Ugly maul around stoppages is killing the game of AFL (Herald-Sun)

[Andyy]

Maybe add zoning for players?

For example each team could be restricted to X-amount of players in each F50 to prevent congestion around goals?

So maybe your forwards could stay in the F50 and maybe another 5 players max (IE wingers and ruck trio).


Just an idea... Everybody else would have to stand around outside the arc...

[dwaino]

Would they wear bibs to distinguish who can go where?

[gerkin greg]

inb4rugbyunionbreakdownlaws

[Mr Magic]

less interchange - 15 per quarter 

problem solved KB is right

On this I agree with KB. Reduce it to a 2 man bench, cap the interchange.
Fatigue will open the play right up. It's already looking better this season.

[Diocletian]

Would they wear bibs to distinguish who can go where?

Can't wait too see "Goal Attack Jack" battle with "GA Joe" for the Coleman....or as it will be renamed - "The Liz Ellis Medal".....

[tony_montana]

 

[tdy]

I think I've noticed a trend in this and last weekends games, by the end of the game both teams are out on their feet and for the last quarter almost nothing happens except loaded backline scrum to loaded backline scrum.  Its more soccer like, but English soccer like, no skill just bash it forward.  I bet more kicks are intercepted in the last quarter than in the rest of the game.

Every now and again a team breaks the backline scrimmage into open space and scores a goal but it's not a skill fest by any means.  More VFL than AFL.

This is a tactical problem that coaches are going to have to fix, do they keep players fresh for the last quarter or do they run out their legs in the first 3.  I reckon what we will see is 90% of rotations going in the first 3 quarters so they still have legs for the last.  Also one position players like Buddy will be a liability as while they may have fresh legs they are no use in the midfield where it matters.

We will see more Billy Duckworths play forward and back and less Locketts.

[Judge Roughneck]

In regards to knocking the ball backwards. Changing to the far side where this less defenders and starting the attack again - the game has been like soccer for a long time

[one-eyed]

The number of stoppages per game has jumped to a 15-year high.

AFL operations chief Mark Evans has said there is anecdotal evidence there is greater congestion at stoppages this season, after claims the game was resembling rugby’s rolling mauls.

Statistics back this observation, with the number of stoppages leaping to 65.7 per game, up from 62.6 last season. This has risen from 53.6 in 2000 and a dramatic rise from 47.6 in 2006, when the Swans were the benchmark team for slowing play down.

Congestion is not a new issue but the problem continues to frustrate supporters who want to see the best midfielders find space and create at stoppages.

The AFL had been so concerned about congestion in 2011 that league bosses considered trialling 16 players in a team in the NAB Cup. The average number of stoppages per game in 2011 was 64.4. That worry eased in 2012 (63.8 per game) and 2013 (62.6) but has resurfaced this year.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said he expects play to open up as the season progresses.

"Defensively every side is strong at the start of the year. They have worked incredibly hard at getting their system right," he said on Channel Seven's Talking Footy.

"We had a patch last year where we were the same. We were 3-3 after six rounds but eventually it winds back, fatigue sets into sides, and the game opens up a bit.

"We are probably seeing it at the moment with the style of game because they are very congested. But we think the game will eventually open up and that's when we will see some better footy, not only from us but from other teams as well."

Concerns over the number of stoppages come as what has been dubbed the hard tag has returned to football, with the likes of Ryan Crowley and Brent Macaffer spending most of the match with the primary focus of shutting down the opposition's best midfielder.

Read more at: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/matches-ugly-as-stoppages-leap-to-15year-high-20140422-zqxvc.html

[Mr Magic]

Got to tire the players out so 30 players can't follow the ball around wherever it goes like midfielders.

Once upon time there was a ruck man, a ruck rover and a rover and these were the only players who had the fitness to follow the ball so everyone else largely stayed in their position.
With increased professionalism, training techniques and sports science (cough), players now don't tire as they once did when the sport was at an amateur level. The aerobic fitness of the players is what has created this congestion.

Ditch the IC bench and wear them out. Dimma is right, fatigue them.
The game will soon open up alright..

[JP Tiger]

Simple!  1)  Scrap the interchange system altogether & fatigue will stop 36 players from following the ball around!  2)  Replace the interchange players with 4 subs.  3)  Ban pain killing injections altogether, even during breaks.  4)  Extend quarter time & half time breaks by 3 minutes to allow more time for running repairs to minor injuries.  5)  Gag Malthouse    (or just plain ignore him for a change.  It was his campaigning for more & more interchange players that caused the problems we have now)!!
There you go ....   
If a player is injured badly enough to need to leave the ground for treatment then he is out of the game!  Full stop!  If in doubt anywhere ... see point 5! 

[Penelope]

In regards to knocking the ball backwards. Changing to the far side where this less defenders and starting the attack again - the game has been like soccer for a long time

not only soccer, but sports like hockey, water polo, netball use the same technique, but how could we take anything from games that are not even contact sports?

Its actually just as well that you cant take elements of completely different game, or coaches may take defensive ideas and structures from other sports that aim to create congestion and slow down the oppositions attack.

[Judge Roughneck]

I do not think it can be denied afl looks a lot like a soccer/rugby hybrid these days - taking the ugly elements from both sport

[Judge Roughneck]

McLachlan is going to the coaches - and ask them to play more pretty football LOL

[Judge Roughneck]

kb

"melb v collingwood"

"melb play good - but only score 3 goals"

"prove game is ugly as feck"