Just bought a copy of the 1980 flag on DVD. I used to have a tape of it but it wore out about 5 or 6 years ago and I have’nt watched it since then. A few things that really struck me about the game:
First and most obviously, how bloody good we were. Very tough, very skilled and fast and smart along with it.
Second, the willingness to kick to a contest. Again, I know this has been talked about a lot in the media, but it really is striking. The slow growth of the emphasis on possession makes you forget how the game used to be. What it does is make for great footy to watch.
Third, no kicking across goal or switching play, not even on the radar. If a backman gets a kick in the flank or pocket, they only have eyes for the wing on the same side.
Fourth, and most surprising to me, how quick the umpy was to pay holding the ball. As I’ve said before, I can’t believe the wingeing that goes on from some commentators, especially Lane, and Coaches, ironically Malthouse, about how it penalises a player going for the ball. To me this displays a flawed philosophy of football that is underlined by this particularly great match.
Fifth and related to the above, how good the umpiring was. Now obviously I’m bias, but even Lou saw it. There were a few technical frees, but overall and in comparison to today, the umpiring was better. Even little things, the umpire quickly letting the players know what the free was for without the grandstanding some do now, and the goal umps waving the flags for a point very quickly so the kickout can happen straight away. They just seemed to have a real authority.
Sixth, the pace of the game was red hot. I know it was GF and the game is well known for us destroying them with run, but the way people talk now its as if footy pre-1990 was a bunch of lumberers, it’s a myth I tell ya.
Seventh, Skills, again only from that one game, they were as good if not better than today. The skills displayed at full pace and under pressure by our rovers, Raines, Wiley, Bartlett, Flea were as good as any I’ve seen since.
What a fantastic flag that was. Also at the end of the DVD they show the ladder, we finished 3rd, half a game behind Geelong and Carlton, but our percentage is a full 20% higher than both. Also laughed at the amount of footys that went missing in the crowd of 113,500.
I’d like to hear any opinions on comparisons from that era to today.
First and most obviously, how bloody good we were. Very tough, very skilled and fast and smart along with it.
Second, the willingness to kick to a contest. Again, I know this has been talked about a lot in the media, but it really is striking. The slow growth of the emphasis on possession makes you forget how the game used to be. What it does is make for great footy to watch.
Third, no kicking across goal or switching play, not even on the radar. If a backman gets a kick in the flank or pocket, they only have eyes for the wing on the same side.
Fourth, and most surprising to me, how quick the umpy was to pay holding the ball. As I’ve said before, I can’t believe the wingeing that goes on from some commentators, especially Lane, and Coaches, ironically Malthouse, about how it penalises a player going for the ball. To me this displays a flawed philosophy of football that is underlined by this particularly great match.
Fifth and related to the above, how good the umpiring was. Now obviously I’m bias, but even Lou saw it. There were a few technical frees, but overall and in comparison to today, the umpiring was better. Even little things, the umpire quickly letting the players know what the free was for without the grandstanding some do now, and the goal umps waving the flags for a point very quickly so the kickout can happen straight away. They just seemed to have a real authority.
Sixth, the pace of the game was red hot. I know it was GF and the game is well known for us destroying them with run, but the way people talk now its as if footy pre-1990 was a bunch of lumberers, it’s a myth I tell ya.
Seventh, Skills, again only from that one game, they were as good if not better than today. The skills displayed at full pace and under pressure by our rovers, Raines, Wiley, Bartlett, Flea were as good as any I’ve seen since.
What a fantastic flag that was. Also at the end of the DVD they show the ladder, we finished 3rd, half a game behind Geelong and Carlton, but our percentage is a full 20% higher than both. Also laughed at the amount of footys that went missing in the crowd of 113,500.
I’d like to hear any opinions on comparisons from that era to today.
???
