'Be careful what you wish for': Hardwick warns about rule changes (afl site)

[one-eyed]

'Be careful what you wish for': Hardwick warns about higher scoring

Scott Spits
afl.com.au
19 July 2018

Premiership coach Damien Hardwick has added his strong voice of caution about proposed rule changes, warning that more blowouts could be on the cards.

The Richmond mentor pointed to the strength of the game as it stands with clubs still vying for finals spots and top-four berths with about a month of footy until September.

“You’ve got to be careful what you wish for,” Hardwick said on Thursday.

“If you want to see more goals, you’re going to see more blowouts.”

Hardwick’s North Melbourne counterpart Brad Scott, who sits on the AFL's 12-member competition committee, has already warned that lower-ranked teams will be blown out of the water in more open and high-scoring contests.

Hardwick was sceptical about AFL-generated data which was supporting the case for changes to the game, arguing that AFL coaches watch more football than almost anyone else.

“We’ve got a pretty good understanding about what things will work, and what things may not work,” he said.

“We’re prepared to give things a go, but we’ve got to be very careful that we don’t overstep the mark too quickly.”

Hardwick said it was vital not to overemphasise the importance of high scoring compared to other components of footy.

“We value as coaches three facets of the game: offence, defence and contests, and if we want to establish one phase over more of the others, the better sides are going to get better,” he said.

“I’m all for the progression of the game and what that looks like, but we’ve also got a very, very good competition at the moment.”

"We're at round 18 and there's a lot of sides vying for top-four and top-eight spots."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-hardwick-warns-about-higher-scoring-20180719-p4zsdj.html

[one-eyed]

Rule changes won’t impact Richmond Tigers says Garry Lyon

By SEN
20 July 2018

Garry Lyon doesn’t think Richmond’s game style will be greatly impacted by potential rule changes being implemented.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick warned the AFL to be “careful what you wish for” with the potential introduction of zones and starting positions.

When asked if he thinks Richmond will be negatively influenced by such a fundamental change to the game, Lyon held faith in the structure Hardwick has built.

“I think their game style is such that it will stand up on the back of these rule changes,” the former Melbourne captain told SEN Breakfast.

“I don’t think that will be of any great concern.”

AFLW star Daisy Pearce pondered the question whether rule changes will see teams across the league experience a shift in how they play, which could remove some creativity from the coaching box.

“Putting a premium on power running midfielders that get a clearance, get it inside 50, you’re then likely to score, which sounds like what the AFL wants,” she said.

“Will that then take away the teams that find a way to adapt and find their own identity because they don’t have that as a strength?”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/07/19/rule-changes-won't-impact-tigers-says-lyon/

[Beans]

No one knows what impact these rule changes will really have. It is change for the sake of change. If they want the game to be like it was in the old days wind back the rules such as interchange to what it was like then and assess the impact. I am with KB on this that severely limiting the interchange will have the effect of opening up the game. I hate the idea of starting positions which will just slow up the game more and give flogs like Rayzor more screen time. There must be somewhere where we, as fans and "owners" of the game can voice our disapproval of the tinkering. Does someone need to start up a petition somewhere?

[Tiger Khosh]

Surely these knuckleheads would implement any proposed rule changes in the Jlt series for trial rather than just throwing them straight into a premiership season.

[mightytiges]

I see the push to reduce the bench/interchanges as part of Dimma's "be careful what you wish for" statement. Reducing the number of interchanges from unlimited to 120 then down to 80 was meant to reduce congestion due to increasing fatigue but it hasn't. Whether it's connected to the additional fatigue or coincidence due to other factors, there's an argument that it's coincided with a reduction in overall fundamental skill level across the comp. Are modern players butchering more 'easy' kicks (the Robert Harvey open 25m pass), handballs and marks under no physical pressure than past eras? We don't want the skill level to fall even further if that's the case which is what additional fatigue will do.   

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Like the GST, changing the rules has become an industry for the sport. Everyone so impressed with the time, detail and money being spent on changing the rules while grassroots footy gets ignored. Priorities people

[Beans]

I see the push to reduce the bench/interchanges as part of Dimma's "be careful what you wish for" statement. Reducing the number of interchanges from unlimited to 120 then down to 80 was meant to reduce congestion due to increasing fatigue but it hasn't. Whether it's connected to the additional fatigue or coincidence due to other factors, there's an argument that it's coincided with a reduction in overall fundamental skill level across the comp. Are modern players butchering more 'easy' kicks (the Robert Harvey open 25m pass), handballs and marks under no physical pressure than past eras? We don't want the skill level to fall even further if that's the case which is what additional fatigue will do.

Dimma was speaking about starting positions. Have a look at past games because the skill level no better than it is now. The games were slower too and the skills were executed under less speed and pressure. Skill levels are also down with some players IMO because of the additional teams in the competition, however all past era players say when interviewed that the skills today are far better.

[yandb]

I see the push to reduce the bench/interchanges as part of Dimma's "be careful what you wish for" statement. Reducing the number of interchanges from unlimited to 120 then down to 80 was meant to reduce congestion due to increasing fatigue but it hasn't. Whether it's connected to the additional fatigue or coincidence due to other factors, there's an argument that it's coincided with a reduction in overall fundamental skill level across the comp. Are modern players butchering more 'easy' kicks (the Robert Harvey open 25m pass), handballs and marks under no physical pressure than past eras? We don't want the skill level to fall even further if that's the case which is what additional fatigue will do.

Mighty, more scoring happens for Richmond in the second half of the match when fatigue is kicking in so less interchanges will be to our benefit.

[🏅Dooks]

im ok with reducing the interchanges. forget zones.

initially down to a cap of 40 (10 per q)

[georgies31]

Who is on the rules commitee?.Is it correct Danger and Scott and Hocking all cats connection are on it.If correct seems a bit bias to me.The last 4 weeks been very good football nothing wrong with the game.The only sport were we always look at changing rules year after year.

[WilliamPowell]

Who is on the rules commitee?.Is it correct Danget and Scott and Hocking all cats connection are on it.If correct seems a bit bias to me.

They are all not on the rules committee. This is npt being done by the rules committee

Hocking has set up "A look of the game committee" which inclides the names you mentioned plus Whateley, Matthews, Blight and pthers. Total on that is 12. That group are the ones that will recommend these changes eg zones

[Assange Tiger 😎]

Mighty Mick Sheahan is on that panel with Blighty. It's all Blighty throwing his weight around apparently

[WilliamPowell]

And as an aside

"Be careful what you wish for".... I've been saying it for years on here

Should have somehow trademarked it 

[1965]

And as an aside

"Be careful what you wish for".... I've been saying it for years on here

Should have somehow trademarked it 

A variation of an old Yiddish saying methinks.

[dwaino]

Is some arbitrarily selected committee just going to keep changing things when they don’t like it? Not saying the game is perfect but I have no interest in aerial ping pong or a manufactured game.