AFL 2015 Season

[cadete]

Yeah what the fucks happened the last few weeks? I know it's been a long and steady decline in viewing quality, and the start of the year wasn't great, but nowadays it's 8/9 games that are nigh on unwatchable. 

Couldnt believe how bad the game was on Saturday, wasn't even made exciting by the fact it seemed close as I never felt like we'd actually win. 

And of course the most watchable, attacking team is the overwhelming favourites for the flag 

Even then the best teams are usually the one's that score the most goals from over the back... a high volume of goals these days are scrappy goal square kicks over the line as opposed to the more memorable goals of a few years back.

[bt50]

It was never over in 2008,

We only beat Hawthorn in the one time we played them that year and by a goal and before that Hawthorn were are bogey team for basically my entire life to the extent that I was more nervous leading into the finals of playing Hawthorn than anyone else even back in the 2007 GF (When they didn't even make a Prelim in the end) than anyone else.

Also football was a different game in 2008... it was actually usually watchable for one thing.

Of course, its all subjective though isn't it?

There's no guaranteed premier in any year. Sure its hard to see anyone knocking off the Hawks this year but by the same token, it only takes one bad game or a few injuries and its all over.

Agree re watchability, I'm finding it difficult to watch a lot of games this year. Local footy is so much better a product now that its not funny.

[thisphantomfortress]

 Local footy is so much better a product now that its not funny.

Go and sit in a corner and think about what you've just said. The chasm between AFL level and VFL is already mind boggling enough, let alone seeing Fev kick 10 goals while sinking piss halfway through a game. If you seriously believe this you need to get your head checked.

[Nate]

It's encouraging that AFL Operations Manager Mark Evans is against the increased-stoppage trend and is keen on finding a solution to make the game more attacking again. 

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-14/afl-football-boss-mark-evans-asks-coaches-why-so-defensive

At the end of the day, it really is the coaches' fault.

[Nate]

on track for a solid 150 point loss

[hedaik]

It's encouraging that AFL Operations Manager Mark Evans is against the increased-stoppage trend and is keen on finding a solution to make the game more attacking again. 

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-14/afl-football-boss-mark-evans-asks-coaches-why-so-defensive

At the end of the day, it really is the coaches' fault.

Would like to see how a game with 2 less players for each side would look. 

[Nate]

Would like to see how a game with 2 less players for each side would look. 

I would too, but it could potentially create bigger blowouts

on a sidenote, obviously it isn't the reason we're getting smashed tonight but the standard of umpiring is fucking abysmal.

[thisphantomfortress]

I would too, but it could potentially create bigger blowouts
on a sidenote, obviously it isn't the reason we're getting smashed tonight but the standard of umpiring is fucking abysmal.

This has always been an annoyance of mine when it comes to AFL, having only moved to Australia 10 years ago I've embraced it and love the game. But fuck me the fans complain about the umpiring more than any other sport I've come across.

In football refs make bad decisions but also get commended for the way they control a game if they do it well. In rugby (union at least) the referee is so well respected the players all refer to them as sir.

AFL fans though are just continually highlighting how poor the umpiring is no matter what the result. I can't work out if a) it's because the rules are too subjective .b) it's a cultural issue within footy fandom or c) the average footy fan just doesn't actually understand the rules of their own game.

Drives me fucking nuts though and really makes me wonder why anyone would want to be an umpire.

[Shahanga]

Fortress as a true blue "banana bender" I agree with you 100%. To be honest I'm surprised this game hadn't folded previously because they couldn't get umpires. I think the culture towards them is appalling. It does seem they are trying to change it these days, at last. As to why, I've always assumed it's a mixture of all 3, I've watched the game for a few years and still have no idea about 50% of the rules, for instance.

[Nate]

This has always been an annoyance of mine when it comes to AFL, having only moved to Australia 10 years ago I've embraced it and love the game. But fuck me the fans complain about the umpiring more than any other sport I've come across.

In football refs make bad decisions but also get commended for the way they control a game if they do it well. In rugby (union at least) the referee is so well respected the players all refer to them as sir.

AFL fans though are just continually highlighting how poor the umpiring is no matter what the result. I can't work out if a) it's because the rules are too subjective .b) it's a cultural issue within footy fandom or c) the average footy fan just doesn't actually understand the rules of their own game.

Drives me fucking nuts though and really makes me wonder why anyone would want to be an umpire.

Well I've watched the game religiously pretty much since I can remember and the game fucks around with rules and comes up with new interpretations every single season so yes, the rules are absolutely way too subjective. 

I refrain from blaming umpires solely for a loss because that's just silly, but it's the lack of consistency which really bothers me more than anything. If you watched the game last night, there were at least half a dozen key wrong decisions made (highlighted by the commentary team fwiw) so it makes it pretty difficult. 

I actually trained with umpires during a pre-season one year before ruining my knee so I have respect for them as individuals but collectively, until there's more consistency and accountability then I'll continue to be upset with their influence on games just as I would with any player/team/coach.

 

But as for the footy itself, what an embarrassment to turn that performance in on a night honouring the '95 Premiership team and Murph's 200th! I know they're young but surely a better effort was required, a lot of these guys have shown they aren't up to it

[hedaik]

Still number 1 

[Shahanga]

2 cracking games in the one arvo. What's wrong with Gafl again?

 

[cadete]

Go and sit in a corner and think about what you've just said. The chasm between AFL level and VFL is already mind boggling enough, let alone seeing Fev kick 10 goals while sinking piss halfway through a game. If you seriously believe this you need to get your head checked.

No its not...

How often do you attend VFL matches???

Also the fact that you only came to Australia ten years ago means that you obviously dont understand what we are talking about when comparing the game to yesteryear as the constant stoppages had already started by then.

[thisphantomfortress]

I get down to Port Melbourne games when I can seeing as I lived about 200m from the ground , but have just moved from Port so will probably get to less.

i don't doubt for a second that compared to the game of old things have changed, the loss of key position players over the past 10 year has been noticeable. It still doesn't make the VFL or country footy a better product than the afl which is the point BT was making.

[marn11]

I don't think that is the point BT was making.

Coming from the same league he's involved in, a day at the local footy is objectively better than a day at your average AFL game. 

[cadete]

I get down to Port Melbourne games when I can seeing as I lived about 200m from the ground , but have just moved from Port so will probably get to less.

i don't doubt for a second that compared to the game of old things have changed, the loss of key position players over the past 10 year has been noticeable. It still doesn't make the VFL or country footy a better product than the afl which is the point BT was making.

But VFL is a better product as someone who watches it every week...

The skill level is still high but the game us not as dominated by Intercept Marks in defense that lead to the constant stoppages on the wings in AFL.

You still see far better goals at VFL games whether they be on the run from fifty, crafty snaps or from good contested marks (Rather than Key Forwards take G on two men at time) than you do in the AFL.

I will scarfice skill level for more goals and more importantly better quality goals any day of the week.

Edited July 26, 2015 by cadete

[thisphantomfortress]

I don't think that is the point BT was making.

Coming from the same league he's involved in, a day at the local footy is objectively better than a day at your average AFL game. 

I'm gunna start by saying don't take this as condescending. I feel that the experience of country footy would be a subjectively better experience for some because of the more closeknit nature of the community. If I go to a local footy game it's not really a great experience at all and that would probably come down to less community engagement in the inner city clubs compared to the country leagues.

[marn11]

I'm gunna start by saying don't take this as condescending. I feel that the experience of country footy would be a subjectively better experience for some because of the more closeknit nature of the community. If I go to a local footy game it's not really a great experience at all and that would probably come down to less community engagement in the inner city clubs compared to the country leagues.

Yeah, that is very true. 

[bt50]

I don't think that is the point BT was making.

Coming from the same league he's involved in, a day at the local footy is objectively better than a day at your average AFL game. 

yeh that was what I was getting at. There's a much better experience overall at a local footy game IMO.

Going onto the ground for a kick at breaks, listen to the huddle,/pre-match, full strength beer 👍, short canteen lines, mixing/conversing with players etc

In saying that, you also need a level of investment in the game/a team, but is that really any different to going to the AFL as a neutral either??

[cadete]

yeh that was what I was getting at. There's a much better experience overall at a local footy game IMO.

Going onto the ground for a kick at breaks, listen to the huddle,/pre-match, full strength beer 👍, short canteen lines, mixing/conversing with players etc

In saying that, you also need a level of investment in the game/a team, but is that really any different to going to the AFL as a neutral either??

The thing I can't stand at AFL games as well as the standard of play anymore are the idiots in the crowd that each side has...

I have always have genuinely believed Australians as a collective are pretty smart bunch and still do but pretty much every time I go to an AFL game in Melbourne I end up thinking the opposite and a Socialist by half time with the amount of stupid comments I hear around me.

I dont just mean the usual Racist or Low Blow calls you hear every time either, but also the things people say that are just so plain dumb that it makes you really wonder how good our Education system is in this country to churn out some of these people and maybe it does need double the funding.

I also think that the Victorian Government should force all football supporters to attend compulsory classes on when to call out "BALL" and when to not call out "BALL". I remember taking my Ex to her first few games of footy since she was seven and her actually saying by the third game saying to me (without actually even know about what the rule "Holding The Ball" was) that just by observing a couple of games that "PPL keep saying BALL when it was obviously not going to be BALL".

Edited July 26, 2015 by cadete

[bt50]

The thing I can't stand at AFL games as well as the standard of play anymore are the idiots in the crowd that each side has...

I have always have genuinely believed Australians as a collective are pretty smart bunch and still do but pretty much every time I go to an AFL game in Melbourne I end up thinking the opposite and a Socialist by half time with the amount of stupid comments I hear around me.

I dont just mean the usual Racist or Low Blow calls you hear every time either, but also the things people say that are just so plain dumb that it makes you really wonder how good our Education system is in this country to churn out some of these people and maybe it does need double the funding.

I also think that the Victorian Government should force all football supporters to attend compulsory classes on when to call out "BALL" and when to not call out "BALL". I remember taking my Ex to her first few games of footy since she was seven and her actually saying by the third game saying to me (without actually even know about what the rule "Holding The Ball" was) that just by observing a couple of games that "PPL keep saying BALL when it was obviously not going to be BALL".

kick it long is the one that really gets me haha

[cadete]

kick it long is the one that really gets me haha

Yeah, almost as bad is when PPL yell "Man Up" from Kick Outs... 

I mean FFS it's like they have completely not noticed what their sides have been doing in regards to Defensive Kick Out strategy for literally for fifteen to twenty years now.

[cadete]

BTW looks like that time of Season again where the media stop talking about how good a coach Buckley is for "intentionally" completely turning his list over....

Even though they had made the Grand Final the two seasons prior to his appointment and in each they were the significantly younger side.

Edited July 27, 2015 by cadete

[HeartinHobart]

Anyone keen on sharing their views on the current Adam Goodes saga?

[MaliMate]

Anyone keen on sharing their views on the current Adam Goodes saga?

Bloke is a legend, hope he continues to chuck imaginary spears tbh, I would be doing the exact same thing.

Will be pretty disappointed if he gets booed when making his farewell on Grand Final day whether it be this year or next. Shit way for a legend to go out.

I don't agree with booing him but completely understand that everyone is entitled to cheer and boo who they like when entering the footy. Just think booing someone like Goodes for what he is done is pretty silly considering what other players in the league have done (Drug young women up, bash cleaners at Fed Square, go to prison for assault etc.)

[hedaik]

Anyone keen on sharing their views on the current Adam Goodes saga?

Pretty funny that its the Eagles getting all the attention considering Freo supporters have been bagging them for years for only knowing how to boo.

The whole thing isn't about racism, but now that its turned into a thing about racism should mean people should probably stop. 

[HeartFc]

I booed him before all this shit happened. #boohipster

[xXJawsaXx]

Pretty funny that its the Eagles getting all the attention considering Freo supporters have been bagging them for years for only knowing how to boo.

The whole thing isn't about racism, but now that its turned into a thing about racism should mean people should probably stop. 

Eagles supporters would probably boo Jesus if he was playing for the opposing team tbh.

[Thrillhouse]

Umps, ballantyne and others get booed every week, harden the fuck up

 

[hedaik]

Eagles supporters would probably boo Jesus if he was playing for the opposing team tbh.

The same supporters who gave a drug addict and criminal a standing ovation

[HeartFc]

Not only is Cyril Rioli a much better footballer but he'd probably do a better spear dance. Poor Lewis Jetta. 

[Nate]

The whole thing is ridiculous to be honest. 

- Goodes is in the wrong for being a sook
- The media is in the wrong for labelling the whole saga as "racist" 
- The supporters are in the wrong for booing to the point where the AFL has to intervene
- The AFL is in the wrong for thinking it has to intervene
- James Hird probably fucked up somewhere too

[bt50]

The whole thing is ridiculous to be honest. 

- Goodes is in the wrong for being a sook
- The media is in the wrong for labelling the whole saga as "racist" 
- The supporters are in the wrong for booing to the point where the AFL has to intervene
- The AFL is in the wrong for thinking it has to intervene
- James Hird probably fucked up somewhere too

Yeh agreed, fuck James Hird

Edited July 28, 2015 by bt50

[thisphantomfortress]

Yeh agreed, fuck James Hird

Even as an Essendon supporter i can't help but think Hird is responsible for all of this, Hird just needs to reign in that ego and the boos will stop. 

Edited July 28, 2015 by thisphantomfortress

[Nate]

Even as an Essendon supporter i can't help but think Hird is responsible for all of this, he just needs to reign in that ego and the boos will stop. 

selfish fuck, James Hird only cares about James Hird

[theresonlyonebzamora]

And he never once paid for drugs!

 

 

[kingofhearts]

Love you hirdy, don't listen to the haters <3

[HeartFc]

Rebecca Wilson     

 

http://www.sen.com.au/news/07-15/goodes-situation-wilson-vs-brereton

Fuck. Me. Dead.

She doesn't paint the whole crowd with the same brush, not even the whole footy community... the whole fucking country. Who's next? 

 Surely Bec Wilson is affiliated with the Greens party...

 

 

 

[Nate]

Rebecca Wilson     

 

http://www.sen.com.au/news/07-15/goodes-situation-wilson-vs-brereton

Fuck. Me. Dead.

She doesn't paint the whole crowd with the same brush, not even the whole footy community... the whole fucking country. Who's next? 

 Surely Bec Wilson is affiliated with the Greens party...

 

 

 

yeah I heard her on SEN and literally yelled out fuck off to nobody

[thisphantomfortress]

yeah I heard her on SEN and literally yelled out fuck off to nobody

I find myself doing that a lot these days