Bench changes would hurt teams, players
29 June 2007 Herald-Sun
Terry Wallace
OF ALL the highlights this year, Alwyn Davey on Anzac Day ranks very highly for me.
I love watching the speed and excitement generated by newcomers. Davey that day produced some sizzling chase-downs on one of the greatest stages of all.
Watching the likes of Davey zip around, it is clear the game has changed dramatically in the past couple of years.
Speed and power of the new millennium has replaced the endurance of the '80s and '90s.
So much of that has to do with the introduction of a procession of indigenous players.
And we need to be very careful we don't lose the gift so recently handed to us.
I am concerned that those wanting to change the rules have only the aesthetics of the game in mind.
They need to be careful not to forget about the impact it has on teams -- and also individuals who want to play the sport.
Recently, it has been suggested that the AFL is looking at restricting the number of interchange moves allowed in a game.
I can understand why those in power would be looking at this part of the game, but I wonder who sits down and works through the wide-ranging impact it has.
Any change may just run players out of the game.
It was only a decade ago when the game was played specifically with endurance.
If you did not have the ability to run 16-20km you probably were not a player considered to be elite.
Now the game is all about power. Speed, endurance and repeated efforts at top speed has replaced the need to be a marathon runner.
Now teams are using smaller, quicker bodies that can run 20m in less than three seconds to get onto the loose ball or chase down an opponent.
We're talking guys like the electrifying Davey.
They may not have the endurance to last more than 10 minutes going full tilt, but we can live with that.
In the past, these players were not considered in our endurance game but now with bench rotations they are one of the critical components of modern football.
Those affected the most if interchange rotations are capped would be our indigenous players.
Most of these players have not been brought up with the grounding of physical training and have not come through Victoria's under-18 system or through top-line interstate clubs.
I have enjoyed watching these players step into our system.
Jarrod Harbrow at the Western Bulldogs was one that the Tigers looked at as a rookie closely after he missed out on national draft day.
Unfortunately, we decided not to go with him because we believed at the end of last year he was not fit enough to make the grade.
What he has shown us is, that with genuine speed and smarts, you can make it regardless and it was our loss and the Bulldogs' gain when they selected him as a rookie.
If the AFL decides to change the rules so you only have the ability to interchange two players and then have the other two only available through injury, it will cut down on the amount of dynamic players you can have in your team.
The problem I see with this suggested change is that teams may have been organising their lists and planning for premiership success over five to seven years, building a power side for a premiership tilt, and then cop a rude shock. One rule change can impact on a decade of list management.
I understand that aesthetically the game might look better by not having multiple changes through the bench, but also I hope that the decision makers understand that a Davey chase and tackle is something we do not want to lose from the game.
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