Thoughts on Footy...
Alrighty guys, time for a discussion about those important things in life...football, football tactics, and football rules - most importantly, at this time, the rules.
THE CHANGES
RULE # 1: Immediate kick ins - from my point of view, cant see why, cant see why not. It doesn't really make that much of a difference to the game visually, however I am assured by players that it creates more fatigue as they have less time to rest, and therefore more injuries.
WHAT HAPPENED TO...
ABSENT RULE #1: Holding the ball - prior opportunity, incorrect disposal, call it what you like, it just doesn't happen any more. In fact, it is kind of completely out of control. The only time it makes a cameo appearance is during boundary throw-ins when the ruckman pulls it down and gets touched (yes, thats right, touched) by an opposing player; he doesn't even have to be held. But, in the general field of play, the AFL seemingly wants 'play on' at all costs. I fail to comprehend how umpires continually wave play on when players are tackled in posession, and either (1) Drop the ball clearly; (2) Throw it out; or (3) Put it on the ground then hit it out. Is it just me, or doesn't it matter how you get rid of it anymore?
ABSENT RULE #2: Chopping the arm - I will be the first to admit that this rule is kinda rubbish, fowards have it all over backmen as far as what they are allowed to pull when the umpire is looking - Lynch, ex-Brisbane, the perfect example. Perhaps the AFL being keen as mustard on the rule, when it came to impeding the marking attempt last year, has decided to keep 1 on 1 contests in this regard alive.
SOLUTIONS?
ANSWER RULE #1: Well, from what I can see, hear and divine, one of the main points of complaint current with the great game is chipping the footy around, kicking backwards, and playing like Adelaide. However, Adelaide - being clearly the most boring side in the competition (taking nothing away from Sydney's almost godly ability to induce snoring) - are more than entitled to play that game if they win and other sides refuse to match up. So, where do Demetriou and the boys down at Docklands Blvd turn to prevent sleeping sessions in the third quater? Well, one simple solution would be to increase the marking distance from 15m to 20/25m. The umpires will generally pay a mark for five meters less, thus, everything works out fine, teams will have to kick that little bit longer, thus inducing contests (or speedy play - tacticians choice), and also lowering the demand for coffee.
ANSWER RULE #2: Same problem, different solution. Has anyone ever noticed that players will take a mark, then go 20m back from the mark, and kick to someone who is like, .0005 cm past mark (slight exaggeration yes)? Well, perhaps to prevent slow play, count distance from the mark, not from the kickers position, after all, the mark is kinda the point where possession occured.
OTHER ANSWERS: Tried and tried again - no kicking backwards.
IN SUMMARY
Bring back holding the ball: It was good for the players, good for the game, good for the fans, and good for a quality cheap shot off the play - No damage done.
THE CHANGES
RULE # 1: Immediate kick ins - from my point of view, cant see why, cant see why not. It doesn't really make that much of a difference to the game visually, however I am assured by players that it creates more fatigue as they have less time to rest, and therefore more injuries.
WHAT HAPPENED TO...
ABSENT RULE #1: Holding the ball - prior opportunity, incorrect disposal, call it what you like, it just doesn't happen any more. In fact, it is kind of completely out of control. The only time it makes a cameo appearance is during boundary throw-ins when the ruckman pulls it down and gets touched (yes, thats right, touched) by an opposing player; he doesn't even have to be held. But, in the general field of play, the AFL seemingly wants 'play on' at all costs. I fail to comprehend how umpires continually wave play on when players are tackled in posession, and either (1) Drop the ball clearly; (2) Throw it out; or (3) Put it on the ground then hit it out. Is it just me, or doesn't it matter how you get rid of it anymore?
ABSENT RULE #2: Chopping the arm - I will be the first to admit that this rule is kinda rubbish, fowards have it all over backmen as far as what they are allowed to pull when the umpire is looking - Lynch, ex-Brisbane, the perfect example. Perhaps the AFL being keen as mustard on the rule, when it came to impeding the marking attempt last year, has decided to keep 1 on 1 contests in this regard alive.
SOLUTIONS?
ANSWER RULE #1: Well, from what I can see, hear and divine, one of the main points of complaint current with the great game is chipping the footy around, kicking backwards, and playing like Adelaide. However, Adelaide - being clearly the most boring side in the competition (taking nothing away from Sydney's almost godly ability to induce snoring) - are more than entitled to play that game if they win and other sides refuse to match up. So, where do Demetriou and the boys down at Docklands Blvd turn to prevent sleeping sessions in the third quater? Well, one simple solution would be to increase the marking distance from 15m to 20/25m. The umpires will generally pay a mark for five meters less, thus, everything works out fine, teams will have to kick that little bit longer, thus inducing contests (or speedy play - tacticians choice), and also lowering the demand for coffee.
ANSWER RULE #2: Same problem, different solution. Has anyone ever noticed that players will take a mark, then go 20m back from the mark, and kick to someone who is like, .0005 cm past mark (slight exaggeration yes)? Well, perhaps to prevent slow play, count distance from the mark, not from the kickers position, after all, the mark is kinda the point where possession occured.
OTHER ANSWERS: Tried and tried again - no kicking backwards.
IN SUMMARY
Bring back holding the ball: It was good for the players, good for the game, good for the fans, and good for a quality cheap shot off the play - No damage done.
posted by Kav at 4:44 PM
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