Everyone knows about the latest out burst from Barry Hall and how he got a one week suspension for “attempting to hit someone” and after this incident, last weeks rugby matches and the conversation I had last week, I raise the question. Is todays AFL football too soft?
Do not get me wrong. I am glad that these king hits and thugs like Barry Hall are getting stamped out of the game but do you think we have gone to soft and too political correct in the process?
The Rugby Wrestling example
Did anyone watch the fights and meles from the rugby State of Origin game and the NZ v SA match? What was interesting was the fighting and wrestling was how it differs from AFL. I enjoy a bit of gasto and spirit which imo is lacking in the AFL but still apparent in Rugby.
In AFL you wrestle with someone and you get fined thousands of dollars but in rugby you get maybe a ripped jumper (they look tough). Yes wrestling is useless as it only tires you out and you do not really solve anything BUT it does help when sticking up for someone which the Eagles have been critised for not doing in round 4. Now why would you stick up for someone when you get fined more than doing something illegal like speeding?
Is AFL becoming the guys version of Netball?
I realise that AFL will never be as soft and non-physical as Netball but the question remains have we made it too soft and non-touchy?
The 10 original rules (I’ll post them on K2K later) has tripping and pushing in the back allowed, while I agree that tripping and pushing people in the back is dangerous. Is tapping peoples arms dangerous? Is wrestling with someone worth a fine of $2000?
I enjoy Football and have always loved playing it and the things that I enjoy is the mateship, goals and the big hits, yes the big hits. Not the Barry Halls style but contests like between Judd and Lloyd where players put their bodies and team on the line. My one biggest concern about the 2008 State of Origin game was the obvious lack of spirit among the Big V.
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July 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I watched the Rugby and saw the fights that broke out….and felt that the referees, and governing bodies handled it better than the AFL ever could.
I definitely feel that Australian Rules has been sanitised and the grunt has been taken out of what should be quite a physical sport.
If you don’t like physical sports play CHESS.
The AFL obviously does not mind fining players over minor things.
I would be very interested to see the revenue they have received over the years for fining players over incidents that probably, didn’t need any more action taken than a simple free kick or 50 meter penalty.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:45 am
They are too worried and reactionary about the mums who do not want their son to get hurt imo.
I think the rules in the under 10s etc you do not have tackling, socoring etc is good as it does not allow under developed kids to be hurt as easy but when you are a kid, you love the bif and bash and I bet so do the AFL players.
They want to fly the flag when their team mate is hurt (aka Staker) but they are too scared to as they will be hit with a few thousand penetly.
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August 13th, 2008 at 5:37 am
that photo of hall’s elbow ‘resting’ on wakelin’s face sure does not look like its just an attempt… ouch!
August 13th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Wakelin was actually sporting a black eye after the game