Best era of AFL/VFL footy

[westozfalcon]

Out of the above eras, when was footy at it's best as a spectacle?

For me it was the early to mid-1990's. Then, the primary focus was on attack but sides were also developing strong defensive skills. The Mick Malthouse-coached West Coast Eagles personified this.
Teams essentially played man-on-man and played in position, interchange was used for genuinely tired players and you could still get away with a solid shirtfront. It was a very exciting game to watch.

[valleys07]

Granted ive only seen the 90's and 00's with 80's highlights, it is 90's for me.

Couldnt beat watching the likes of Harvey, Williams, Hird, Voss and co, not to mention being blessed watching the strength and ability of Lockett, Dunstall, and the downright freakishness of Ablett.

Golden era.

[woodublieve12]

2005 and 2012

[Wedgie]

2007 onwards when Geeloing single handedly brought attacking footy back to the game.

[Jim05]

80's for me in the VFL and SANFL were by far the best.
I do miss a bit of the rough stuff and behind the play action. I think the football was a lot more attractive than it is currently.

[bennymacca]

I honestly think today the spectacle is amazing.

The thing that I do miss from earlier eras are the massive full fwds kicking 100 a season and modra sitting on people's heads which just doesn't happen anymore.
But in terms of general skill and athleticism it has never been better.

[The Sleeping Giant]

80's. Although the game is still great, just different. 80's was kick it long to a contest and blokes belting each other, and you had 2-3 blokes that could do freakish things. These days it's tactical (not sure if a good/bad thing), faster, much better tackling and there are 2-3 blokes in every team that can do the freakish things.

[bennymacca]

most people probably equate the best times to either their childhood, or a period of sustained success for their team too.

[The Sleeping Giant]

I honestly think today the spectacle is amazing.

The thing that I do miss from earlier eras are the massive full fwds kicking 100 a season and modra sitting on people's heads which just doesn't happen anymore.
But in terms of general skill and athleticism it has never been better.

Pull you up on that one. Kicking, handballing and marking where better in the 80's, but that could be due to more pressure being applied on players today.

[The Sleeping Giant]

most people probably equate the best times to either their childhood, or a period of sustained success for their team too.

I said 80's. Maybe we should only let St Kilda and Bulldog supporters answer.

[bennymacca]

most people probably equate the best times to either their childhood, or a period of sustained success for their team too.

I said 80's. Maybe we should only let St Kilda and Bulldog supporters answer.

not saying all people. you certainly are grumpy today arent you!. but when i look on an earlier era, im not that old, but i look at the crows premierships (and centrals losing a couple of GFs to port)

Pull you up on that one. Kicking, handballing and marking where better in the 80's, but that could be due to more pressure being applied on players today.

there was a lot more kicking to constests back in the day, bugger all pinpoint passing except to the full forward on the lead.

they also are full time and the training is much more specialised. would you to find some evidence about the decrease in skills.
goalkicking hasnt improved as you think it might, but other factors in play there, like pressure etc.

i do agree about the pressure though.

[woodublieve12]

2002 to present....

[Psyber]

It was definitely at its best for me, early, when there was no impingement at all on SA and I could ignore it easily.

[saintal]

90s to early 00s. Generally attacking footy. One on one contests. Physicality part of the game. Still a handful of suburban grounds, each with their own colour/uniqueness. Not old enough to comment on anything earlier than 90s.

[westozfalcon]

One thing I hate about the game now is the deserted forward 50's and players holding up the ball while blokes sprint forward for them into vacant space. All these low trajectory dribbled kicks into open goal mouths are ugly to watch.

Not that long ago, the the full-forward stayed at home and there was always the opportunity to go long to a marking contest near goal. There was no need to hold off until players ran forward.

Even in the early part of last decade the Brisbane Lions always left Alastair Lynch in the goalsquare so if there was no other suitable option they could go long to him and if he couldn't mark it he'd very often bring it to ground for the crumbers. You hardly see that now as even the full forward is expected to run into the defensive half.

[Wedgie]

One thing I hate about the game now is the deserted forward 50's and players holding up the ball while blokes sprint forward for them into vacant space. All these low trajectory dribbled kicks into open goal mouths are ugly to watch.

Not that long ago, the the full-forward stayed at home and there was always the opportunity to go long to a marking contest near goal. There was no need to hold off until players ran forward.

Even in the early part of last decade the Brisbane Lions always left Alastair Lynch in the goalsquare so if there was no other suitable option they could go long to him and if he couldn't mark it he'd very often bring it to ground for the crumbers. You hardly see that now as even the full forward is expected to run into the defensive half.

Its not that new, remember Pagan's paddock?

[bennymacca]

One thing I hate about the game now is the deserted forward 50's and players holding up the ball while blokes sprint forward for them into vacant space. All these low trajectory dribbled kicks into open goal mouths are ugly to watch.

Not that long ago, the the full-forward stayed at home and there was always the opportunity to go long to a marking contest near goal. There was no need to hold off until players ran forward.

Even in the early part of last decade the Brisbane Lions always left Alastair Lynch in the goalsquare so if there was no other suitable option they could go long to him and if he couldn't mark it he'd very often bring it to ground for the crumbers. You hardly see that now as even the full forward is expected to run into the defensive half.

Its not that new, remember Pagan's paddock?

its more the full-team zoning that is new

[tigerhutch]

VFL - 80s
AFL - 90s

[Rik E Boy]

For the people that said eighties or earlier, you've obviously forgotten those shit games in the gluepots. The grounds they play on in recent decades are far superior to some of the tracks they ran out on in the old days. As for the play the physical one on one nineties was the best from a spectator view. From a Geelong view that particular decade is best forgotten.


regards,

REB

[bennymacca]

The difference in the grounds is a great point. Probably meant you could write off July and August for good games at a lot of the suburban grounds.