Modern Game LAMENTS

[dee-luded 2,959]

I just found theres a thread on this over @ Bigfooty, i don't read there much.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=838016

What if anything do you miss from the Halcyon days between the 70's through to the turn of the century, 1999 - 2000???

Mine is the Specky's and the random Torps.

[Whispering_Jack 30,640]

I just found theres a thread on this over @ Bigfooty, i don't read there much.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=838016

What if anything do you miss from the Halcyon days between the 70's through to the turn of the century, 1999 - 2000???

Mine is the Specky's and the random Torps.

The simplicity of the sport and the fact that hard work alone and not money could once deliver success.

The suburban grounds, the curtain raisers, World of Sport on a Sunday morning, the determined look on Ron Barassi's face as he crashed through a pack ...

[pitchfork 181]

Mud pile centre squares...clash jumpers would have been useless (remember essendon/Melbourne vs mud?), but it was great how the weather would force the teams to play differently and a rubbish team, working hard enough, just might crack it for a win.

No Arizona blood doping.

Ruckmen allowed to jump, with a run up. What a great way to start a game - big straight bounce, run, jump, crash, bang, ball hit 20 meters forward...

Fewer and simpler rules with defenders given a chance, fans giving standing ovations for a 50 metre kick to the boundary line rather than a cry for "deliberate", cheering the brave defender on the last line who dives on the ball rather than pleading for "baaaalll?!"

The rules, along with them wearing numbers and microphones have raised the profile of umpires.

It was just more fun.

A string of consecutive wins however, would be a lot of fun too, starting with a Docker demolition this Sunday.

[mfcrox 143]

The shoot-outs between champions. One-on-one football!

Carey v Jakovich

Silvagni v Ablett/Lockett/Dunstall/Modra

I also miss the goalkicking superstars. I remember turning on Saturday afternoon replay with Scott Palmer. You'd have Dunstall kicking 9 at Waverley, meanwhile at Kardinia Park, Ablett was well held by Frawley and ONLY kicked 6, whilst Lockett was up the other end kicking 11. The previous night Modra went beserk on Friday night footy at Football Park kicking 10 against Richmond! Those were the days!

I'm only 25, and I reckon that football as a spectacle peaked in the mid-late '90s. Ever since Wallace beat the unbeatable Essendon in 2000 with Flooding, football has gone backwards massively. I don't even watch it now aside from going in every week to watch the Dee's play.

[pitchfork 181]

So, Wallace vs the Bombres was the advent of the flood, Hawks 2008 the rolling zone, Geelong 2007 and 2009 'run and carry', Collingwood vs Geelong 2010 the beginning of the press...

Bring on Deemonation - a game plan where 22 players who are simply harder, faster and stronger than their opposition, get to the ball first, win the contested ball, and deliver the ball over long distances with precision, and buck the trend to kick more goals than behinds consistently... ie: FINALS FOOTBALL EVERY WEEK. If this Melbourne team "brings it" week in week out, we are going to win many more games than we lose over the next 5 years.

In truth, the press only applies when the ball is still, and its function is to exert a vice-like grip on a stagnant opposition, force hesitation, snap the trap, force the turnover... If you have the better clearance players, precise delivery and decisive movement by potential receivers, you can beat the press. I hope that's where we're going...

[pitchfork 181]

The shoot-outs between champions.

+1

Wasn't it terrible (and might impressive) how these full-forwards seemed to lead and ball would be delivered onto their chests with stunning frequency, as if the opposition could no nothing to prevent it. Hawthorn kick at 75 metres out, full forward line, Dunstall leads a the ball carrier, chip-kick, mark, goal. Again, and again, and again...

[Range Rover 1,935]

The rezzies.

Kick to kick on the ground after the siren.

Paying to go and watch Gary Ablett Snr play despite being a Dees fan.

Mulitple Saturday afternoon games with "round the grounds" scores on radio.

Players having more than a nanosecond to get rid of the ball before being pinged.

Rod Grinter.

[dee-luded 2,959]

The simplicity of the sport and the fact that hard work alone and not money could once deliver success.

The suburban grounds, the curtain raisers, World of Sport on a Sunday morning, the determined look on Ron Barassi's face as he crashed through a pack ...

Yep, exactly Jack. I crave the suburban community, US v THEM tribalism & the fun & mockery that came with it. Havoing a cheap Beer and standing through a shower then the sun comes out again.

The Freedoms, driving out to Waverly park with the mates and driving into the carpark, then ignoring the ground attandents and driving away with them running and yelling, shaking their fists at us,,,

The game, the randomness and creativity needed to kick goals, jurrah would love it.

The screamer taken high over the back of the pack 10 Mtrs out from goal with 45 seconds left to play.

The ability to sit/stand where you wished, or to move if needed...

It was the end of the working week and everyone wanted to have FUN !!!

[Kento80 83]

Shoot outs, speccies, fast flowing footy, mud squares and kick to kick. Aaaaaah to be young again.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Players being rewarded, not punished for getting the ball.

Forwards playing in the forward line.

[Face Your Demons 175]

12 teams and you could run into an umpire and not get fined.

[bjDee 1,249]

A team jumper that didn't change colour / pattern / sponsors names EVERY year.

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Mud, blood and insane footballers.

[Sir Why You Little 37,125]

The old guy selling peanuts in paper bags..

A footy record record that wasn't basically an advertising Billboard.

Haven't bought one in years.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Don't know if anyone else will remember this but the Little League used to use the full ground at half time. With proper VFL/AFL club colours.

You'd get one little 7yo champ who would go on a 12 bounce run and weave around an entire side to slot one through.

The crowd used to really get into it as I recall.

Far too many of them on the ground these days!

[deeko 952]

Players talking to media and stating what they think and feel instead of reading from a standard script.

Kicking the ball long for big pack marks by the champion forwards Carey, Lockett, Dunstall and the excitement machines Modra, Schwarz, Richo and of course Jacko (couldnt resist) instead of the keepings off game that is played today. Then watching the news Sunday night with massive interest in the race towards 100 goals.

The shirt front/bump is gone.

And of course the biggest lament on the modern game..... a player getting 3 weeks for a fair tackle