar to what the Irish boys have
been doing for years, but he was the first. Our game is heavily influenced, coaches are appointed as they served under the
all powerful Alister Clarkson a perceived winner.

I went to Scotland for a holiday and I took a soft kid Sherrin as a gift, I taught my ten year old nephew how to kick a torp
and a drop punt in minutes, but he could not bounce the ball and get it to return to him it kept rolling forward and he was
a gun goal keeper. People follow trends I am hoping teams follow the West Coast method as it is very watchable and
efficient, I also think their high Kick to Handball ratio suits the new rules.

Not sure how much other sports influence gameplans but I agree it's not zero.

I actually dont think the Eagles gameplan is that attractive. There is a poetry in the precision of making good decisions and the skill if the disposal. They cut us yo at Spotless this year by not offering a contest when they had the ball and our plan was around winning the contest. It works so well because their defence is so good at turning the ball so they get it initially though.

I liked the Bulldogs gameplan in 2016, many have said it was unsustainable because it required manic pressure. To me it was all faith in your teamates and get the ball on the next guy and trust in them to find a way to do something good. Very unstructured and unpredictable but great to watch. The lack of structure was probably it's vulnerability as opposition teams figured it how to impose structure. No-one could beat it that tear though when it mattered.

Going forward who knows. We play a contested ball gameplan but if you look in detail at the EF this year we beat the Swans by zoning and forcing them to go to a contest, which isn't what they want transitioning the ball.
Similar tactics ikeot us in the SF, with our midfield getting beaten up badly, until the last QTR.

Who knows what plan wins next year. It could be the Eagles or the Tigers gameplan of never giving any time or space to their opposition. The quality of the execution of whatever plan will probably decide.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I would actually like to see the required bounce be once ever 25 metres to encourage running.

Based on current umpiring where they get about 35-30 metres, if that was the rule a bounce would only then be required every 40-50 metres or so most of the time.

 

[BringBackTorps]

The impact of congestion and zone defences. Less space available = less pace to run and bounce into.

The majesty of a player running at full pace & bouncing is glorious to watch- & is a unique part of AF.

Though all ground surfaces are now far superior, & no wet surfaces at Docklands (both factors facilitate running & bouncing), cf previous decades, the constant congestion is greatly diminishing the ability to find space, to take off.
Bouncing is another victim of the cancer of the interchange & four on the bench. The AFL, supposedly the protector of the game, has much to answer for...but they have given us a lot more scrappy, ugly packs & stoppages!

 

[Yojimbo]

I liked the Bulldogs gameplan in 2016, many have said it was unsustainable because it required manic pressure

I liked the end result in 2016, but the end of the third man up rule and the focus on handballs that were NRL based saw off
any advantage we had in 2016. 2016 was meant to be our season average for disposals was (410.81) the highest, but our
disposal per goal was (32.97) the worst, in our four finals our disposal average dropped to (392.75) and our disposal to
goal dropped to (28.05) which is closer to normal for a premier.

I find it odd that people were so against zones when zones actually caused the problem in the first place, there is no off
side in football unlike soccer where the team defence and zonal formations originated. This thread is meant to show
how small changes can have massive effects in a relatively short time frame, I could have used disposals, but bounces
is more graphic and obvious. Every teams low point is either 2016, 2017 or 2018.

 

[Luv_our_club]

I would much prefer the bounce to stay at 15 meters.

The bounce is an exciting skill with different players having different styles.

It is unique to our Australian game.

It also means there are more chase down tackles.

Don't touch it AFL!

 

[Damon_3388]

When was the last time anyone saw the "touch the ball on the ground" bounce performed? Honestly can't remember seeing it in the last 15 years or so.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

When was the last time anyone saw the "touch the ball on the ground" bounce performed? Honestly can't remember seeing it in the last 15 years or so.

It makes an odd cameo in some really wet matches. The culprit being the draining of modern AFL grounds make bouncing doable in rainy conditons.