No Oppo Supporters General AFL discussion and other club news

[Beandip]

Seriously gotta wonder whether these AFL talking heads even watch the footy these days. Stewart has been average this year but he seems to just get locked in based on reputation.

That's actually a bog average team. There's players out there doing a lot more than half those picks cough Sicily cough

But Johnson has always been a smiling buffoon.

 

[f4zz]

Just randomly thought about Bowes and bruhn after reading an article about Geelong's run home. Gee Bowes went to the cats and doesn't seem to be in the senior side and bruhn isn't setting the place on fire.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Just randomly thought about Bowes and bruhn after reading an article about Geelong's run home. Gee Bowes went to the cats and doesn't seem to be in the senior side and bruhn isn't setting the place on fire.

Bowes is injured

 

[hawkinoz]

I would have thought we would be topper on this at BF when I voted, imagine my surpise. Not even in Top 5.

Even reading posts on the "Hawk report", I see majority support for how HFC conducted itself and opposition to sanctions. Feels like some of our fans are the ones supporting the fine/sanctions call

 

[KermitJagger]

Jack Riewoldt is 100% right here. All this talk about protecting the head, punishing dangerous tackles, head high contact and so on, but every time these get put under the microscope and identified as areas where a free kick might be given, the players cotton on and play into it. I've noticed so many potential "dangerous tackles" in recent games because players are intentionally ragdolling themselves to try to draw a free.

How can the AFL realistically make rules to protect the head when the players themselves have no issue with putting their head on the line for a competitive advantage?

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I would have thought we would be topper on this at BF when I voted, imagine my surpise. Not even in Top 5.

Even reading posts on the "Hawk report", I see majority support for how HFC conducted itself and opposition to sanctions. Feels like some of our fans are the ones supporting the fine/sanctions call

6.2% - I want more!

 

[Rocket72]

6.2% - I want more!

Indeed, taking Carlton and Essendopers out of it, it's just a measure of success in the last decade or so. We love to hate a successful club.

 

[Rocket72]

Jack Riewoldt is 100% right here. All this talk about protecting the head, punishing dangerous tackles, head high contact and so on, but every time these get put under the microscope and identified as areas where a free kick might be given, the players cotton on and play into it. I've noticed so many potential "dangerous tackles" in recent games because players are intentionally ragdolling themselves to try to draw a free.

How can the AFL realistically make rules to protect the head when the players themselves have no issue with putting their head on the line for a competitive advantage?

Genuine question, can you intentionally ragdoll yourself? The dump tackle came in after I stopped playing and I don't really want to try it for myself. I'll take the word of a more recent player.

 

[Beandip]

Genuine question, can you intentionally ragdoll yourself? The dump tackle came in after I stopped playing and I don't really want to try it for myself. I'll take the word of a more recent player.

Haha, I like the emergence of 'give yourself an uppercut', but I could equally get behind 'ragdoll yourself'... I think you're onto something.

 

[hawkinoz]

Genuine question, can you intentionally ragdoll yourself? The dump tackle came in after I stopped playing and I don't really want to try it for myself. I'll take the word of a more recent player.

Just from observation, it me it looks like some players are locking their feet when being pulled when normal reaction is to take steps to balance better, the tackler senses player is getting off balance and thinks his tackle is sticking and goes hard.

But the chances of being dumped on one's head increases as well.

 

[Nugett]

Jack Riewoldt is 100% right here. All this talk about protecting the head, punishing dangerous tackles, head high contact and so on, but every time these get put under the microscope and identified as areas where a free kick might be given, the players cotton on and play into it. I've noticed so many potential "dangerous tackles" in recent games because players are intentionally ragdolling themselves to try to draw a free.

How can the AFL realistically make rules to protect the head when the players themselves have no issue with putting their head on the line for a competitive advantage?

Be penalising the player putting their head in the line. Get tackled, duck the head, drop the ball. Incorrect disposal free kick to the tackler. As it stands now, it’s get tackled duck the head, drop the ball, head high contact, free kick to the person dropping their head. The Selwoods have a lot to answer for this debacle, as did the umpires and game committee in allowing it to happen.

Start rewarding the tackler and penalising the players for putting their heads in the line of fire, then the players will stop putting their head in the line of fire, as they are getting no reward for it.

 

[Mojo]

I would have thought we would be topper on this at BF when I voted, imagine my surpise. Not even in Top 5.

Even reading posts on the "Hawk report", I see majority support for how HFC conducted itself and opposition to sanctions. Feels like some of our fans are the ones supporting the fine/sanctions call

Reckon it's a cyclical and contextual round-a-bout.

Several years ago, Hawthorn would have been up there. Successful teams will likely be 'hated' more than poor performing teams. How much support a club has on BigFooty. People are also likely to vote for a club simply based on the supporter base, and even posters on BigFooty.

 

[Rocket72]

Just from observation, it me it looks like some players are locking their feet when being pulled when normal reaction is to take steps to balance better, the tackler senses player is getting off balance and thinks his tackle is sticking and goes hard.

But the chances of being dumped on one's head increases as well.

From observation also, players might be jumping slightly which gives the appearance of being slung to the ground. Ragdolling implies a bit more, so I think there's more to it.

 

[Sixpence]

Genuine question, can you intentionally ragdoll yourself? The dump tackle came in after I stopped playing and I don't really want to try it for myself. I'll take the word of a more recent player.

Yes. Looks at Cody Weightman's dive as an example.

 

[tommyk72]

I would have thought we would be topper on this at BF when I voted, imagine my surpise. Not even in Top 5.

Even reading posts on the "Hawk report", I see majority support for how HFC conducted itself and opposition to sanctions. Feels like some of our fans are the ones supporting the fine/sanctions call

I guess we're not part of the big 4

 

[KermitJagger]

Genuine question, can you intentionally ragdoll yourself? The dump tackle came in after I stopped playing and I don't really want to try it for myself. I'll take the word of a more recent player.

To ragdoll just means to go limp, so yeah. The natural reaction of a person when they fall over is to use whatever methods available to stabilise themselves, or at least make the fall less impactful. Players these days are already dropping their shoulders, leaning down to try to draw the tackle high and then when they get caught they simply submit to the tackle and allow themselves to get slammed.

 

[KermitJagger]

This tackle by Close on Dawson is a great example. Dawson has a few choices here, he's already lowered himself into the tackle to try to draw the arm higher and it hasn't worked, he can't drop or throw the ball away or they'll lose possession. So what does he do? Allows himself to be dragged into the ground in the hopes he'll get a dump tackle free.

 

[Rocket72]

This tackle by Close on Dawson is a great example. Dawson has a few choices here, he's already lowered himself into the tackle to try to draw the arm higher and it hasn't worked, he can't drop or throw the ball away or they'll lose possession. So what does he do? Allows himself to be dragged into the ground in the hopes he'll get a dump tackle free.

I see what you mean, definitely contributed to being taken to ground. So now tacklers have to hold players up? And who’d be an umpire, geez

 

[KermitJagger]

I see what you mean, definitely contributed to being taken to ground. So now tacklers have to hold players up? And who’d be an umpire, geez

I agree. Very complicated for them.

Honestly, I'm not sure why they don't just say - we won't penalise dump tackles with a free but you will be reported and miss a week. Players will stop doing them, because they don't want to miss a week, and opposition players will stop contributing to them because they won't get rewarded.

Not perfect, but eh!

 

[Brishawk]

I agree. Very complicated for them.

Honestly, I'm not sure why they don't just say - we won't penalise dump tackles with a free but you will be reported and miss a week. Players will stop doing them, because they don't want to miss a week, and opposition players will stop contributing to them because they won't get rewarded.

Not perfect, but eh!

If the umpires paid dropping the ball and holding the ball when players are standing there wouldn’t be a need to try and ground players like they do. I think the afl have brought this on trying not to lay free kicks.

 

[Brishawk]

This tackle by Close on Dawson is a great example. Dawson has a few choices here, he's already lowered himself into the tackle to try to draw the arm higher and it hasn't worked, he can't drop or throw the ball away or they'll lose possession. So what does he do? Allows himself to be dragged into the ground in the hopes he'll get a dump tackle free.

Seen it quite often now. It’s another blight on the game.

 

[KermitJagger]

Seen it quite often now. It’s another blight on the game.

Yeah I'm not 100% sure if it's just confirmation bias to notice it now it's been highlighted, but I genuinely feel as though I didn't see this anywhere near as much in previous years. Players would be trying to get the ball free and not just allowing themselves to be dumped like this, because typically being caught and dumped = holding the ball.

 

[I got the outside word]

Absolutely shocking free kick that resulted in a goal.

 

[Braidz]

TDK is a very average footballer

 

[TylerDurden]

Dees look bog average without the Claz.