Sportsbeat Articles - last few weeks

Just updating the site with CK's Sportsbeat columns the last few weeks, have been a bit behind with posting them. Won't post the weekly previews, but did note that CK correctly picked Port Magpies to beat Central District last week.

CAN THE DOG BARK AGAIN?

SANFL diehards talk fondly about some of the dynasties of history. Port Adelaide’s six straight premierships from 1954 to 1959 is a record many thought would be very tough to match. Jack Oatey’s Sturt of the 1960’s took home the last five flags of that decade and have been lauded as one of the best units ever witnessed. Many expected that such dominance would not be seen again in our lifetimes, although Port again gave it a good nudge in the 1990’s. The last twelve years, however, have been testament to one of the best teams we have ever seen in SANFL history.

Since their entry into the league in 1964, it was a tough start for the most northern club. They started with what can best be described as a thin list that struggled initially overall, despite superb individual efforts from Ken Eustice and Gary Window. Over time, they built into a strong unit, with finals appearances gradually increasing, until that wonderful day in 2000 when they held the Thomas Seymour Hill trophy aloft for the first time. Since then, they have been lauded as the best team of the season an amazing eight more times, with only Sturt (2002) and the Eagles (2006, 2011) breaking that run. The Gowans twins, Chris and James, are on the edge of breaking Geof Motley’s record for playing in the most premierships, having been part of all of the last eight flags, another record we are unlikely to see broken in our lifetimes.

During the minor round, challengers have arrived but apart from the three seasons listed above, have all been seen off and despatched to being “the other teams” in the Dogs Dynasty. Woodville/West Torrens mounted stern resistance for many years and took home two flags in that time, but will not be around to defend their title this year. Norwood, however, are looking a very strong challenge to the Dogs crown, and already, it looks a grand final between the Redlegs and the Bulldogs on the first Sunday in October.

This year has been tougher for Central than most. Injuries to vital key position players has robbed them of some of their versatility. Andrew Hayes, who ironically injured his shoulder against Norwood in round two, is still doubtful as to his firm return date, and his loss takes mobility and contested marking from defence. Similar story with Alan Obst, whose knee injury may prevent him from being part of any tilt this season. Cameron Milne, who is a mobile ruckman that can drift forward, has also struggled to get on the park this season. Adam Varcoe will also not be seen again this year. Chad O’Sullivan, Luke Barnby and the Gowans twins have also had their moments with injury, which has interrupted their preparation.

Yet, despite all of this, Roy Laird’s charges sit second on the ladder and have played some devastating bursts this year that should be sending major warning signs to the rest of the competition. The manner in which they so clinically disposed of the Eagles two weeks ago showed their ruthless best on display again. While the injuries have been difficult, it has given younger players their opportunity to shine. Jack Hannath, for example, has stepped up strongly in the ruck role and with support from Jason Sutherland and Justin Hardy, form a combination that is very hard to match up on. The latter player has also proven this season that he can play at both ends of the ground, and be very tough to contain in attack when given the opportunity also. While Jackson O’Brien does not rack up high disposal counts, his role has almost become that of a specialist tackler since moving from Tasmania, and his defensive efforts are vital in creating the turnover. The speed of Paul Marschall’s development has been fantastic to watch in defence, with his poise and ability to carry forcing opposition coaches to virtually play a defensive forward to negate him. Add in the continued development of Josh Waldhuter, Josh Vater, David Haydon and James Lawton and it’s a great illustration, yet again, of the Bulldogs ability to continually regenerate their list to give themselves the best chance each year of continuing this amazing run.

Many will nominate Norwood as the premiership favorites right now and rightly so, but there is absolutely no doubt that Central are very neatly placed to upset the Redleg applecart. It would be a fool that would write Central out of the mix, with a list mixed with experience, flair and youngsters moving through at just the right rate to continue the Dog Dynasty. Purists are already looking forward deeply to what looks, this far out, a classic Grand Final.



WHY THE SANFL IS BETTER THAN AFL

If you are reading this at your local pub, don’t drop the copy in shock and start questioning the author. If you are an AFL fan who watches little, if any SANFL, this is a perfect introduction to why the local game has so many more benefits than the national product. Diehard SANFL fans will already be nodding at the title and using this to convert their AFL following friends.

1. Accessibility: The next generation of fans are able to get closer than ever to their SANFL heroes than they ever will to their AFL idols. AFL games, for example, forbid ground access during breaks, so young fans can’t head out for a kick and a catch, or get close to the coaches huddles, or pat their heroes on the back after the siren. Any young AFL fan would have to wait until a player appeared at a school clinic, or at the local shops, to meet their favorite player.

2. Adult refreshments: It is now better at AAMI Stadium than it was, but at least at SANFL games, you can buy a beer easily and take it back to your mates, without lengthy queues or having to navigate around flights of stairs and sidling between rows of seats, risking spillage.

3. Watching the game: Many diehard fans relish the opportunity to stand as a group, beer in hand, exchanging banter with other fans and being able to move from place to place easily at the ground. At AFL games, you are in numbered seating, maybe with people you don’t know and are forced to sit for the entire match if you want to watch. It’s only during toilet or refreshment breaks that you can move from the seat and certainly not to be able to watch from a standing vantage point for long. At the SANFL, the game can be enjoyed fully with the mates, and allowing the kids to run on the grassed areas at many grounds, kicking the footy during the match.

4. Cost – SANFL games are $14 for adults, and free for under 18’s. To attend a Crows game, for example, for two adults and two children, will set you back $67 before you even set foot into the ground. Car parking will be another $12 ($5 at SANFL grounds, although you can park in suburban streets with care for free within a few minutes walk), and for a pie, drink and chips for all, throw in another $50. Already, the day at the AFL is spinning near $130.
For two adults, two children, even with a ground car park, and a steak sandwich, chips and drink at the SANFL, you are looking at around $70 at most. For a family on a budget, the cost is very reasonable compared to other local attractions such as Adelaide Zoo.

5. Game style – With the changes in philosophy over the years, the AFL has become much less oriented to body contact and clashes, and more aligned to players moving into open space to win uncontested possession. While it is very clean to watch in full flight, it does take away some of the “pure football” aspect of the game and is more conjusive to athletes in space.
The SANFL is much more akin to football as it has always been played. Contested possession with body clashes that don’t unnecessarily raise the ire of the tribunal. Players bumping, clashing and working on winning the ball in tight, and while leg speed is still vital, pure footballers who would not win Bay Sheffields still dominate matches, ahead of players who were not natural converts to the game. Pure football thrives much more at SANFL.

6. The Tribal Aspect – fans attending AAMI Stadium as non Crows or Power fans will find themselves in a massive minority, with only a tiny percentage of fellow opposition fans. It can make for a very one sided day of support. At the SANFL, you can stand with opposition supporters, trade banter and good natured jibes, and have plenty of fellow fans on your side. Post-game, you can enter the bar at the ground for free and have a beer with both fellow and opposition fans easily, without needing to book for the chance.
It’s Time. Time for you to rediscover your footy roots and head out to the SANFL this weekend. If you are frustrated with the AFL, the Time has arrived to get back to the local game.


THE RULES DILEMMA

When going to the SANFL, the first thing most of us consider is how much of a chance our team has on the day. Looking over the lineups, considering the possible matchups, factoring in the weather, the form of both teams and so many other intangible factors that make our game so great.

One thing that is becoming a real factor, however, is just what interpretations of the rules to expect on any given day, and just how much influence the rules will have on the contest. Fans, more than ever, are noting free kick counts and using these as reference when analysing the match, particularly if their team lost.

Let’s make one point perfectly clear about this column. This is NOT an “umpire bashing” free-for-all, where the men in white are going to be condemned for every real or imagined sin, or held up as the single factor that is ruining the game. The biggest thing about this situation needs to be made crystal clear from the beginning. The umpires are umpiring to the rules and interpretations they are given each week, and are having to umpire to rules that can be very fluid at best. In the main, and for the vast majority of the time, the umpires are working to the rules and interpretations they are bound by, to the letter. It is largely wasteful to sit there and sling off at them for the outcomes of games, simply because they can only work to what they have.

That said, over the last couple of seasons, some rules have become more fluid than ever. Holding The Ball has become one of the hardest to read of all. The official rule states, as follows: “When a player is in possession of the ball, and is tackled correctly (i.e., above the knees and below the shoulders), he must immediately dispose of the ball by kicking or handpassing. Failure to do so, when a prior opportunity to dispose of it existed, results in a penalty benefiting the tackling team, which is awarded a free kick. A free kick is also awarded to the tackler if there was no prior opportunity, but the player in possession of the ball does not dispose of it or attempt to do so within a reasonable time”.

Prior Opportunity remains the key in this rule. A player must have a reasonable opportunity to get rid of the ball before being penalised for holding the ball. In the last couple of seasons, however, players who are first to the ball are almost being penalised for doing so. A player will make a contest for the ball, and then fumble slightly, without ever getting clear opportunity to gather the ball. Immediately, they are set upon by one or more tacklers, with their arms pinned, and a pack descending upon them. Suddenly, the umpire will call Holding The Ball, and the poor ball player is penalised. The biggest problem, however, is that there has been no prior opportunity to dispose of the ball. A player is set upon, pinned and under the new interpretation, risks conceding the free. Players, now, seem almost unwilling to be first to the ball unless the ball is in open space, in case they risk losing possession. Prior opportunity has always been the sacrosanct key of the game, but it suddenly seems to have disappeared, seemingly in favour of a notion of “keep the game moving at all costs”.

This notion has merit. There are few things more ugly than a scrambling contest where the ball just travels metres in pack situations. It could be argued that the newer interpretation forces the players to keep the ball moving. It could be counter argued, however, that pure ball players are being penalised, in favour of the second or third opponent that merely rushes to the contest and sits upon a pack waiting for a cheap free kick – and this is what goes against the grain of the game as we know it. Before fans simply roar out their frustration at the umpires each week, just remember – this is the rule they are given to umpire to. They have little choice but to do so, if they value their own security of umpiring senior football. The key to changing this rests with the lawmakers of the game, and while those lawmakers may be patting themselves on the back for speeding up the game, they also need to have a good look at whether, in doing so, they are slowing destroying the fabric of our game.