Re: AFL Rd 8 2022 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Adelaide
Reply #65 –
Like many, I've been disappointed with what Boyd has shown, until very recently. His last game in the VFL was a ripper. He has something going for him that is trumps in anyone's book, a terrific attitude and work ethic. Although he's delivered some howlers on field, he's also shown some encouraging glimpses. Owing to so many injuries, in some respects, he's been thrown in the deep end and not had the opportunity to develop confidence in the Magoos. Let's give the kid a chance.
Fans do not appreciate the step up it takes from VFL to AFL, the fans carry on about how much tougher and harder AFL is, but it isn't really. If you replaced all 750 odd AFL players with the next 750 down you would barely notice a difference in play after a week or two of coaching.
The big difference, and this is the thing fans do not get, is the crowd.
There is no talking to team-mates, directing traffic, calling for the footy, etc., etc., as in 95% of cases nobody can hear shizen out on The G or on Docklands. It takes lots of games for players to get acclimatised to playing footy with what is effectively their head in a bucket. It's weird, all the noise in the world, and not a thing you can hear from any more than an arms length away or so!
Some players just fit right into it, I presume they are types who don't listen to team-mates anyway, others take a while!