Experts' footy forum
31 March 2006 Herald Sun
TERRY WALLACE
Has the game become too soft?There's no doubt the contested possession has been taken out of the game, but to see two 90kg athletes collide at full steam is still an awesome sight.
If you could pick one player in the game to build a team around, who would you select?I'd go for Brisbane Lions Jonathan Brown on the proviso that he's fit and uninjured. He has the dynamics combined with elite finals performances.
We'd all like to see him clock a descent sequence of games with without being injured.
Will the new kick-in rule make any difference?As one who pre-empted disaster, I now believe it won't have the adverse impact that we first thought.
I just thought it would be responsible for one of two things –– multiple goals scored from kick-ins or you would have exactly the opposite where you'd have everyone go back to over the halfway line and it would just look shocking. But the rule has caused neither to happen.
Was Geelong coach Mark "Bomber" Thompson on the right track when he suggested all clubs need more rookies?I agree wholeheartedly. Either we need to develop more youngsters in the game or at the very least allow the current rookies to play senior football without restrictions.
We have a rookie like Jeremy Humm who can only play if we have a long-term injury and that's despite us having room on the list for him.
On the other hand, the Western Bulldogs have been able to promote a rookie because of Luke Darcy's long-term injury.
OK, then what size should the list be?The current size of 44 is OK, if rookies are allowed to play, but there still needs to be the provision for a developmental list for youngsters.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18659907%255E19742,00.html
