http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/kevin-sheedy-spruiks-afl-11s/story-e6frf9jf-1225993351753

Batshit-crazy octogenarian Kevin Sheedy is at it again.

Now he wants a Twenty20 style AFL game with 11-a-side.

He seems to think that we need to introduce this bastardisation of the game to properly capture the potential supporters in homebush.

As one rather astute comments points out, if we need to drastically change the game to fully capture fans, we don't have them to begin with.

(obviously this technically doesn't make sense, but what he is trying to say is still valid).

I don't think it's wise to deface this great game in a desperate attempt to grab a few extra fans in one single struggling market.

Especially when it would be at the detriment to all the existing markets.

Edited January 24, 201114 yr by Keyser Söze

Just go with Crazy Kev for a little while on this....

Who at the dees would suit a fast 11 a side game.

Most likely elite runners like Scully, Morton, Jones, Trengove

Guys with speed to burn Davey, Bail, Bennell, Jetta even watts

Players that can play a variety of positions like Green, Dunn, Garland

Freaks Syliva and Jurrah (would be hard to beat one on one in the square)

You would have to also try and include Frawley and Grimes somewhere

I wouldn’t know where to start picking an 11 man side.

I haven’t put much thought into this but the greater demonland brains trust I am sure could pick a pretty good side.

I've got a good idea we could call it soccer.

I love the way anonymous posters like to have wide swings at public figures who at least think outside the square. Whether this idea has any real legs to it, Sheedy has had a real positive impact on AFL over a long period of time. Sure he has had his hits and misses. But attacks like the OPs are more reflective of the author than the target.

AFL should be 1 on 1 I reckon.

In terms of this idea, I could possibly see it working with the "FA Cup" style many have flaunted throughout the years (and is being trialled, in a way, with VFL teams).

It could be an easy way to have a lightning premiership, carnival-type fun with AFL teams and lower teams to play against one another.

I love the way anonymous posters like to have wide swings at public figures who at least think outside the square. Whether this idea has any real legs to it, Sheedy has had a real positive impact on AFL over a long period of time. Sure he has had his hits and misses. But attacks like the OPs are more reflective of the author than the target.

All very pious as usual Rhino.

Maybe you've missed all the desperate attention-seeking sound bites he has been spewing out over the last couple of years.

You also fail to support his idea, merely attack someone for disagreeing with it.

I'll happily respect good ideas for the betterment of the game.

The ANZAC day match and the Dreamtime at the G match were both fantastic ideas.

I don't respect ideas that propose we disfigure the game in a desperate and ultimately doomed-to-fail attempt to gain a few extra supporters in homebush.

One of the greatest things about the game of AFL is that the game cannot be won by one man alone, due to the nature of the game and the sheer number of players in a side.

I think one of the worst things we could do is increase the influence an individual can have on a match.

No need for the puerile carry on Soze.

Good to know that players like Judd, Franklin, Ablett, Swan have been effectively neutered from the game. What a relief.

Not sure about this one.

We (the AFL at least) have a very particular product we are trying to sell to Western Sydney. Using a significantly modified version of the game might actually juxtapose it with rather than promote/compliment common aussie rules. I'm not sure about the message it sends either although I agree with Sheedy re: his pov on exposure.

Just go with Crazy Kev for a little while on this....

Who at the dees would suit a fast 11 a side game.

Most likely elite runners like Scully, Morton, Jones, Trengove

Guys with speed to burn Davey, Bail, Bennell, Jetta even watts

Players that can play a variety of positions like Green, Dunn, Garland

Freaks Syliva and Jurrah (would be hard to beat one on one in the square)

You would have to also try and include Frawley and Grimes somewhere

I wouldn’t know where to start picking an 11 man side.

I haven’t put much thought into this but the greater demonland brains trust I am sure could pick a pretty good side.

Decent shot at a team, but had to say that IMO Jetta hardly has 'pace to burn'.

Absolutely sick and crazy idea. Will cause a plague of hammy and other soft tissue injuries. Will run players into the ground before the real season starts. And will confirm the general Sydney sider perception that our game is just aerial pingpong.

Edited January 24, 201114 yr by america de cali

awful, awful idea

to think we could have ended up with this clueless [censored] instead of Bails, it may have been the end of the club

phew

I don't agree with the idea behind needingto change the game, or provide multiple versions of it. But I would be interested to see how a game like that would play out.

What Sheedy has put forward - no matter how crazy or left field it is - in effect creates discussion on footy in the midst of a "media hungry for tennis/cricket season". Creates debate, creates threads like this very one, people talk about it, [stop the press] even in West Sydney !(Ca-chingk!).

Hello McFly.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/kevin-sheedy-spruiks-afl-11s/story-e6frf9jf-1225993351753

Batshit-crazy octogenarian Kevin Sheedy is at it again.

Now he wants a Twenty20 style AFL game with 11-a-side.

He seems to think that we need to introduce this bastardisation of the game to properly capture the potential supporters in homebush.

As one rather astute comments points out, if we need to drastically change the game to fully capture fans, we don't have them to begin with.

(obviously this technically doesn't make sense, but what he is trying to say is still valid).

I don't think it's wise to deface this great game in a desperate attempt to grab a few extra fans in one single struggling market.

Especially when it would be at the detriment to all the existing markets.

Whilst I dont agree with the idea is it any crazier than 20/20 was or limited overs cricket when that was first raised.

Love him or hate him everything Sheedy says creates publicity and debate and regardless what anyone says that is his main job in Sydney (not coaching)

What Sheedy has put forward - no matter how crazy or left field it is - in effect creates discussion on footy in the midst of a "media hungry for tennis/cricket season". Creates debate, creates threads like this very one, people talk about it, [stop the press] even in West Sydney !(Ca-chingk!).

Hello McFly.

Just shows how irrelevant he has become. Once upon a time he might have provided sensible ideas. Now he's just another buffoon in the Lou Richards mould. He's supposed to be selling the game in Sydney and not to the rest of the AFL.

Edited January 24, 201114 yr by america de cali

What Sheedy has put forward - no matter how crazy or left field it is - in effect creates discussion on footy in the midst of a "media hungry for tennis/cricket season". Creates debate, creates threads like this very one, people talk about it, [stop the press] even in West Sydney !(Ca-chingk!).

Hello McFly.

614,251

that's how many people were members of an AFL club last year

double it for the amount that are generally interested/attend games occasionally

not exactly struggling for support

This is not Crazy Kev's original idea. I heard an interview on SEN last year with the guy who runs AFL development in Europe and it is the game they play on soccer fields over there. It was a very interesting interview. He mentioned, amongst other things, that they were pitching the 11 a side game to the UK government as a game to be played in schools. They are pitching the fitness angle of the game as opposed to soccer in line with the UK government's fight against obesity. Wedge politics at the very best.

I love the way anonymous posters like to have wide swings at public figures who at least think outside the square. Whether this idea has any real legs to it, Sheedy has had a real positive impact on AFL over a long period of time. Sure he has had his hits and misses. But attacks like the OPs are more reflective of the author than the target.

I admire Sheedy for having the guts -to say what he thinks,whether it is controversial or not-the world NEEDS THINKERS AS WELL AS DOERS. Sheedy does both.

Sheedy's a marketing tool for the new franchise, the guy's a walking headline. After his countless attacks on this great club I'm not sure why anyone around here would stick up for him but hey that's just my opinion.

Because they like an argument..?

Sheedy's a marketing tool for the new franchise, the guy's a walking headline.

I should have added that to my post.

I would think Sheedy might be trying to attract the Rugby League and Union followers with something akin to the 7-a-side competitions both of those codes ran. Not sure if the Union 7's are still going (used to be/are still played in Hong Kong), but am pretty sure the League 7's have gone the way of the dodo. Sure it might be a great spectacle, but with the injuries we now see due to the increased pace of our game, I would hate to think what could happen in an even faster (I assume) 11-a-side game.

I love the way anonymous posters like to have wide swings at public figures who at least think outside the square. Whether this idea has any real legs to it, Sheedy has had a real positive impact on AFL over a long period of time. Sure he has had his hits and misses. But attacks like the OPs are more reflective of the author than the target.

What has he actually done???

What has he actually done???

I was thinking the same thing, but knew it would be no point asking.

Every sport is now thinking of ways to capitalise on the success of the Twenty20 format. Union has had mild success with the 7's tournaments, whilst it has failed dismally for Rugby League. I think Netball was thinking of introducing a format change as well?

You can't really shoot him down for trying to think of something to improve the game in modern times when people want more action and quicker games.