Has the game changed too much?

[lamb22]

Interesting that Parkin, Daniher and Wallace have all made statements along the line that if you kick long you lose and contested possessions and high marking are virtually gone.

I really think the powers that be have created something they cant reverse. It always appeared to me that a skilled side who played simple balls ending in the forward 50 with forwards who could convert from 40 - 50 would be the eventual evolution of the game. Bulldogs are the prototype. Now Bulldogs do play some breath taking footy so its not all doom and gloom, but if its at the expense of having any alternative game plan or mix of players being competitive there is a real chance ofthis game becoming quire sterile.

Interesting to see how the international rules has evolved. Next series real red cards will apply. Watching how they played last year, I anticipate three more changes - one the point posts will go, two the numbers will be reduced to 11 a side and three only the goalkeeper will be able to use thir hands and hey presto international rules football becomes international football.

Again it was inevitable that an increase in skill and the development of tactics would lead to something along the lines we are witnessing - but why would the AFL introduce rules having the potential to drastically change the game when the impact on the game is just a guess - sort of the cane toad theory for Aussie rules and we know how the indigenous flora and fauna survive the cane toad.

 

[gustiger12]

I think Wallace sentiments that a lot of coaches would love to have his team playing 80's style football, but can't because you would lose everyweek.

Not only is the AFL contributing to the demise the umpires have been horrendous as. Not totally the Umpires fault as they are interpreting the rules as they are told and are following the rules as the AFL want them implemented. The rules of Aussie rules were largely designed around the principal of providing a safe playing field for the participants, rules like round the neck, kicking in danger, tripping etc were primarily implemented to keep the players safe. Now we have these blokes, some who have never even played the game, making rules changes based on what they perceive to make the game look better.

Well how astute are they. Like these are the same blokes who now have the umpires wearing green shirts, when they claim they introduced the coloured shirts to lower the incidents of player umpire collisions.

And these are the same dills who are telling us we have to have an alternate jumper. Hello

The Crow Wobbles game was a point a piece to show how boring the game has become. Fremantle likewise. The amount of short chip kicks to retain possession whilst the opposition waited down back for the ball to come to them was laughable. Really has become a glorified game of keepings off.

Bring back the contest. Pit player against player, man against man.

This is what made this game unique. Don't outlaw what makes this game great.

I remember watching a game a few years ago with a bunch of "Foreigners" in Bangkok and all bar none commented on the physicality of the game. The yanks couldn't believe they didn't wear padding.

They all craved the contest that were once famous in our great game. They got very interested even though they didn't really understand a lot of the rules they loved the toughness of the players and the game.