One thing I did whilst back in Oz was buy a couple of Vid's of significant (for me anyway) games....namely the 1980 and 1984 SANFL Grand Finals...both Port v Norwood.
Thought I would share some observations:
1. Blues
The game was much tougher physically in terms of hip & shoulders / shirt fronts...just plain punch him in the face. Don't realise how clean today's game has become. Classic was Balme fighting Evans during the national anthem. Those days they played the anthem with the players in positions...but can anyone imagine say James Hird running over to the Melbourne line up during Advance Australia Fair and snotting say Farmer in the snout ?
2. Taggers
Very few taggers and players basically played to position. Got to see a lot more of the skills of the great players of the time compared to today.
3.Anthem
In 1980 the anthem was still God Save the Queen (puke).
4. I could not pick a noticable difference in skill level...no obvious decrease in "clangers" etc. Although fitness has obviously improved. In '84 Port were stuffed at 3/4 time and got run over.
5. Michael Aish was a class player....as was Gary Macintosh (sp?)...its taken me 15 years to be able to write that.
A mate of mine (who helped me drink copious amounts of booze whilst watching the televisual feast - thanks Pretty Boy) made an interesting comment...that when old timers say "remember the 1931 grand final" we tend to look at the funny and shuffle them back to the home....but now days kids could say the same thing about early '80s games...but when you look at the footage (which we don't have for the 1930's) there is not a lot of difference.
I am interested in anyone else's observations on how the game has changed.
ptw
[This message has been edited by ptw (edited 16 January 2001).]
Thought I would share some observations:
1. Blues
The game was much tougher physically in terms of hip & shoulders / shirt fronts...just plain punch him in the face. Don't realise how clean today's game has become. Classic was Balme fighting Evans during the national anthem. Those days they played the anthem with the players in positions...but can anyone imagine say James Hird running over to the Melbourne line up during Advance Australia Fair and snotting say Farmer in the snout ?
2. Taggers
Very few taggers and players basically played to position. Got to see a lot more of the skills of the great players of the time compared to today.
3.Anthem
In 1980 the anthem was still God Save the Queen (puke).
4. I could not pick a noticable difference in skill level...no obvious decrease in "clangers" etc. Although fitness has obviously improved. In '84 Port were stuffed at 3/4 time and got run over.
5. Michael Aish was a class player....as was Gary Macintosh (sp?)...its taken me 15 years to be able to write that.
A mate of mine (who helped me drink copious amounts of booze whilst watching the televisual feast - thanks Pretty Boy) made an interesting comment...that when old timers say "remember the 1931 grand final" we tend to look at the funny and shuffle them back to the home....but now days kids could say the same thing about early '80s games...but when you look at the footage (which we don't have for the 1930's) there is not a lot of difference.
I am interested in anyone else's observations on how the game has changed.
ptw
[This message has been edited by ptw (edited 16 January 2001).]
