Re: The Game Plan - Better, Worse Or Non-Existent ??
Reply #54 –
The biggest difference I have noticed in AFL over the last two seasons in that the better clubs don't take possession of the ball!
They tap it free, fumble it free, drop it free, all apparently by complete chance in their favor! If an opponent is stupid enough to step in and try and pick it up he is smashed. The bloke picking up the ball is target fodder!
Further some of the KPPs deliberately fail to mark the ball because a mark breaks momentum. Often they fudge the mark to try and make sure it falls to their team-mates advantage rather than take control and slow the play!
Another thing, have a look at a the first few rounds this season and watch the amount of tunnel ball, it is just bizarre! That used to be deemed a throw in the old days regardless of how the ball came to be on the ground!
You may also have noticed that twice this season Hodge has run past the ball and buried his shoulder into an opponents chest. No free kick, not report, not even a mention at the MRP. Last year and for the last few years this was a charging offense. When did that change?
Finally, the number of throws, gives, Crow throws, incorrect disposals has gone up exponentially! The AFL may as well just give the handball rule away because they way they police it now it's become unenforceable!