Franklin and Mitchell

[Event Horizon]

It's a common mis-perception that Hawthorn comes out with the intention of flooding. Unfortunately due to our superior endurance we are able to have players run back to protect any forward thrusts by the opposition often leaving exhausted opponents in their wake.

That is the definition of flooding mate. All teams that flood must have superior endurance. How else can they have blokes running back and forward all day?

That "superior endurance" is turning the game into an ugly contest, as you can't have many one on one contests which this game has been built on for 100 years.

 

[The Zebra]

It's a common mis-perception that Hawthorn comes out with the intention of flooding. Unfortunately due to our superior endurance we are able to have players run back to protect any forward thrusts by the opposition often leaving exhausted opponents in their wake.

You idiot.

 

[Cynic]

That is the definition of flooding mate. All teams that flood must have superior endurance. How else can they have blokes running back and forward all day?

That "superior endurance" is turning the game into an ugly contest, as you can't have many one on one contests which this game has been built on for 100 years.

You appear to be confused. Flooding is where teams like St Kilda and the Kangaroos play extra men behind the ball to congest the opposition forward line. The difference between this and what Hawthorn use it that Hawthorn are able to quickly counter attack once the ball is turned-over where as flooding teams are often forced to either slowly move forward or play kick to kick in the backline.

I do agree however that the running capabilities of players is indeed one of the problems facing our game.

 

[Event Horizon]

You appear to be confused. Flooding is where teams like St Kilda and the Kangaroos play extra men behind the ball to congest the opposition forward line. The difference between this and what Hawthorn use it that Hawthorn are able to quickly counter attack once the ball is turned-over where as flooding teams are often forced to either slowly move forward or play kick to kick in the backline.

I do agree however that the running capabilities of players is indeed one of the problems facing our game.

It is you who is confused. Playing an extra man in defence is NOT flooding - it's just that - an extra man in defence. Flooding is having a LARGE number of players, normally midfielders and even forwards rushing back into your backline to stop the opposition from being able to penetrate your back 50. Which is exactly what Hawks do.

We, generally, don't flood. Partly because we don't have enough super fit players to do it, and partly because we just don't want to do it. Of couse from time to time each team tends to get numbers back, especially towards the end of quarters, but you can hardly call it regular if it happes a few times during the game. Some teams though, regularly have up to 16 blokes in their defensive 50 which is flooding. Pretty simple I would have thought. BTW, flooding doesn't mean you're playing defensive - when you have the ball you can break quickly. It's what you do when you don't have the ball.

FWIW, I enjoy one on one footy, so in my book, when your team loses the ball you should look for your opponent immediately or man up the nearest bloke to you at the time, instead of just sprinting back to take your spot in your back 50 as part of what some call zoned defence (or a flood).