WTF!? - AFL wants to reduce "excessive tackling"

[greatwhiteshark]

Can someone point me in the right direction to find the fans survey who called for a more free flowing game? Since when do Football supporters care what it looks like, don’t you just want your team to win?
If they hadn’t of started fiddling with the rules 25 years ago we would not be in this situation.
The game was fine 25 years ago, no one discussed rule changes required, the look of the game etc. all that was discussed was did your team win or lose and who played well.

 

[D-N-R]

If they have more time to get rid of it they will take the tackler on more often and do more creative things which will free up space. As it is now players are too scared to be creative because moment someone lays a hand on you it is HTB.

How is it that you think they call htb too much in our game? Players change how they play based in the rules. If you give them more time they will be tackled just as quickly and will be happy to hold onto the ball if they know they won't get pinged.

 

[Punt rd end]

#sackSHocking
#sackDill

 

[Obeanie1]

Wrong. HTB intepretation needs to much much less strict. Players are nearly better off sitting back and waiting to tackle as it is now. A looser interpretation will allow players to be more creative with ball in hand and give them time to get the ball to the outside rather than being worried they are going to get pinged for HTB and doing a rubbish disposal that adds to the congestion.

Totally disagree.

Players are drilled by coaches to hold onto the ball under pressure. They are happy to create a stoppage, set up play, their zones and start again. Yawn!

If you know the chances are you will be pinged HTB you will move the ball on quickly and take more risk. Football with fast inside ball movement, small quick hands, a kick it moves the game on. Good players look good, poor players cause turnovers and counter attack.

It a faster riskier game.

The Swans won a flag with the rolling AFL maul style. Thats the crap style we want less of.

 

[AvantGardener]

Totally disagree.

Players are drilled by coaches to hold onto the ball under pressure. They are happy to crwate a stoppage, set up play, their zones and start again. Yawn!

If you know the chances are you will be pinged HTB you will move the ball on quickly and take more risk. Football with fast inside ball movement, small quick hands, a kick it moves the game on. Good players look good, poor players cause turnovers and counter attack.

It a faster riskier game.

The Swans won a flag with the rolling AFL maul style. Thats the cap style we want less of.

The players dont have enough time to dispose of the ball to their teammates advantage. Give them more leeway with HTB and they will have more time to dispose of it to advantage to a player in space. Too risky atm to try and look for a teammate in good position because you will get pinged HTB, if given a few more seconds to look for a teammate the ball will get out into space rather than a crappy little handball back into congestion so you dont get pinged HTB the second you take possession. The quick movement because risk of getting HTB just means its shitty disposals putting the next bloke under pressure and adding to congestion. Give them more time to find a bloke who isn't under pressure.

 

[AvantGardener]

How is it that you think they call htb too much in our game? Players change how they play based in the rules. If you give them more time they will be tackled just as quickly and will be happy to hold onto the ball if they know they won't get pinged.

So they get tackled just as quickly and we have a ball up which is no different in terms of adding to congestion as it is to them doing a pissy handball to a teammate under pressure which is the case now. But there will also be more than the fair share of occasions they use the extra time to find a teammate in space.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Can someone point me in the right direction to find the fans survey who called for a more free flowing game? Since when do Football supporters care what it looks like, don’t you just want your team to win?

No.

This is the problem the AFL face.

There aren't enough loser diehards left with that mindset to prop up the game anymore.

 

[Jack5]

Its time the clubs took back control of the sport. Leaving things up to one or two fwits is not the way a sport should be administered. If this means less for tv rights so be it. As fans we need to let our clubs know. Where is the fan's representation in all this? Maybe us fans should try to get on our club boards to ensure there is a voice. No more rule changes in pursuit of look of the game bs!

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

I'm with the AFL on this one.


Hardwick's infamous comment that 'he'd draft a good tackler over a good kick' is what is wrong with the game.

The emphasis on stopping the opposition playing, rather than playing yourself is pretty much why the game is so foul to watch.

The challenge will be how they introduce changes that addresses an obvious problem.

As much as I can't stand the Richmond model of footy, the AFL-X model is equally as dull at the other end of the spectrum.

 

[gavaniacono]

That's basically it. Also wonder what sixteen a side would be like. One thing for sure it's an easy rule to interpret

Ol' VFA! 16 a side.

 

[rumply]

I'm with the AFL on this one.


Hardwick's infamous comment that 'he'd draft a good tackler over a good kick' is what is wrong with the game.

The emphasis on stopping the opposition playing, rather than playing yourself is pretty much why the game is so foul to watch.

The challenge will be how they introduce changes that addresses an obvious problem.

As much as I can't stand the Richmond model of footy, the AFL-X model is equally as dull at the other end of the spectrum.

yeah I only just heard about Hocking comments 5 minutes ago, found this thread & all the outrage but I think many have read too much into his comments.

The idea of reducing the amount of tackles per game in of itself is a good one as they are a major component of why the game is so awful to watch much of the time, not a beautiful open field run down tackle Tippa style, but tackle after tackle at a congested coal face. It's how the AFL plan to reduce the number that is the issue - heaping more rules upon rules isn't going to cut it & is why yes, fans have the right to be concerned.

 

[Cicatriz]

Bulls**t the player with the ball just throws it, our game is rugby union with forward passes now , stop the throws Patrick and others and the game is fixed

Baaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!
Booooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SunshineBoy]

Baaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!
Booooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

We aren’t allowed to boo Anne gets frightened

 

[SunshineBoy]

yeah I only just heard about Hocking comments 5 minutes ago, found this thread & all the outrage but I think many have read too much into his comments.

The idea of reducing the amount of tackles per game in of itself is a good one as they are a major component of why the game is so awful to watch much of the time, not a beautiful open field run down tackle Tippa style, but tackle after tackle at a congested coal face. It's how the AFL plan to reduce the number that is the issue - heaping more rules upon rules isn't going to cut it & is why yes, fans have the right to be concerned.

So tell us oh bright how do they police the reduced number of tackles ? Free kick if you go over quota?

 

[SunshineBoy]

I'm with the AFL on this one.


Hardwick's infamous comment that 'he'd draft a good tackler over a good kick' is what is wrong with the game.

The emphasis on stopping the opposition playing, rather than playing yourself is pretty much why the game is so foul to watch.

The challenge will be how they introduce changes that addresses an obvious problem.

As much as I can't stand the Richmond model of footy, the AFL-X model is equally as dull at the other end of the spectrum.

Let’s play Gold Coast bruise free footy, by the way we’re you one of the 301 at the Gold Coast game against the tigers?

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Let’s play Gold Coast bruise free footy, by the way we’re you one of the 301 at the Gold Coast game against the tigers?

I don't barrack for the Gold Coast.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

No.

This is the problem the AFL face.

There aren't enough loser diehards left with that mindset to prop up the game anymore.

Are you calling me a loser?

 

[Chubberson]

Steve Hocking.......You Idiot

 

[jenny61_99]

Thanks to marvin on the Adelaide board for these stats:

In 1987 there were 39 tackles in the GF, and 44 frees. Last year the comparison was 176 tackles and 30 frees.

Second, lets look in 5 year increments.

1987 - 1991 average 55.2 tackles and 46.2 frees.
1992 - 1996 average 64.6 tackles and 38.6 frees.
1997 - 2001 average 75.8 tackles and 38.0 frees.
2002 - 2006 average 101.2 tackles and 33.4 frees.
2007 - 2011 average 153 tackles and 42.6 frees.
2012 - 2016 average 151.2 tackles and 30.2 frees.
2017 - 2018 average 156.5 tackles and 36.5 frees

IMO, there are more tackles by design. The AFL have instructed umpires to “let the game flow”, so instead of making calls for obvious free kicks, they let play continue and it turns into a rolling maul. Player gets ball gets tackled, ball spills (incorrect disposal) next players gets ball gets tackled, ball spills and so on. The AFL are absolutely to blame for this mess. Teach the umpires to blow the f’ing whistle, a free kick ensues and the ball is cleared. It’s not that bloody hard!

 

[SunshineBoy]

I don't barrack for the Gold Coast.

Well you better check your profile

 

[kickazz]

Thanks to marvin on the Adelaide board for these stats:

In 1987 there were 39 tackles in the GF, and 44 frees. Last year the comparison was 176 tackles and 30 frees.

Second, lets look in 5 year increments.

1987 - 1991 average 55.2 tackles and 46.2 frees.
1992 - 1996 average 64.6 tackles and 38.6 frees.
1997 - 2001 average 75.8 tackles and 38.0 frees.
2002 - 2006 average 101.2 tackles and 33.4 frees.
2007 - 2011 average 153 tackles and 42.6 frees.
2012 - 2016 average 151.2 tackles and 30.2 frees.
2017 - 2018 average 156.5 tackles and 36.5 frees

IMO, there are more tackles by design. The AFL have instructed umpires to “let the game flow”, so instead of making calls for obvious free kicks, they let play continue and it turns into a rolling maul. Player gets ball gets tackled, ball spills (incorrect disposal) next players gets ball gets tackled, ball spills and so on. The AFL are absolutely to blame for this mess. Teach the umpires to blow the f’ing whistle, a free kick ensues and the ball is cleared. It’s not that bloody hard!

"The game is best when they put the whistle away" is one of the biggest loads of Common Nonsense going around.

 

[SunshineBoy]

Thanks to marvin on the Adelaide board for these stats:

In 1987 there were 39 tackles in the GF, and 44 frees. Last year the comparison was 176 tackles and 30 frees.

Second, lets look in 5 year increments.

1987 - 1991 average 55.2 tackles and 46.2 frees.
1992 - 1996 average 64.6 tackles and 38.6 frees.
1997 - 2001 average 75.8 tackles and 38.0 frees.
2002 - 2006 average 101.2 tackles and 33.4 frees.
2007 - 2011 average 153 tackles and 42.6 frees.
2012 - 2016 average 151.2 tackles and 30.2 frees.
2017 - 2018 average 156.5 tackles and 36.5 frees

IMO, there are more tackles by design. The AFL have instructed umpires to “let the game flow”, so instead of making calls for obvious free kicks, they let play continue and it turns into a rolling maul. Player gets ball gets tackled, ball spills (incorrect disposal) next players gets ball gets tackled, ball spills and so on. The AFL are absolutely to blame for this mess. Teach the umpires to blow the f’ing whistle, a free kick ensues and the ball is cleared. It’s not that bloody hard!

So the blowout in tackles coincides with the scats rise to power

 

[Pessimistic]

When did holding onto the ball for the right option creep in? I seem to remember it as a feature of the threepeat brisbane lions teams

Essendon not so much and certainly not a feature of the late nineties kangaroos.

Not pointing blame just wondering when the tactic started. If this is right it predates the rise in interchange numbers by a good few years

 

[JEagle]

It's pretty simple. If you want to fix congestion all you need to do is actually pay holding the ball. The way the rules are adjudicated allows players to incorrectly dispose of the ball on a consitent basis. Alot of the time they also judge a player hasn't had prior opp when clearly they have. Start paying HTB and ease.congestion and see more 1 vs 1 up the ground.

 

[kickazz]

Since when do Football supporters care what it looks like, don’t you just want your team to win?

This is true, you can tolerate a less aesthetically pleasing game if your team is winning.

That's why I think the best way to judge is how you enjoy games not involving your team. I don't think I enjoy a Friday night watching the footy as much as I used to.