18 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

i can't fathom that bolded section...friday night was unbelievably tough and competitive wet weather football - a real slog between two class sides

i think the issue is there's too many players who are crazy fit but ultimately aren't comparable to the 'poor' players of past eras because there's too many teams, thus too many ordinary players, in modern football

we've gone from 20 players taking the field for 12 sides to 22 for 18

the players are so unbelievably fit and modern afl coaches adapted to the international trends of defence-first methodology - push back hard when you've lost possession, kick to the pockets when attacking forward to limit corridor turnover and force repeat stoppages, lock the ball in close and don't allow spread

it's a very different game to that of 20 years ago but, hey, that's what happens in 20 years

limiting interchange might help, but it won't change the crowding of the contest - the only thing that will stop that might be zones (no thankyou) or reducing it to 16-a-side on-field, which would go against the laws of the game

i actually don't mind watching the modern game, and reduced game lengths and only playing each other once has made 2020 a year like no other and - for the most part - a welcome part of what has been the strangest year

I was watching Access All Areas this morning and left it running once finished, next minute 2005 Grand Final highlights start playing and I was glued to it. There used to be so much time and space for players and they were all heavier set blokes built for contested footy.

The immense fitness and speed of the players covering the ground has allowed coaches to use zones and close down space very quickly.

I think our inconsistency of effort would have been very draining and detrimental to our game plan, however I don't believe we have the footy IQ on the park to execute it. You need to coach to your strengths and we seem to play around our strength now.

 

1 hour ago, BW511 said:

There used to be so much time and space for players

The problem with the modern game in a nutshell.

How to solve it ??

As an aside if you were a purist and were designing a football team GWS would almost be your perfect team. The fact that the defensive game has blunted those skills is not a good sign.

Edited October 19, 20204 yr by Diamond_Jim

17 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

The problem with the modern game in a nutshell.

How to solve it ??

As an aside if you were a purist and were designing a football team GWS would almost be your perfect team. The fact that the defensive game has blunted those skills is not a good sign.

Agree wholeheartedly.

GWS made a lot of good decisions building their list, but in the time it took for their superstar youngsters to develop the game changed and they were left scratching their heads.

In terms of solving it, I think their could be a case made for many of the solutions that have been thrown up in the past few years. Personally, I would like the the ball to be thrown up at stoppages immediately, no more nominating and letting teams set up their defence. I'd also like to trial the free kick being awarded for last hands on ball before it goes over the boundary, that would stop teams playing safe along the boundary (And possibly force us to stop kicking down the line all the time!)

The ridiculous scragging and blocking 50m off the ball should be penalised also, although that won't change the game, it's just weak and I want it gone

Edited October 19, 20204 yr by BW511

On 10/18/2020 at 2:07 AM, sue said:

But if you are asking that, I'd think Goodwin better show some very clear progress in 2021

I think the players better show some very clear progress in 2021.

Re Richmond/Hardwick: No accident that Dustin Martin won the Brownlow the year Richmond won the premiership. No accident either that from that 2017 team, in 2018 the Tigers had 8 players in the AA 40 man squad.