Who watched the 1987 SA v VIC state of origin match on Foxtel last night?

[Sttew]

I did, and couldn't believe what a scrappy affair it was. Granted the game was played at night in the Adelaide cold, but the skill levels were deplorable. Players just kicked the ball without looking, often into opposition players. Ball handling skills were almost non existent, with handballs missing players more often than not, marks dropped, and players unable to scoop the ball off the turf. Deliberate out of bounds kicks were applauded by the commentators as "great football". This was supposed to be a showcase of the best footballers the two states had to offer?

It ended up being a close game with the VICs fighting back in the last quarter

But don't let anyone tell you the game today isn't better!

 

[FRUMPY]

skills in a game 27 years ago not as good as today, unbelievable

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

watched for about 3 seconds, didn't recognize the sport so switched to something more interesting - Al Jazeera News Hour

 

[Donakebab]

watched for about 3 seconds, didn't recognize the sport so switched to something more interesting - Al Jazeera News Hour

Most interesting news on any network.

 

[Blues_Man]

I watched it and was impressed with SA, Platten, Naley, and Bradley were everywhere, Dermie did his usual sniping thug act with zero impact on the Game .

 

[Stewies Power]

Should have shown the 1994 State of Origin game

 

[Kram]

skills in a game 27 years ago not as good as today, unbelievable

Yeah but footy from 'back in the day' is sooo much better

Also only in South Australia would some moron paint the point posts red.

 

[Quinz]

OLD FOOTBALL FOREVER AND FOREVER A HUNDRED YEARS old football...Old football runnin' around and... a- all day long forever.. all a - a hundred days old football! forever a hundred times.... OVER and over oldfootballadventures.com..

 

[Sttew]

OLD FOOTBALL FOREVER AND FOREVER A HUNDRED YEARS old football...Old football runnin' around and... a- all day long forever.. all a - a hundred days old football! forever a hundred times.... OVER and over oldfootballadventures.com..

What?

 

[LosBeatles]

I don't think anyone except maybe Hawk supporters think of the 80's as the good old days. AFL football peaked as a spectacle in the mid 90s

 

[le dominateur]

I don't think anyone except maybe Hawk supporters think of the 80's as the good old days. AFL football peaked as a spectacle in the mid 90s

Spot on, 1995 was the peak.

 

[Sttew]

I don't think anyone except maybe Hawk supporters think of the 80's as the good old days. AFL football peaked as a spectacle in the mid 90s

1989 was a good year and the GF still ranks as one of the best.

 

[Sttew]

Spot on, 1995 was the peak.

All down hill since then?

 

[basashi]

I don't think anyone except maybe Hawk supporters think of the 80's as the good old days. AFL football peaked as a spectacle in the mid 90s

In 1987 only Carlton cracked the 25k mark for average home game attendances. Collingwood was about 21k and and West Coast was 24k.

But don't tell that to the 5m or so people who "went every week!" in the 80's.

(interesting thing about WA footy is that WAFL attendance per fortnight dropped from 86 to 87 by more than Eagles' 24k per fortnight in 1987)

 

[greatwhiteshark]

This must be the kindergarten Thread.

You are comparing two different sports completely Australian Rules football against a new sport called AFL.
Each to their own which one takes your fancy.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

One thing I picked up on was the umpires didnt wait 50 years to call for a ball up

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

Yeah but footy from 'back in the day' is sooo much better

Also only in South Australia would some moron paint the point posts red.

I think it would actually improve accuracy. makes only the important posts stand out.

 

[bresker]

How many fans were there at the game?

 

[greatwhiteshark]

One thing I picked up on was the umpires didnt wait 50 years to call for a ball up

Yep the player first to the ball was not penalised.
No one got penalised for deliberate out of bounds for kicking the ball their way.
High contact was awarded no matter how it occurred.
Hands in the back did not exist, was either a push or not a push.
Incorrect disposal was an infringement and a free kick was paid.
No rolling mauls as the umpires ran in and balled it up straight away.

But this new sport has changed all that..............

 

[Sttew]

Yep the player first to the ball was not penalised.
No one got penalised for deliberate out of bounds for kicking the ball their way.
High contact was awarded no matter how it occurred.
Hands in the back did not exist, was either a push or not a push.
Incorrect disposal was an infringement and a free kick was paid.
No rolling mauls as the umpires ran in and balled it up straight away.

But this new sport has changed all that..............

Still, the overall poor skill levels made the game near unwatchable when compared with today's game, IMHO

 

[RUNVS]

People have a tendency to romantisise the past and I suspect that is what people do with football as well. They remember all the great things about football in the 80's but forget all the bad things.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

You'd think that an average team from this season, say Collingwood or North; would comfortably dispose of one of the great 80's/90's teams like the Blight-era Cats or the 'Baby Bombers'.

 

[bresker]

Especially as those blokes would be in their forties or fifties now. Probably got dicky knees into the bargain.

 

[Kram]

Still, the overall poor skill levels made the game near unwatchable when compared with today's game, IMHO

But that's the era I watched growing up, of course it's better than the rubbish borefests we have today!

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Still, the overall poor skill levels made the game near unwatchable when compared with today's game, IMHO

That particular game might be the case? Didn't watch it.
But today's game the skills are not much better. You have to remember that back then 80% of the game was contested as opposed to today's game where probably over 50% is uncontested. Not sure about you but the eagles skills are shocking, some of the blokes drafted can't kick to save themselves. But like I said above they are two different sports. You could certainly pick 4 games a weekend every weekend where the skills are shocking. Not hard kicking to a guy on his own which is the majority of the time in AFL. Much harder kicking to someone under pressure which was more the case back then. This is why we get so excited these days when a FF gets hit on the chest. It is such a rare occurrence.