What unpopular AFL opinions do you have? (Part 1 - cont in Part 2)

[gavaniacono]

-No ex footballers as commentators over 40 yo.
-Bring in more women like daisy pierce who speak more clearly and sensibly than all the old fogeys.
-dismember certain morning radio show hosts limb by limb and replace them with some youf.

 

[Minka Beaver]

- Anzac Day reserved for a Grand Final rematch.

- Abolish the rookie list and have 50-player lists. Just accept that everyone will have 'project players' who are on a lower base salary than most of their peers. Every player eligible for senior selection.

- Each club allowed to take one player on a short-term contract each season from a state league.

- Severely limit the interchange to 20 rotations per match. (Not including the blood rule or concussion tests).

- Expand the season to 24 home and away matches per club.

 

[Minka Beaver]

-No ex footballers as commentators over 40 yo.

I'd argue that the best comments person in footy is an ex-player (and coach) who is nearly 80 years old.

 

[timtamWB]

- Severely limit the interchange to 20 rotations per match. (Not including the blood rule or concussion tests).

I'd love to hear why you think this is a good idea, sounds terrible to me

 

[gavaniacono]

I'd argue that the best comments person in footy is an ex-player (and coach) who is nearly 80 years old.

Who may that be?

 

[Minka Beaver]

I'd love to hear why you think this is a good idea, sounds terrible to me

Footy is a game of skill, endurance and - I believe - attrition. The best way to recreate positional play and open the game up is to make players better utilise their energy, rather than all being fresh enough to constantly crowd around the ball. One way to do that (and one way it used to be managed) is through limited interchange use.

 

[Minka Beaver]

Who may that be?

David Parkin

 

[gavaniacono]

David Parkin

Not a fan of his comments at all, unfortunately. Great man in his day though.

 

[Minka Beaver]

Not a fan of his comments at all, unfortunately. Great man in his day though.

Each to their own.

I think his insights, contacts, passion for the game, player empathy and communication skills are second to none.

I value a long frame of reference really highly. That's not to say there aren't younger men and women who can't be good analysts - but I think it's tougher for most who've only recently finished playing.

 

[Damon_3388]

Footy is a game of skill, endurance and - I believe - attrition. The best way to recreate positional play and open the game up is to make players better utilise their energy, rather than all being fresh enough to constantly crowd around the ball. One way to do that (and one way it used to be managed) is through limited interchange use.

This old furphy

 

[didaksrightfoot]

- Anzac Day reserved for a Grand Final rematch.

- Abolish the rookie list and have 50-player lists. Just accept that everyone will have 'project players' who are on a lower base salary than most of their peers. Every player eligible for senior selection.

- Each club allowed to take one player on a short-term contract each season from a state league.

- Severely limit the interchange to 20 rotations per match. (Not including the blood rule or concussion tests).

- Expand the season to 24 home and away matches per club.

Agree with everything except for the interchange cap. Having tired players is going to do nothing but encourage coaches to just flood the defensive 50. You will see more injuries, crappier skills from tired players and more 1-sided play.
---

I think a GF rematch would make sense as a "thing" - whether its the season opener, Anzac Day or any other set weekend.

Agree on the Rookie list and I think there was a thread last season on it. It is not needed in modern day footy.

I would replace the "short term contract" with a midseason draft (Not trade period) - and only if you have the required roster spot opened up (either a retired player, or a LTI spot)... and only players able to be picked up are those that were eligible for the previous draft (ie. No kids that just turned 18)

 

[Minka Beaver]

This old furphy

How would we know? It's never been proven or disproven since footy went professional.

All that's happened is some tinkering around the edges - unlimited changes, 120 changes, 100 changes, 80 changes...

Either cap rotations properly or have open slather.

 

[Scotland]

No-one should ever say 'AFLM'.

As far as the MRP goes the damage caused by an illegal action should be an important factor, but only after the action itself has been taken into consideration. If you jump off the ground with a raised elbow and KO someone on the head then you should get big weeks. Accidental/incidental contact is still a thing.

Robbie Gray is the perfect example. McGovern suffered a mild concussion so Gray got a week. That's silly. Gray had no intention to hurt McGovern and just braced for contact. It was only a JLT game but there are no Eagles fans or neutrals saying 'boo Robbie Gray dirty player hit Gov'. If that is deemed suspension worthy then we're not far away from accidental contact from a teammate being a reportable offence.

 

[Damon_3388]

How would we know? It's never been proven or disproven since footy went professional.

All that's happened is some tinkering around the edges - unlimited changes, 120 changes, 100 changes, 80 changes...

Either cap rotations properly or have open slather.

Have open slather then.

"Too many rotations" is a complete non-issue to me. The game isn't going to de-evolve and go away from defensive structures that work, and nor should it, either.

 

[Scotland]

The only thing that irks me very mildly about rotations is players coming off and on at will during play. I'd have it so you can only make changes after a goal is scored.

 

[didaksrightfoot]

As far as the MRP goes the damage caused by an illegal action should be an important factor, but only after the action itself has been taken into consideration. If you jump off the ground with a raised elbow and KO someone on the head then you should get big weeks. Accidental/incidental contact is still a thing.

Robbie Gray is the perfect example. McGovern suffered a mild concussion so Gray got a week. That's silly. Gray had no intention to hurt McGovern and just braced for contact. It was only a JLT game but there are no Eagles fans or neutrals saying 'boo Robbie Gray dirty player hit Gov'. If that is deemed suspension worthy then we're not far away from accidental contact from a teammate being a reportable offence.

I agree theoretically, but practically I can see where the AFL is coming from... particularly in thr face of concerns about the long term impact of repeat concussions or hrad injury - at some point they could be facing a court of law to give account of whether they did enough to minimise the risk. (People may not like it - but it is coming).

In that stead - the AFL have made their position clear (in most cases- though some inconsistency) over the last few years: you must avoid contact with the head, and if it does happen, and they deem you had another choice to avoid it - then you face the possible consequences.

^thats the way I see it. Its no longer about legal-v-illegal actions (other than obvious intentional ones) its about whether you had another choice that wouldnt have caused the damage.

 

[gavaniacono]

Each to their own.

I think his insights, contacts, passion for the game, player empathy and communication skills are second to none.

I value a long frame of reference really highly. That's not to say there aren't younger men and women who can't be good analysts - but I think it's tougher for most who've only recently finished playing.

Agree abt to each his own.

However, i havent seen much or any evidence of this aged wisdom in footy. There must be some examples though. The game is changing so fast the smarter young blokes can detail for people like me what is happening on the ground and in the rooms, the tactics etc.

 

[Scotland]

I have no issue with the AFL clamping down on contact to the head, but they've gone past the point of common sense now IMO.

Over the past decade or so the AFL has put the onus on everybody to 'protect the head - the head is sacrosanct' - everybody except the person to whom the head belongs. Selwood gets 50 free kicks a year for leading with his head and the AFL talk about protecting the head. What a joke.

One of our young players (I think it was Ryan) crunched a Freo player with a perfectly legal bump in the JLT. No head contact whatsoever and got him in the torso which left him winded for a few seconds. If that bump leads to broken ribs or a punctured lung the player on the receiving end could miss weeks. Do we want to penalise the bumping player for that? What about Naitanui kneeing Sandilands in a marking contest as that Freo peanut bangs on and on about on here. Knee to the back had him out for weeks, a knee to the head could've KO'd him. Zero intention either way. Punishable?

 

[St Plugger]

* 16 players a side. [Frees up 36 players from current lists]
* 20 teams. 18 plus Tas/N.T.
*2 x 10 team Conferences.
*18 rounds plus 2 home state "showdowns".
* Final 3 in playoffs/finals - 2 v 3, winner plays 1.
* 1st from each Conference playoff into a "Superbowl" type Grand Final.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Shorten the finals series to 3 weeks and cut the PF's.

 

[Minka Beaver]

Agree abt to each his own.

However, i havent seen much or any evidence of this aged wisdom in footy. There must be some examples though. The game is changing so fast the smarter young blokes can detail for people like me what is happening on the ground and in the rooms, the tactics etc.

The game always changes - that's a given. Being able to retain enthusiasm, an open mind and retaining the right contacts within the sport all help.

So many of the younger comments men I find dreadful because they've gone full-time into cushy media careers that are totally reliant on their marketability as players and - frankly - their refusal to think/say too much.

 

[Engimal v3]

I have no issue with the AFL clamping down on contact to the head, but they've gone past the point of common sense now IMO.

Over the past decade or so the AFL has put the onus on everybody to 'protect the head - the head is sacrosanct' - everybody except the person to whom the head belongs. Selwood gets 50 free kicks a year for leading with his head and the AFL talk about protecting the head. What a joke.

One of our young players (I think it was Ryan) crunched a Freo player with a perfectly legal bump in the JLT. No head contact whatsoever and got him in the torso which left him winded for a few seconds. If that bump leads to broken ribs or a punctured lung the player on the receiving end could miss weeks. Do we want to penalise the bumping player for that? What about Naitanui kneeing Sandilands in a marking contest as that Freo peanut bangs on and on about on here. Knee to the back had him out for weeks, a knee to the head could've KO'd him. Zero intention either way. Punishable?

I think it's less about the injury in the following weeks, it's more about in the following years, and the AFL not wanting to get sued.

 

[calyam]

So many of the younger comments men I find dreadful because they've gone full-time into cushy media careers that are totally reliant on their marketability as players and - frankly - their refusal to think/say too much.

Any former player wanting to become a commentator should be forced to undergo extensive media training. Months of training where, by the end, they are professional media performers. There should be no cushy jobs for likable ex-players.

 

[Since 2001]

There will always be one constant with the AFL
Terrible umpiring

 

[Hard Ball Get]

There will always be one constant with the AFL
Terrible umpiring

Unpopular?
Most nuffies blame umpiring after a loss.