AFL Ruined?

[Strawb]

Good for you each to there own. I enjoy many different sports and always have. I see a 90+ point hammering as a boring game of Aussie Rules. Cue the 2007 AFL Grand Final.

What rubbish Strawb- you would have been on the edge of your seat all day during this one!

who are you trying to kids. the 2007 Grand Final I have watched about 5-6 times. The 2009 and 2011 have been watched easily 20 times each

[The Sleeping Giant]

People talk about GWS & GC being in their infancy as a football club, but if that were a valid reason then why didn't sides like Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Fremantle get punished from pillar to post each week in their early years?

You could also include the Brisbane Bears. People talk about the 'Bad News Bears' but they still managed to win their first two games in their inaugural 1987 season, secured 6 wins overall, and were highly competive in many of their matches.
Their final percentage was a respectable 79 - higher than that of the legendary Collingwood who finished one game above them!

The concessions the Bears got were considerably less generous than those of Gold Coast and GWS.

Port (10 wins and a draw), West Coast (11 wins) and Fremantle (8 wins) had slightly better inaugural seasons but they were from established football states.

Port, Adelaide, Brisbane, West Coast and Freo all recruited mature age players with a few youngsters, to ensure they had early success. GWS and Gold Coast recruited yongsters with a few mature age players for success in the years to come.

[Booney]

Deregulate the AFL altogether and rename it the VFL (wind the clock back to 1986 to simplify it), West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide, Port, Western Sydney, Gold Coast disband all premierships accumulated remain the property of their licence holders. Brisbane are a special case and can please themselves and either move back to Melbourne to be called Fitzroy or stay put. All players return to their club before they were drafted. Each TAC cup side is merged with a 'VFL' Team therefore if drafted from TAC cup they are automatically allocated to a 'VFL' team. Revive the VFL recruiting zones much like how the SANFL works now.
The North Eastern FL probably doesn't need to alter much accept their returning 'Elite' players cannot be pilfered by rival leagues. If your club overspends and cries poor then its tough luck you either rebuild your finances or fold no handouts.
The only draft is for interstate players only looking for more opportunity if they can't find what they are looking for in their home state.
Get rid of the Pre season bull dust 2 trial games and its season on. Play the normal State league season with a new 'AFL' incorporated into the season structure (Foxtel Cup if you wish).
State of Origin footy is back playing 2 games per year

So just a few small "tweaks" to the system then. I like it and I think the AFL would be prepared to listen to such an idea.

[LMA]

People talk about GWS & GC being in their infancy as a football club, but if that were a valid reason then why didn't sides like Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Fremantle get punished from pillar to post each week in their early years?

You could also include the Brisbane Bears. People talk about the 'Bad News Bears' but they still managed to win their first two games in their inaugural 1987 season, secured 6 wins overall, and were highly competive in many of their matches.
Their final percentage was a respectable 79 - higher than that of the legendary Collingwood who finished one game above them!

The concessions the Bears got were considerably less generous than those of Gold Coast and GWS.

Port (10 wins and a draw), West Coast (11 wins) and Fremantle (8 wins) had slightly better inaugural seasons but they were from established football states.

Port, Adelaide, Brisbane, West Coast and Freo all recruited mature age players with a few youngsters, to ensure they had early success. GWS and Gold Coast recruited yongsters with a few mature age players for success in the years to come.

Don't share your optimism there, IMO both sides will struggle to play finals for atleast 8-10 years (if they are still around)

[Booney]

Same here. Banking your future on 18 year olds with "potential" is fraught with danger IMO and GWS have headed down the wrong path I feel.

[The Sleeping Giant]

We shall see.

[Dirko]

Same here. Banking your future on 18 year olds with "potential" is fraught with danger IMO and GWS have headed down the wrong path I feel.

Agreed. And in a few years when some of these kids are reaching potential there will be clubs chasing them from their home states, with the lure of coming home...

[Booney]

Same here. Banking your future on 18 year olds with "potential" is fraught with danger IMO and GWS have headed down the wrong path I feel.

Agreed. And in a few years when some of these kids are reaching potential there will be clubs chasing them from their home states, with the lure of coming home...

They might not reach any heights....thats the problem.

The Suns snaffled Ablett, Rischitelli and Bock -Multiple AA's, a Brownlow and premierships as their major experienced signings who all have "made it" and have plenty to still offer.

The GWS got Scully, Davis and Ward and the major signings with Cornes, McDonald, Power, Brogan and O'hailpin (sp) as the experienced lot.

GWS will be rubbish, seriously rubbish for at least 4 years.

[smac]

It does look like too many port blokes, you're right.

[the milky bar kid]

I wouldn't write GWS off just yet, plus remember they have an extra year of being able to sign uncontracted players.

Imagine how much better they will be when Travis Cloke runs around clunking marks next year.

[whufc]

Was watching a replay of GEE vs ESS in 1993 last night on Foxtel, now that was quality to watch, you had GAblett at one end, Salmon at the other, Hocking vs O'Donnell, Couch vs Thomson real hard nails smashing each other, Barnes vs Alessio trying to jump on one anothers heads at the ruck contest. Derick Kickett bombing torps from kick ins after he tried a little cute one which stuffed up. Hirdy getting a clip around the ears at every marking contest.

I MISS IT!!!!

[The Dark Knight]

Was watching a replay of GEE vs ESS in 1993 last night on Foxtel, now that was quality to watch, you had GAblett at one end, Salmon at the other, Hocking vs O'Donnell, Couch vs Thomson real hard nails smashing each other, Barnes vs Alessio trying to jump on one anothers heads at the ruck contest. Derick Kickett bombing torps from kick ins after he tried a little cute one which stuffed up. Hirdy getting a clip around the ears at every marking contest.

I MISS IT!!!!

Yeah that's a great match, one of the better replays they put on occasionally.

[Mr66]

The bottom sides are always bottom for a reason. There have been beltings every season.

Get off this forum now.
You're far too sensible to have an opinion

[RustyCage]

Everyone says in a few years GC and GWS will come on and dominate and that other teams that came in picked established players for early success. I disagree. Took 5 years for WC to win a flag, 6 for Adelaide and 7 for Port, which is the time frame people are using the new teams will take to come on strong. I see it taking a lot longer.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Everyone says in a few years GC and GWS will come on and dominate and that other teams that came in picked established players for early success. I disagree. Took 5 years for WC to win a flag, 6 for Adelaide and 7 for Port, which is the time frame people are using the new teams will take to come on strong. I see it taking a lot longer.

How long for Brisbane and Freo?

[GWW]

Was watching a replay of GEE vs ESS in 1993 last night on Foxtel, now that was quality to watch, you had GAblett at one end, Salmon at the other, Hocking vs O'Donnell, Couch vs Thomson real hard nails smashing each other, Barnes vs Alessio trying to jump on one anothers heads at the ruck contest. Derick Kickett bombing torps from kick ins after he tried a little cute one which stuffed up. Hirdy getting a clip around the ears at every marking contest.

I MISS IT!!!!

I reckon both Ablett and Salmon kicked over 10 goals that game.

Early/mid 90's was a great era in the AFL.

[Wolf Pack]

The AFL is not a good game to watch. I watched Geelong v Essendon on Fox last night, 1993 what a game, one on one, quick ball movement, high marks, now all you get is 30 players at one end of the ground. What a joke

[The Sleeping Giant]

You must not enjoy the SANFL either. Seen a couple of great afl games already this season. Get austar next week, so I should see a few more.

[LMA]

Monday was a good game however but was ruined by the powers that be with too many frees and the ridiculous suspension to young whitecross. Much prefer to go to a local amateur or Sanfl game.

[Mr Beefy]

Was watching a replay of GEE vs ESS in 1993 last night on Foxtel, now that was quality to watch, you had GAblett at one end, Salmon at the other, Hocking vs O'Donnell, Couch vs Thomson real hard nails smashing each other, Barnes vs Alessio trying to jump on one anothers heads at the ruck contest. Derick Kickett bombing torps from kick ins after he tried a little cute one which stuffed up. Hirdy getting a clip around the ears at every marking contest.

I MISS IT!!!!

I reckon both Ablett and Salmon kicked over 10 goals that game.

Early/mid 90's was a great era in the AFL.

I remember that game vividly, I was playing at the time in Melb and when the siren went someone told me Ablett had kicked 14. I thought you beauty we won, by the time I walked to the change rooms I asked what the score was and they said the bombers won by 26 - WTF